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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32584
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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dobryan
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6829
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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 Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 8:06 am Post subject: Re: How To ....... Install rear lid shock ? |
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Use a 2x4 or similar to hold it open makes it easier to change them.
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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Jake de Villiers
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kamzcab86
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Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7916
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 8:23 am Post subject: Re: How To... Install Rear Lid (Hatch) Shock? |
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I use a height-adjustable pole to hold the hatch up.🤷🏻♀️
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~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32584
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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vanagonjr
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010
Posts: 3431
Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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| Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: How To... Install Rear Lid (Hatch) Shock? |
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| djkeev wrote: |
| My rear lid shocks are so strong that I need to literally hang on the lid at times to get it to move! |
Sounds like the ones I had a while back. I complained to the vendor and they said I was the only one to ever state this. I couldn’t believe such.
I mentioned here in a thread expressing love for these HD units and was essentially told I was weak because someone’s wife could close I
the hatch one handed.
I call bull - I measured over 60 lbs force to close the hatch (topped out my hanging scale) so if that guy’s wife can lift 125-150 over head without any serious effort, then I guess the one handed close is no problem.
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John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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Red Ryder
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2021
Posts: 951
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: How To... Install Rear Lid (Hatch) Shock? |
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Our liftgate requires a fair amount of down force to lower. The liftgate and rear window are a substantial weight to support when open.
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“Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland
“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32584
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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cmayna
Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2014
Posts: 1147
Location: SF Bay area, CA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:51 am Post subject: Re: How To... Install Rear Lid (Hatch) Shock? |
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I used my adjustable hood prop stick to replace the rear hatch shocks. A fancy 2x4 stick.
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'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Craig |
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vanis13
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 3092
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 7:20 am Post subject: Re: How To... Install Rear Lid (Hatch) Shock? |
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| djkeev wrote: |
I've been reading.......
I need to buy a "weak" shock to pair with one of my strong shocks.
Apparently this will give me a lid that stays in any position open.
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Throughout the years, at one time I have had one of those "stay-in-place" shocks that seemed to do its job of keeping the rear where ever you left it. Was nice when I had a short wife who couldn't reach the rear fully opened. I don't know how to identify the stay-in-place models.
here's a bunch of options for the 1983. Possibly thre are different models for the 76+ with the additional weight of the wiper.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/volkswagen,198...pport,1404
| djkeev wrote: |
It's funny, some days it seems much harder than on other days. I wonder if ambient temperature plays a role? |
In my experience, YES
Also, it is not uncommon to use different strengths on each side to get just what you want for lifting source. I'm installing a rack on the rear hatch so will be playing with this for fully loaded rack and empty rack and no rack.
Coincidentally https://www.liftsupportsdepot.com/ is custom making structs with an additional 100lbs of force. Lowest listing at this link
https://www.liftsupportsdepot.com/year-model-searc...R%203-DOOR
I've talked to Toni there about choices between the two and she is sending me eyelet ends to see if they could clear (or me ground or modified to clear) the vanagon mounting bracket instead of having the eyelet welded on like they are doing in the link above. If that is possible, then all these strengths could be used
https://www.liftsupportsdepot.com/custom-search/#?...ield=Force
Additionally, Coincidentally, the rear struts are the same length as Jack Bombay struts many of us use http://poptopshocks.blogspot.com/ so in theory, one could get a few strengths and swap as needed between loadings on roof and hatch by swapping out one of the ends. Will share more info as this develops.
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83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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jimf909 
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7465
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 7:36 am Post subject: Re: How To... Install Rear Lid (Hatch) Shock? |
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| djkeev wrote: |
I wonder if ambient temperature plays a role?
Dave |
As mentioned, the answer is yes and the gas spring scientists agree:
| Quote: |
Temperature influences the force of a gas spring.
It makes the nitrogen in the cylinder expand or contract and, since the variation occurs at a constant volume, this causes the internal pressure to increase or decrease. The gas spring force varies by 0,36% of each °C (it means 3,6% every 10°C).
Example: considering a standard exercise temperature of 20°C and a force of 100N, at 30°C F1=103,6N and so on. |
It's all here in plain english  ...
https://www.vapsint.com/en/technology-and-characteristics-of-gas-springs/
A decent thread on gas springs with recognition that closing an unladen hatch with stronger struts is not easy...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
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| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9798
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: How To... Install Rear Lid (Hatch) Shock? |
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I've noticed mine show the first signs of failing in cold weather.
I get them from O'Reillys as they have a lifetime guarantee. So far they have always been able to provide a replacement gratis. |
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