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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC 3893

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John Coleshill
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC 3893

Postby John Coleshill » 26 Sep 2008 07:36

Can somebody tell me what (if any) supports there are to keep the boot in the open position. My car does not have any - are there supposed to be gas struts?

Thanks

trphil
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC3893

Postby trphil » 26 Sep 2008 08:02

Earlier cars have a metal strut similar to the bonnet stay, later cars have two small gas struts (1 each side). Most likely is that yours has gas struts that are totally ineffective! I used to have two knackered ones on EACH side which worked for about 8 years or so (and was free [:D]) but Robsport now have new ones at a reasonable price. [8D]

bmcecosse
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Postby bmcecosse » 26 Sep 2008 21:37

The little gas struts are tucked up in the back of the hinge asembly. I just use a rolled up umbrella to keep the boot lid open. It works.

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Odd
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC 3893

Postby Odd » 26 Sep 2008 21:55

Or fit the early mechanical stay - boot lid problems gone for good!

bmcecosse
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC 3893

Postby bmcecosse » 26 Sep 2008 22:56

Indeed I would (why oh why did they ever change to the struts ?) but the mounting bracket is missing on later cars! Could you provide dimensions of where it should be ?

Henk
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC 3893

Postby Henk » 26 Sep 2008 23:00

No problems with the gas struts, renewed 3 years ago!

Henk

Beans
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC 3893

Postby Beans » 26 Sep 2008 23:10

I think JClay put some pictures with dimensions of the bracket some where on this forum,

B.t.w. I used a bonnet bracket and bolted that to the boot gutter.

saabfast
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC3893

Postby saabfast » 26 Sep 2008 23:10

BMC, if you try a search jclay posted pictures and dimensions for me, probably about 9 months ago. I bought the unit complete with top and bottom bracket from a fleabay scrapper. Had to clean up the bottom bracket which had been cut out complete with the rain channel with an angle grinder, then welded the bottom bracket on to mine. Life is so much easier than the length of 2x1 I was carrying around.

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
'81 TR7 DHC

saabfast
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC3893

Postby saabfast » 26 Sep 2008 23:22

Hmmm, can't seem to find it in a search. Maybe more than 9 months ago thinking about it but the search only seemed to go back to the end of '07. Maybe jclay will still have the pictures to post when he returns (bit quiet around here without him!).

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
'81 TR7 DHC

FI Spyder
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC 3893

Postby FI Spyder » 27 Sep 2008 02:33

The problem with the mechanical strut is if it doesn't release when you close it you deform the trunk lid. It is impossible to repair. Much cheaper to replace the gas struts (or recharge)once in a blue moon than find a replacement trunk lid and repaint to match your car. Ever wonder why new cars have gas struts and not mechanical ones? That's why.

I know of TR7's with the dreaded caught strut syndrome. Regardless how careful you are it only takes one time. If you have gas struts, replace them or recharge them. You won't be sorry.

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

saabfast
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC 3893

Postby saabfast » 27 Sep 2008 07:25

I have never had a problem with it not releasing, just occaisionally forgetting to lift before closing in the beginning, but now its second nature.

Bmc, just been out and measured, now that I can see. The centreline of the strut bolt in the lower bracket is 125mm from the vertical upstand at the 'rear' of the boot opening back rain channel (not the front flange which curves round in the corner and is difficult to measure from). Hope that makes sense.

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
'81 TR7 DHC

mb4tim
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC 3893

Postby mb4tim » 27 Sep 2008 14:53

I wish I could find a place around here to recharge them.

-Tim

bmcecosse
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC 3893

Postby bmcecosse » 27 Sep 2008 20:18

Thanks for the dimesions/pics folks. And the idea of bonding a bracket to the boot lip - I wasn't fancying any welding on there. The stut I have is from a Morris Minor boot lid - looks to be very similar, so I will have to make a boot lip bracket then bravely try it out!

gaz
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC3893

Postby gaz » 27 Sep 2008 21:58

hey.......... jclay good to have you back on board hope all is well

It rides again

Hasbeen
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Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC 3893

Postby Hasbeen » 27 Sep 2008 23:59

Tim, there's tour new business. You'll make a fortune.

The rig to do it is just so simple, you just need a good welder.

My struts were re-gassed 8 years ago. There was a dated sticker from
the company that did it, on the struts. I went back to them about 2
years ago, when they started to get weak, not failed, just weaker.

The rig is just a simple pressure vessel, & a high pressure pump. As
their mobile service doesn't get out this far, I went to them. Even
at the factory, the rig looked home made.

It consisted of a 6"or 8" pressure pipe, with on end capped, & a
removable cap on the other end, plus an input connection, & a bleed
off valve, to drain the pressure when finished.

The struts are just put into the thing, & pressurised, to about
2,500 PSI. The pressure simply seeps into the struts, past the seal,
which must be a [sort of] one way seal. The resultant strut pressure
is controlled by the length of time the strut is held at pressure.
Ours are at about the highest pressure these people do, & were timed
to 12 minutes.

So set yourself up, & you'll make a killing. We have 7 companies in
the Brisbane phone book, offering this service, & they have all been
doing it for years, with factory, & mobile servive, offered, so it
must be profitable, in the long term.

If there is nobody doing it, all round the US it would be a
franchisers dream, & a chance to make real money. Low cost to set
up, simple training, & a large demand.

Hell, I might even come over there, & do it myself, if it weren't
having too much fum, being retired, with lots of time to play with
my Triumphs.

Hasbeen

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