Boot / Trunk Gas Struts XKC 3893

[Rayjones]

I can tell you that 0350n is 350 Newtons, which is the strength of them if you like, as a rough guide you could compress a 50 newton stut with your hand fairly easily, but 350 newtons would be a tough call. We use a lot of similar struts at work on machine safety covers

Ray

1980 UK BRG 2L DHC

[Shauniedawn]

I mentioned that I'd been adapting the hinges for some other boot struts. Got round to uploading the photo tonight (and few others on Flickr not related to hinges - see link below). As you can see they're a bit longer. I've photographed an original alongside for comparison.

Having blasted them they are just in etch primer at the minute.



Shaun

[mmarks]

Hello again,

Well, I just went to the boot in the TR7 and, having got my bag out, tried to slam the boot closed like I am used to in my other car!

I forgot there was a stay on the left hand side!!!!!!

Now, when I close the boot, the left hand side it about 5mm further out than the other side. Still closed fine but looks horrible and I am not sure if it will be sealed properly.

What might I have 'bent' and what is the collective answer to getting it aligned again?

Make note to myself......Must remember to disengage the boot stay in future.

Mike

[Beans]

Bend it the other way [:D]

[TR Tony]

Mike, the adjustment is acheived by loosening the bolts that hold the lid to the hinges (two each side), or maybe the hinges to the car body (bit more fiddly).

When you say further out do you mean the left side is proud of the rear wing by 5mm when the right side is flush? Hopefully you haven't actually bent the hinge but have just pushed one side out by pressing too hard against the stay.

Like Beans says, maybe try gently twisting it back the other way to start with.

Tony

<font size="1">1981 2L FHC Cavalry Blue - very original & not rusty!
1980 3.5L V8 DHC Regency Red - on the road again.</font id="size1">

[FI Spyder]

I've seen it before. It's a subtle bend that I don't think will ever be able to be returned to original. While others may not notice you'll know it is there. I think the answer is to get a good used trunk lid and repaint it. Then install the dual gas struts (hang the expense) and forget it. It'll never happen again.

[tooley]

HI , sorry to but it but have problem with my boot,it wont stay open.
I see that there is two boot stay gas struts,
are these fixable or do i just buy two more?

[TR Tony]

Simplest to buy two new struts from one of the TR7 specialists, Tooley.

Easy enough to change but watch out for the tiny R clips that hold the struts on - very easyy to drop into the recesses of your boot!

Tony

<font size="1">1981 2L FHC Cavalry Blue - very original & not rusty!
1980 3.5L V8 DHC Regency Red - on the road again.</font id="size1">

[mmarks]

Are the gas struts easy to find and simple to install?

[Beans]

Yes ...

I bought some uprated gas struts from a local technical supplier years ago. Th ey absolute top quality and rated a fair bit higher then the originals. They lasted less then a year.
Problem is, the boot lid is rather heavy and th elever arm for the struts way to short.
Since then I have the older model mechanical strut in, problem solved.

[TR Tony]

Well I think you were unlucky Theo. I had to replace the gas struts on my FHC when I bought it, got a pair from Robsport & they are still going strong nearly 4 years later.

Then when the DHC was being renovated I changed the boot lid (rusty), & also replaced the struts on that car. That set too is still working well after 3 years.

Beans is right though in that the leverage of the struts is poor - they will hold up the lid but don't have enough shove to open the lid without assistance.

Tony

[FI Spyder]

Replaced mine a year ago and are still like new. From VB. I don't know how long they should last but my 91 Integra and 88 Tercel's are still going strong. My Dad's '91 Camry's hood struts are shot (heavy load) but that car has twice the mileage of mine.

[Beans]

Well in my case the car was used as a daily driver and as there's not much space for an attache case or a coat in the cabin of a DHC (with the hood down). The boot was used for that.

At least it got my a good laugh while entering England years ago.
I was taken aside when I came of the ferry by a frinedly elderly customs officer to ask a few questions where I was going etc.
He had this rather young and eager assistant who didn't listen to what he was told. The assistent asked me to open the boot so he could inspect it, which is what I did. I even pointed out that it would be advisable to use the bamboo stick to keep the boot lid up. But of course he ignored the advise, because the boot lid stayed open al by itself... until he started rummaging throught my luggage. The struts decided this is enough and the lid came down and hit him pretty hard on the back of the neck.
Of course he then became rather furious at me, but the elderly officer corrected him quitely: "always listen to what people say to you ... laddie".
The young officer left the scene quickly and quitely while I continued the friendly chat with the elderly officer.

[Odd]

I changed my old, and raaather tired, gas struts out for brand new ones:
But not even the new ones had enough power in them to keep my bootlid (complete with its US
luggage rack and a bootlock opening solenoid) safely put in the fully open position. An unexpected
gust of wind - and I'd get the boot lid on my back if I was leaning in there...
Not to mention that after being closed up for a full winter season they were just as bad as the ones
I had taken off the car... So, my car is getting the mechanical stay as soon as I've solved the bending/
rusting issue Hasbeen pointed out to me.

From a supplier of gas struts I was once told that when pressed together they are supposed to sit
with the piston seal lower than the rest of the pressure body, preferably straight down vertical, in
order to get the longest possible life out of them. As you all know, it's not even close to that in the
Wedge...

[tooley]

Thanks for the advice ,
looked at Rimmers and have ordered two.
Will let you know how i get on.