Club 80-90 Forums

i have a 1982 devon

i need to change 2 of my roof struts they are the front ones i need to change.
my question is
does anyone know how to keep the tension on them to put them onto the threads then attach the nut before they spring back and break all my teeth?

someone must know

I bought 4 gas struts for my devon roof from
http://www.campershop.co.uk/devon-t25.htm#pop

saw nylocks a went i will have this job finished in 5 minutes to change one for one

how wrong can you be

the verticals fitted and the horizontals were an inch to big

phoned campershop and they said take off bellows easy enough
but the wee screws did not budge removing bellows was non starter

scatch head time again

10mm threaded bar three 10mm nuts washers and two bits of 6mm thick mild steel flat bar notched out to similar to a fork

these fitted onto strut below screw mounting. One flat bar was drilled and tapped so only a locking nut was required. this allowed this bar to fitted close to the fiberglass roof mounting point .

other flat bar was drill out 10.5mm and two nuts kept the flat bat straight and compressed the strut at the same when tightening the top nut

whey hey my roof goes up and youve got to eat three pies for extra weight to pull it back down.

photos will come later maybe if i get round to it

if not please remind me



by the way i was driving through fife the other day and saw a beige ford focus who owns this.

forgive me if i sound patronising but i assuming no mechancial knowledge so some of the below instructions are a wee bit primary school sorry

You need to compress one at a time gas strut. then remove an old one then fit the new one with the ultra super mega gas strut compressor which can be yours if you follow the instructions below

Get threaded bar ........( 10 mm or over) it looks like a big screw it has to be bigger than the largest strut
3 x nuts to fit on the threaded bar
some flat bar (approx 20cm long 3cm wide 0.5cm height )

the following instructions are to manufacture a big screw which will compress the strut
the screw will be able to fit all the struts by adjusting the nuts (if you have no metal work tools or skills the expensive way will be go and see a local black smith and explain what is required and he should be able to knock this up in about a hour it took me loads more time )

hard stuff
1. cut Flat bar in half so you have two bits of metal 10cm by 3cm

2 . mark the the 2 bits of metal so the threaded bar will fit through
in middle of the metal about 2cm in from the side
( it might be easier if you drill the 2 bits at the same time )

3. drill holes so the threaded bar fits through

4 you will have to manufacture a fork which fits round the bolt holder at the top / bottom of the strut but not the strut

4 a. measure the size width of the bolt holder on the strut
4 b. mark the size of bolt holder and add a 1mm (saves fileling) on the other side of the flat bar from the threaded bar holes
4 c. know use your atomic laser cutter to cut out the marked area if you do not have a laser cutter use a drill and file ( i used a drill and file. Drilled several holes and filed smooth
4. d. repeat for second bit of metal

we have finished all the hard stuff. honest! the rest is about getting a good set of ladders and spanners


5 make a locking nut by putting 2 nuts on the threaded bar and tightened against each other

6 put the two pieces of metal on the threaded bar

7 put the last nut on the threaded bar

we have a ultra mega super strut compressor! whoo hoo

8 put the strut in the forks on the strut

you will know be able to adjust the height of the strut by turning the single nut down the threaded bar

easy

hopes this helps
if any thing does not make sense do not hesitate to contact myself

if this seems to complicated or you do not have time we made do with clamps (jubliee clamps might do) round the old gas struts
just get some inside to hold up the roof and tighten a clamp round each vertical strut until to go home then remove the clamps
it will be easier and you will be able to perform strut change out when camping is not an option in the cold dark of winter