410: Gas struts - Help!!!!

[ozsailer]

Hello all,
the gas struts that support our engine room bay access, the front lockers and the stern lockers have rusted out and in some cases lost their oomph. I am trying to replace them but everywhere I go the agents want to know the newton metre force to replace the struts. I have inspected each and every strut and there is no label identifying this information. Can anyone assist.


Greg, Sue and Bella the sea dog
SV Sunshine

[poiu]

Originally Posted by ozsailer

Hello all,
the gas struts that support our engine room bay access, the front lockers and the stern lockers have rusted out and in some cases lost their oomph. I am trying to replace them but everywhere I go the agents want to know the newton metre force to replace the struts. I have inspected each and every strut and there is no label identifying this information. Can anyone assist.


Greg, Sue and Bella the sea dog
SV Sunshine

1kg is 10N near enough. So lift the hatch by hand at the point the cylinder pushes on with the cylinders removed and estimate how many Kg it weighs in the worst case position (probably half way up). For a pair divide by two. You can use a spring balance if you want to be more accurate.

You can also buy adjustable cylinders, where you take out gas if you have got too much power. It's a one way process, so take care not to remove too much.

[Owe Hansson]

Great answer except it's 1kg = 10N (Newton) Nm is a measure of torque not force

[Owe Hansson]

If you are in Oz there are mobile guys that will supply and charge struts as required (trial and error)

[poiu]

Originally Posted by Owe Hansson

Great answer except it's 1kg = 10N (Newton) Nm is a measure of torque not force

Of course. Quite right, now corrected. Sloppy me!

[ozsailer]

Brilliant,
I can work with that.


Greg H

[gspeak]

Greg,
I got replacements in Cairns. Just take an old strut with you. They even had mine in stainless (exier) or black painted steel.

Will have to look up the supplier.

Dave


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[a64pilot]

I'd oversize a little as these things loose a little pressure over time and if it's held firmly up, no foul, but one that will fall on your head, that's not good.

[ozsailer]

Hello all, tell me if I am being an idiot with this . After reading the post of "X" kilos of weight will equate to "Y" newton metres I had a brainstorm which I truly hope wont turn into major brain fart . Trying to work out the pressure of the strut I thought that if I were to place one end of the strut on weight scales and then push it should indicate the weight at which time the strut starts to exert it maxium force. When doing this it took 20 Kilos of weight for the strut to start receding back into the main section. Multiplying this by a factor of 10 (1 Kg is = to 10 NM) I came to the conclusion that the strut has a force of approximately 200 NM. Is this correct. Or have I just proved what my wife already knows - I'm a compete imbecile

Greg H

[verkerkbr]

There are plenty Gas struts available at car breakers Yards for a small price.

These Struts are used in almost every Car or Van. And the shafts are always of stainless steel.

[Mardi Gras]

I purchased replacement gas springs for my Lagoon 39, engine hatches and forward deck lockers. I purchased some from Amazon and others from liftsupportsdepot.com. I purchased black coated cylinders rather than stainless steel. I attached a screen shot of the data.

Cheers,

Tony


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Cowboy Sailer]

Ozsailer, you did good. Now go out and multiply.

[Cheechako]

I agree with getting a little higher value strut. They are readily available on line cheap.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by ozsailer

Hello all, tell me if I am being an idiot with this . After reading the post of "X" kilos of weight will equate to "Y" newton metres I had a brainstorm which I truly hope wont turn into major brain fart . Trying to work out the pressure of the strut I thought that if I were to place one end of the strut on weight scales and then push it should indicate the weight at which time the strut starts to exert it maxium force. When doing this it took 20 Kilos of weight for the strut to start receding back into the main section. Multiplying this by a factor of 10 (1 Kg is = to 10 NM) I came to the conclusion that the strut has a force of approximately 200 NM. Is this correct. Or have I just proved what my wife already knows - I'm a compete imbecile

Greg H

ALWAYS trust your wife - and be happy for the rest of your life.

again - NM is newton-meter - a measure of torque, not force.

Struts are installed using the geometry of the positioning of the ends to play with mechanical advantage. You must have enough to hold the hatch up. Extra is not usually a problem. You can move the fulcrum if you are pressed.

We have a NOS/obsolete seller here of overstock. I had my hands on about 400 of these things of different size last weekend - cheap.

[DRS]

Google Attwood gas springs I believe the ones I use on my 380 are rated at 60 pounds

Marine & Boating Gas Springs : Attwood Marine Products