EMERGENCY!!!!! PLEASE NEED SOME HELP HERE - WITH GAS SPRINGS

[benzu]

Got my gas springs in from McMaster-Carr and installed them rather easily on my galley door. I was really surprised how easy it was to install them.

Now comes the Emergency, after closing the door I noticed that my hinge was displace upward by about an inch and the whole door was being pushed upwards allowing it not to close properly. :x I know those gas springs are putting a lot of force on the hinge, but wow it's a lot! What do I do to keep the hinge in place?

I already have the hinge in place with 1 1/2" screws, should I go longer and beefier?

[mikeschn]

Gas spring are always a challenge.

If it were possible to climb into the hatch with the springs in the closed position, it would be easy to figure out where to put it. But since it like to stay in the open position when there in no load on it, we have to resort to plan B.

Estimate what the closed length is, from bracket to bracket. Then climb into the hatch with a flashlight and a tape measure, and have someone close the hatch on you. Now measure the approximate location from the top bracket to a place on the wall where the bottom bracket could go.

The trick is to have the bottom bracket just slightly lower than the compressed length. that will allow the hatch to close snugly.

If the top of the hatch is lifting up too much, then you don't have your bottom bracket low enough...

Mike...

[benzu]

I think the bottom bracket is the problem, I was trying to cut corners with the bottom bracket because where you see it now is higher then I planned it just because below where it should be I didn't account for a gas spring mount and my solid wood framing stops just below the bracket it's just 1/8 luan and foam insulation. I guess I'm going to my plan B and attach another board to the wall for added support for the lower bracket to mount on.

Thanks,

Mike

[tonyj]

Instead of trying to climb in the galley, set up a digital camera and use its timer. Using some masking tape, draw some reference marks on the wall being photographed. Set up the camera, press the shutter button, close the hatch, wait for ten seconds, open the hatch and check the picture. You might have to repeat this procedure a few times to get the correct angle and shot, but it is easier than trying to squeeze in with a flashlight!

[kennyrayandersen]

Instead of trying to climb in the galley, set up a digital camera and use its timer. Using some masking tape, draw some reference marks on the wall being photographed. Set up the camera, press the shutter button, close the hatch, wait for ten seconds, open the hatch and check the picture. You might have to repeat this procedure a few times to get the correct angle and shot, but it is easier than trying to squeeze in with a flashlight!

ooooh... clever!

[tonyj]

Instead of trying to climb in the galley, set up a digital camera and use its timer. Using some masking tape, draw some reference marks on the wall being photographed. Set up the camera, press the shutter button, close the hatch, wait for ten seconds, open the hatch and check the picture. You might have to repeat this procedure a few times to get the correct angle and shot, but it is easier than trying to squeeze in with a flashlight!

ooooh... clever!

All credit for this technique goes to Warpony.

[Micro469]

Instead of trying to climb in the galley, set up a digital camera and use its timer. Using some masking tape, draw some reference marks on the wall being photographed. Set up the camera, press the shutter button, close the hatch, wait for ten seconds, open the hatch and check the picture. You might have to repeat this procedure a few times to get the correct angle and shot, but it is easier than trying to squeeze in with a flashlight!

ooooh... clever!

All credit for this technique goes to Warpony.

Now that's thinking inside the box!!!

[Endo]

I know those gas springs are putting a lot of force on the hinge, but wow it's a lot! What do I do to keep the hinge in place?

I already have the hinge in place with 1 1/2" screws, should I go longer and beefier?

What type of hinge is that?? Could the hinge be part of the problem?

[Jiminsav]

you need to go to Lil Bear and order you a hurricane hinge..that plastic ain't gonna cut it.

[planovet]

you need to go to Lil Bear and order you a hurricane hinge..that plastic ain't gonna cut it.

I would have to agree.

Also, I think the positioning of the struts is placing too much tension on the hinge. In my humble opinion, you should reverse the strut mounting positions. I know you will have some holes to cover but I think it will help put less stress on the hinge. Here is a discussion on the subject, red highlights are my own. Of course, many have installed struts like you have and had no problems. My guess your problem is a combination of strut positioning and hinge strength (or lack thereof).

Hi Heikki,

This is Craig, I’m hijacking Betsey’s account again.

Hopefully this will make sense.

There are two ways to mount gas springs. Here is a picture showing the two ways.


The picture shows the hatch in the open position with the gas spring extended and it shows the hatch in the closed position with the gas spring collapsed.

Style 1 is, in my opinion, a less desirable configuration. Since the gas spring mounts closer to the hinge, it must be stronger to hold the hatch open and therefore, it puts more stress on the hatch and the hinge.

Style 2 puts the force farther away from the hinge and therefore requires a lighter spring. Since the spring is lighter, it puts lower stresses on the frame and hinge.

Here are a couple pointers to keep in mind:

1. The further you mount the spring from the hinge, the less stress the spring puts on the hatch and hinge.
2. The further you mount the spring from the hinge, the lighter the spring needed to hold the hatch open.
3. The spring should be mounted with the plunger down, when the hatch is closed. This will allow the lubricant in the gas spring to help keep the seal from drying out. If the seal dries out, the compressed gas leaks out and the spring loses some of it’s force.
4. When figuring out the closed length of the gas spring, add a little bit to the length. This will prevent the gas spring from bottoming out and binding.

For more info and pointers go to: http://www.mcmaster.com/
In the search on the left, type in “about gas springs”
You will see a page from their catalog that shows a lot of info about selecting and mounting gas springs.

Hope this helps,

Craig

[dan galvin]

jim is right i had a plastic hinge when i put the gas strut to it i had the same thinh happen also i had too stronge of a strut that was pushing up with to much force I got new struts 50 lb all is good now

[for what is worth]
Dan

[benzu]

Thanks everyone for their input, the hinge could be the problem but this is my second one, the first one was a hurricane hinge from grant and due to my lack of building knowledge it did not work as planned so I went to an alternative this plastic hinge. There are many people on this forum that have these types of hinges and swear by them so far I agree. They are very UV resistant and can with stand extreme temperatures. Some people have had them on their trailers for almost five years with no cracking or splitting to speak of. I'm sticking to the hinge and I'll try the style two placement with the gas spring. I did buy my gas springs from McMaster-carr so exchanging them for something different shouldn't be a problem.

I'm about to take the trailer out on it's first long camping trip to SLC, utah for 12 days currently I don't have anything to use for door props other then some wood. For now that will work.

Thanks again,

Benzie

[madjack]

...to make that hinge work OH SO MUCH BETTER...get some 1/2 or 3/4 x 1/16th flat stock aluminum and place a strip all the way across the hinge between the screws and hinge...this will eliminate the pucker between screws...I also put a screw every 2"s...whether it is needed or not...............
madjack

[benzu]

...to make that hinge work OH SO MUCH BETTER...get some 1/2 or 3/4 x 1/16th flat stock aluminum and place a strip all the way across the hinge between the screws and hinge...this will eliminate the pucker between screws...I also put a screw every 2"s...whether it is needed or not...............
madjac

Madjac,

Already done, that was something I already planned to do but couldn't wait when I got the gas springs in. I'll have to take some pictures, I used 1/2 red oak. That worked better but was still lifting was too much. I bought 120lbs gas springs, now I remeasure and get longer and less force ones.

Thanks,

[Barefoot]

Planovet wrote: ...I think the positioning of the struts is placing too much tension on the hinge. In my humble opinion, you should reverse the strut mounting positions. I know you will have some holes to cover but I think it will help put less stress on the hinge. Here is a discussion on the subject, red highlights are my own.
_________
I agree. As it is, the struts are mainly lifting the hinge (as you saw) instead of mainly lifting the hatch. Seriously consider moving the top mounting points closer to the middle or bottom end of the hatch sides, repositioning the bottom mounting points if needed. You may even find you don't such stout strts, as the leverage will be so much better.