Galley Gas Struts are bending my hatch out...Ideas?

[greekspeedoman]

I just put the galley gas struts in the jPod. They are 100# & work great. My only complaint is that when I close the hatch, they push so hard that it pushes the middle of my hatch out off of the seals. I am tempted to go with 80# struts but worry that it wouldn't be enough.

Here's a video of my problem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bPyWzn3y9Q

Anyone else experience this? If so, how did you fix it?

[rainjer]

I not sure but if you were to move the bottom mounting point toward the rear edge of the galley wall, the top would be pushing towards the hinge when the hatch is closed. Also, have you taken the struts out and closed the hatch? Are you sure it is the struts pushing it out?

Jeremy

[Gage]

Well if installed correctly you shouldn't have that problem. Sounds to me that your attachment to the hatch is to close to center. Have you got a picture of them with the hatch open. Mine are attached to the hatch 5" from the hinge and the only problem I had was the hinge was pulling up with 90# shocks. So I stepped down to 60 ponders and I now have no problems.

[greekspeedoman]

The hatch fits great without the struts in place. They are causing my problems. I've used the trailer for a year and just now decided to upgrade to the struts. Of course, Now I have problems...

I'd prefer to keep the geometry I have in my video clip. I'll see if a different lb strut helps. I can see the wisdom in moving the bottom out to press against the hinge. My only concern is how this would change my counter top plans & I'd need to get shorter struts.

[afreegreek]

it could be placement too. if you attach it so it's an equal distance from the hinge at both mounting locations, all the travel will be taken up in a line and force the strut to compress further than if the mounting locations were offset.

[Lou Park]

It looks like your struts are just too long.

[planovet]

I'm no expert but the struts look like they are mounted too close to the hinge. I mounted my struts where they mounted further down on the hatch. I used 150# struts. In my case, they don't push on the hatch at all when closed.

How I mounted mine:



Yours currently:



Possible solution, moving from the red area to the yellow area.

[halfdome, Danny]

It looks like you have more than ample head room when opened.
It looks like your at your maximum on the galley walls.
Try mounting the brackets an inch down the hatch in increments until it closes completely and then cover your holes with some nice molding.
If possible get inside and have someone close the hatch so you can watch the action. Danny

[Cliffmeister2000]

Hi, Mark,

I was having a similar problem and emiller told be the hinge and the shock mont w=should be within 6" of each other. Fixed my problem. So, I guess I'm agreeing with Planovet (Mark (& Cindi)). Move the bottom to within 6" of the hinge, and move the top out as required.

[greekspeedoman]

Thanks for the tips. It looks Like I'm going to move my brackets tonight. I'll keep you folks posted. Thanks for all of the feedback Mark, Cliff, and others.

We'll see how bad I can break it.

[Gage]

Thanks for the tips. It looks Like I'm going to move my brackets tonight. I'll keep you folks posted. Thanks for all of the feedback Mark, Cliff, and others.

We'll see how bad I can break it.

So what happened? Did anything work?

[greekspeedoman]

Gage,

I moved the hinge point about 6 inches below the hinge (like Mark suggested). The bulge went away.

In retrospect, this makes perfect sense. The compressed strut pressure is pushing closer to parallel with the hatch rather than perpendicular.

Thanks to everyone who offered thoughts on this. I will put up some pictures sometime soon so you can see the difference.

[planovet]

What do you know....my advice actually helped someone

Glad it worked out!

[greekspeedoman]

Your advice was awesome Mark. I need to do some finish work before the struts are in their final place. When I'm done, I'll get some pics up for others to learn from.

Thanks again.

[Gage]

What do you know....my advice actually helped someone
Glad it worked out!

That's one for Mark.