The 3rd order of hatch struts got here today. So I tried them out. The 60#'s were too weak. They raised the hatch but needed help up the last 2-3 inches. Not strong at all in full up position. The 70#'s are 90% right. Raise the hatch fine at it's current weight. However the hatch will get heavier as it gets skinned and so forth. So I think 80# will nail it. Even with hatch at full finished weight.
However that's not the main issue. The main problem is that the struts push against the hatch when it's in the full closed position. If I don't hold the hatch shut, it begins to open on it's own the moment I take my hands off. That happens with any pressure struts I've had on it. So it will get a tad worse with the 80# struts. The push isn't horrible. My latching system will keep it in check and shut. The opening force is not distorting the hatch or hinge. However it's still not the right way. The hatch will be stressed the whole time it's closed.
So I've read many posts about struts here again. The ones that say that at some point the struts help close the hatch all say the struts have to over center on closing to do that. Below is a pic's of my struts and hatch in the closed position.
As I look at that pic I can't see how I will ever get them to over center. Even though they have a good downward angle you can see how in their current position the force applied will want to lift the hatch. If you imagine moving the strut hatch attach point further down the hatch, to increase strut down angle, won't the force applied still want to push the hatch open? Looks like it to me.
I have some room to raise the wall mount point but not much. However now I'm really going to be lifting the hatch even higher at full open. Here is a pic at full open. Right now there is 6'4" head clearance at hatch low point. I can drop and inch or two or raise an inch or two, but that's about it.
I have such long struts because I need to lift this hatch high to get enough headroom at hatch full open. The higher wall mount point is best for my layout to keep the strut and mount out of the way of my spare tire.
I have seen struts mounted on the wall back far at the edge of the counter. With hatch mount point much closer to hinge than I have. I may be able to use that layout with the strut mounted low and way back on the wall, as long as the wall mount point gets no lower than about the level of that black screwdriver handle in the pic above. Any lower and my spare tire won't roll past the strut mount when I need to take it out.
So do I just live with a hatch that's wanting to push itself open? It does work. Or make myself nuts with more attempts?
So far I am stumped, frustrated and losing patience with this. Any input would be appreciated. Right now I don't care if I end up with swiss cheese galley walls. Which way do I move which mount points to get this working right?