QSPSB2

I wasn't referring to that type of screen door spring...

Something more like these.. They are also used on gates..

ttr125fan09

My Feedback: (1)

some one else adapting struts, anyways

my thoughts on the struts where to basically make the part boxed in red as the bottom spring retainer


and possible thread the body of the strut, kinda like baja5b shocks, so that you could use a nut as the top spring retainer
like these


this is what i plan on doing once i get my struts
feel free to copy

EDIT

i wouldnt suggest resizing them, or trying to fill them with oil, they are nitrogen charged, just like dirtbike shocks, i also suggest reading the labels, they may have the amount of weight they can hold,

Dirty_Vinylpusher

Ah yes of course.
That might be the go.

Dirty_Vinylpusher

And then fill them with oil?

Also, You'd have to shorten the whole setup yeah?
Unless you get hold of some very short struts.


(I giggle everytime I type "struts" as it's the swedish word for ostrich...
So all this talk about converting ostriches to shockies is pretty amusing to me.)

ttr125fan09

My Feedback: (1)

it would be extremely difficult to fill them with oil, as they are nitrogen charged, i made an edit on my last post

Dirty_Vinylpusher

I put them in the drillpress vice, tied a rope to the handle and stood outside the shed when drilling a hole in the body, just in case.
It just went "Pffffttt" and that was it.
No biggie.

ttr125fan09

My Feedback: (1)

hmm, kool, fill them then!!!
also, i have fould 7 inch long struts, on ebay, but i guess you could shorten them if you have to

hehe ostrich

ttr125fan09

My Feedback: (1)

i was thinking about something...
do you really need to modify a strut to have a spring,
because, when you compress a strut, it pops back into place because there are no holes it the bladder thing, the part on the shaft, inside the body of the strut
maybe you could even use the struts without modifying them at all

they work the exact same as these, but on a smaller scale

Dirty_Vinylpusher

Yeah I'm not sure about that.
If you can find a strut that's weak enough, maybe.....


The ones I got are definitely waaaaay to big and strong.
Probably bonnet struts I reckon.


I'll chop a couple up later and see what can be done.




I found these vids yesterday when lookng for info regarding the dangers of puncturing gas struts.
First I found this one:

Note: TURN THE VOLUME DOWN, these are very noisy videos [:@]






[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZmYXhaOEHo[/youtube]






And I though "sweet" no worries just drill a hole in it.
too easy,









But then I came across THIS one.





[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5rmb9eEHys[/youtube]



That's when I decided to tie a rope to the drillpress and stand outside when drilling.......






I dunno, some of them might explode, but I think it's more to do with the fact that in that second vid they're actually crushing it rather than letting the gas out through a small hole.



Anyone....?

Frederik_b

By looking at how easy to push the strut looked in the first video, maybe it's more related to the strut strenght or strut condition. I would definately not sit in the same room while attempting to do this.. Kind of like "roulette russe", dont know what is the expression in english.. The rope trick might work but I dont know, a piece of steel from the strut going fast enough might pop through the door, blow a window, etc..

Now if you use a large scale servo to trigger the press drill in your shed with your failsafe radio and hide in the basement of your house you should be safe hahahaha

Or shoot it with a rifle with a telescope from 100m

What usually is the diameter of a gas strut shaft? Is it standard always the same ?(the rod, not the cylinder) Might do a nice material for the struts shafts on my project, if someone find a safe way to undo them. I bought a set for my hood and I was not able to compress them with my hands so I agree with you that You'd have to find a very soft one to be able to use it directly. and those are generally slow to re-extend, slower than a spring with an appropriate damper.

Fred

EditV, if you have a chance to see how long is the seal assembly of the strut.

Also to make shocks with them,If you can cut one an shorten it to 4 or 5 inches body shorten the rod too, and refill with oil you would have a very nice shock!

ttr125fan09

My Feedback: (1)

hmm, it think it may have alot to do with the amount of pressure,
a 120lb strut may blow up as compared to a 30lb

I dont have speakers so no volume, good sometimes, bad alot of times

i like the first video! good find

ivyspoppy

Dont give up your day job, Your not a welder

Dirty_Vinylpusher

Frederik - the ones I got are all 8mm dia rods. (Or 0.3149606299216 inches)



Ivyspoppy - If that's all you have to add after reading all 4 pages of this thread I think we can do without your contributions in the future.

Dirty_Vinylpusher

Ok so it's starting to come together now.
Got the lower arms tacked in place and am going to relax and have a couple of beers for the rest of the day.

troppo

We dont want or need that attitude round here, pull your head in or bugger off................


Looking good DVP, once you get the shocks sorted its going to be a blast to run!

Dirty_Vinylpusher

Well I just drilled another 2 and same thing happened, just a bit of a hissing noise.
No explosions or things flying around.
Still used the rope though and stood at a safe distance.
There's no way the piston itself could shoot out the bottom from drilling a hole in the body.


.....is there?





Oh and the expression in English is Russian Roulette.

troppo

Nah mate, if your only drilling a hole theres no chance the piston will come flying out.
Its a fairly high pressure gas, but the only real chance of explosion is if you compress the body of the strut.
I`ve seen these things drilled cut and welded, you can weld a nut to the bottom of it for a filling point, just put a short bolt with thread tape on itand you have a refillable shock.

Dirty_Vinylpusher

What, with the gas still inside them?

What do you do for work anyway Troppo?
Seems to have a lot to do with trucks, machinery and welding?

troppo

Nah mate NOT with the gas in them (Mumbling about some damned fool lol)
I`m a motor body builder, we build repair modify and customise truck and trailer bodies.
Theres not as much shaping as i would like but it pays the bills, i have to weld anything from .8mm to 12 mm but prefer the smaller stuff personally. I like the fabrication side of things but theres not a lot of call for it outside of high dollar restoration and i`m not that good, never had the right teachers lol

Dirty_Vinylpusher

Didn't think so but you kinda made it sound that way.
Just thought I'd check.

Lars from Norway

Haha!So they are called struts in Sweden too?Then we are two who giggles a lot hereHave you considered welding a tube between the "legs" on the wishbone where the bolt goes through?

Dirty_Vinylpusher

Yes I just didn't have any in the shed at the time.
Will go looking for some today.

Have done a bit more since the last pictures.
Tacked the struts on to the arms just to get an idea of how it's gonna work.

Will also have a look around for some springs today.

ttr125fan09

My Feedback: (1)

good work,
one question, where did you get your ball joints??

Frederik_b

From the ostrich








scroll up a bit and you will see the gas struts he used and cut (from car trunks and hoods)

ttr125fan09

My Feedback: (1)

i guess im not getting ball joints (the ostrich doesnt like me!) lol

hmm, off the struts, smart, simple, and easy, i like it!