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Hot Rods installing gas lift cylinders ??

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by putz, May 14, 2020.

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  1. putz
    Joined: Jan 22, 2007
    Posts: 636

    putz
    Member
    from wisc.

    made a metal tonneau cover for my 40 ford pu. ,installed a set of gas cyl. : same type used a caddy : ,it takes two men and a boy to close cover , i have cyl. on angle ?
     
  2. move it a little closer to the hinge
     
  3. Penetrator
    Joined: Aug 25, 2011
    Posts: 514

    Penetrator
    Member
    from SK CAN

    "Pounds of force required". There are several calculators available online, some better than others.
     
  4. GordonC
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,141

    GordonC
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Need to match lift cylinders to weight of the tonneau cover.
     
    Boneyard51 likes this.

  5. cshades
    Joined: Sep 2, 2011
    Posts: 554

    cshades
    Member
    from wi

    I am building a 39 chevy truck with a cover on it. After having a few trucks come in with the gas cylinders installed and seeing the damage they were causing from the stress I went with screw drive actuators to lift and lower the cover with a switch in the cab on both sides. The actuators are a bit more money but I think a better solution to the problem. just my 2 cents
     
    1934coupe and Boneyard51 like this.
  6. When you're shopping online for these puppies, search "gas struts" to get the most sellers.
    I have a couple of vehicles that use them and I haven't had much luck finding some that last more than a few years.
     
  7. X2 that you just need to get gas struts with lower force. It is probably in Newtons, may be in pounds of force. Find your current struts force rating, and then get some with the same length and ends, but less force. Problem solved.
     
  8. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Some rumpkin asked if I had gas struts under my leather F100 tonneau.

    I said, "No...it comes off with the polished stainless snaps you see..."
     
  9. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,144

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    As I've said on other strut related threads......don't buy them off the internet because they are the cheapest or because the shipping is free, the cheap struts will cost you the same in shipping costs as the premium ones if you miss figured and need to return them, on custom applications like this it can be a bit of a guessing game.
    I always suggest to get friendly with the NAPA strut specification book (and the counterman), I needed to exchange struts twice on the ones for the trunk lid (heavy) on my Nova.
    Most custom strut projects will usually have multiple requirements besides weight considerations such as free length, compressed length as well as end attatchment styles.
    I even had to reengineer my attachment adapters to make the final set work correctly but when everything is right it is a thing of beauty to watch them work.
    My NAPA store was able to get all three sets from the local warehouse so there was no shipping costs for the two returns.
     
  10. Wait till one actuator misfires and the other side does it's job.
     
    Atwater Mike likes this.
  11. Most damage caused by struts has more to do with still trying to Lift while in full closed position. If it just goes over center at closed position the ram is now holding it closed and should not be able to bend or spring the attached body part.
     
  12. cshades
    Joined: Sep 2, 2011
    Posts: 554

    cshades
    Member
    from wi

    I made the actuator mounts so they can be unbolted from the bottom in an emergency.
     
  13. BamaMav
    Joined: Jun 19, 2011
    Posts: 6,711

    BamaMav
    Member
    from Berry, AL

    I think what pist-n-broke was referring too was one side pushing up or down while the other stayed stuck in position, twisting your deck lid...
     
    Pist-n-Broke likes this.
  14. Pat Thompson
    Joined: Apr 29, 2012
    Posts: 256

    Pat Thompson
    Member

    Oreillys should have a book with the poundage in it.
     
  15. Exactly!
     
  16. fordor41
    Joined: Jul 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,011

    fordor41
    Member

    You can buy gas springs thru McMaster- Carr. They have a chart to calculate pivot point, weight, etc to get correct force. You can also buy gas springs that you can bleed off gas to get correct force.
     

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