So, I took one of the struts off the wet bay door of my 97 U295 to measure it, and could't compress it enough to get it reinstalled. Is there a trick to installing this struts? I would like to replace the struts since most will not hold the bay doors open.
Thanks,
Bruce
Bruce,
Some use a ratcheting tie down wrapped around it's length (this seems hard for me) others use a long bar clamp that have the faces modified to keep the shock in the center.
Now the doors on your coach should have a lock that will hold the pantograph doors open. You should be able to push the door all the way up next to the coach wall and hear the lock click. To release the door just use the door handle as you would to open the door.
Mike
Bruce check the forum, Roger had a picture of a wood block he made for ease of strut installation,
Hopefully he will chime in
Chris
It took me a while to find Rogers do dad Gas struts at LP tank door (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=39552.msg389882#msg389882)
Mike
Another recent discussion
How to change basement rams (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=40863.0)
They are also known as a springlift (Attwood's name for them) if you do a forum search for ideas.
Be careful replacing both struts. Our fiberglass is old and brittle and when I replaced both, the 4 foot doors started breaking under the pressure to close them so I took one new one off ( put the old one back) and left one new one on and they are fine now. Brad at FT knows the proper strut pounds for the doors size.
Bar clamps in most hardware stores, and sometimes Walmart.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=irwin+bar+clamps&cvid=a7804c35cf634f49a6a08f9906d213da&FORM=ANAB01&PC=DCTS
Finally finished installing the basement ram today. I used an Irwin 24" bar clamp and on the screw handle end since the rubber pad is floppy I used a washer to keep the ram end centered. I used a 2x to support the door when I released the old ram. I removed the old dead ram then after popping up the metal keepers the new ram just slipped on. Set the 2 keepers and removed the bar clamp. Easy.
Another option I used was to start drilling a hole in the clamp on the Irwin clamp to center and keep the strut in place.
Thanks everybody. Was able to reinstall the strut with a bar clamp fairly easily.