I've seen one "pax" have his fingers crushed in the door and another (mine)
his head hit as the plastic ball end of the gas strut slipped off
unexpectedly on two occasions.
Duncan McFadyean
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Fillinger" <fillinger@ameritech.net>
Subject: Re: Gas Struts
> That's a pretty clever arrangement, and sounds like at least two folks
> think the benefit of the gas strut is marginal at best. The effort to
> raise the door against gravity is a wash with the effort to pull it
> down with against the force of the strut, but I wonder if a day comes
> the plexiglass will no longer endure the flexing of the door in strong
> winds (ditto re the hinges). I can see a safety benefit, as otherwise
> some pax someday somewhere is going to let it drop, while the other
> hand is draped over the jamb.
>
> Are there other benefits to the gas strut?
>
> I mocked up my arrangement yesterday, and it looks like the magic
> dimension of a single bracket is 1/2" x 10" (1/6" steel), and slotted
> for a #8 screw. Net savings over factory arrangement is over 2 oz. a
> side, plus added weight of other mods suggested so far.
>
> Regards,
> Fred F.
>
> > The KISS principle at last - congratulations!
> >
> > Peter
> > N6XX
> >
> > > Frank Mycroft wrote:
> > >
> > > I think it was G-BWKG (Trevor Jackson) who, instead of the gas struts,
> > > used two bits of light alloy angle hinged in the middle and held
> > > slightly over-centre when in the open position by a bit of rubber
> > > bungee. Seemed to work fine and having to carry the weight of the
> > > door when opening wasn't a problem, and not only did it put no strain
> > > at all on the door, it also weighed next to nothing.
>
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