betamark
4th July 2006, 05:46 PM
I finally got rid of the broom handle holding up the tailgate of my 77 HPE. I knew I had one good gas strut and one that was way to weak to do the job. I tested the good one by placing it on my bathroom scale and with gloved hands put my weight on it, it compressed at about 160 lbs. I found one of similar size online at McMaster-Carr. It was rated at 130 lbs. with slightly less stroke. (I tested it using my scale method, it compressed at 140 lbs.) I installed it and it works fine. I put washers on the threaded ends of the strut before threading on the eyelets, lengthening the extended measurement a bit. It does not open as far as the original struts, but that is ok. Whether or not two of the 130 lb. units would hold the tailgate open, I cannot say. My tailgate will hold at 30% closed from full open, so they might hold at the full open position which is more mechanically advantageous to the strut, dunno. Mc Masters-Carr numbers are 9416 K338 for the strut. It will appear in the catalog as 9416k15 you have to choose the force rating at 130, extended is 10.71" stroke is 3.94". Eyelets, you will need two per strut, are 9416 K84, they fit perfectly. Total cost including freight: $18.15