on 9/7/03 6:36 AM, JR (Bob) Gowing at gowingjr@acr.net.au wrote:
>
> Kingsley
>
> Put me on the list of interested persons please.
> J R
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kingsley Hurst" <hurstkr@growzone.com.au>
> To: <europa-list@matronics.com>
> Subject: Europa-List: Door Support
>
>
> <hurstkr@growzone.com.au>
>>
>> Hello All,
>>
>> This posting is rather belated but nevertheless I think it is worth doing.
>> Some time ago, there was considerable discussion regarding the problem of
>> deformation of the doors and the method of attachment of the gas struts.
>>
>> I now wish to announce to the world that I have adopted the principle and
>> now sing the praises of Ted Gladstone's brilliant idea which completely
>> eliminates all strain on the door as a result of the forces applied by the
>> gas strut.
>>
>> Before carrying out this mod, I must admit to having first tried the
>> "alternative" method which I think most builders are now adopting. When I
>> did so however, I still found that the door deformed slightly where the
>> strut attached at its new location and also that the gap at the top of the
>> door opened up an extra 1.5mm. Further, on closing the door, there was a
>> large amount of distortion requiring it to be positively held in alignment
>> before it could be fully closed. Admittedly, there was no perspex in the
>> door to provide extra bracing but it was my desire that the perspex should
>> not have to contribute in this manner. I therefore went to the trouble of
>> laying up one ply of carbon fibre on the inner surface from the rear hinge
>> to 2/3 of the way down the back of the door. This strengthened the door
>> considerably but I was still not happy about the poor rear hinge having to
>> withstand the consistent 25 to 27 kg load. If you don't feel sorry for
> the
>> hinge, see how long you can hold the gas strut fully closed. I hadn't got
>> to replacing the new attachment point when I learned of Ted's idea and I
>> immediately recognised it as being what I consider the only true answer to
>> the problem found to date.
>>
>> Because I am not constrained by limitations imposed by the PFA like Ted
> is,
>> I was able to make mine slightly different from Ted's in as much as I cut
>> the bottom out of the gas strut channel in order that I could make it a
>> little deeper which in turn allowed a little longer strut and slightly
>> differing geometry which I am pleased to be able to say has been most
>> rewarding. Anybody who is interested in this approach and who hasn't yet
>> installed the roll over bracing at the back between the doors would be
> well
>> advised to do the modified layup of the channels and the reinforcement
>> section all in one go because it provides a good opportunity to include a
>> couple of layers of uni from just below the lower end of the channel right
>> across to the same point on the opposite side.
>>
>> The end result of all this is that I now have doors (still without
> perspex)
>> that close without the slightest sign of misalignment, that have
> absolutely
>> no residual strain on them when fully closed and have a much improved hold
>> open force which supports 4 x 1 kg bags of sand placed on the larger area
> of
>> the door when fully open. The only disappointment was that the carbon
> fibre
>> layups have been made completely redundant but I am certainly not going to
>> remove them now.
>>
>> CAVEAT
>>
>> This mod does require a reasonable amount of work and indeed patience and
> I
>> would suggest it is not for the feint hearted. If you like a bit of a
>> challenge then the reward is there for the taking.
>>
>> For me, it is one of those things that when completed, makes me feel good
>> every time I operate it as opposed to being something that "I wish I had
>> done"
>>
>> If there is sufficient interest, I would be prepared to draw up the
>> dimensions I finally arrived at. I have photos and a video of the
> operation
>> but unfortunately I don't know how to make the video condensed enough to
>> publish it on the web. If I am requested to supply details I wish to
> point
>> out that I have to do so with full acknowledgement to Ted Gladstone for
> the
>> advice and assistance provided by him to me several months ago for which I
>> am extremely grateful. Thanks Ted. Hope you haven't taken out a patent!!
>>
>> Regards
>> Kingsley Hurst
>> Mono Classic 281 in Oz
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
I also would very much like to see how this was done as my time to do it
would be now that I already relocated the struts to the mid section of the
door. Oh well.
Jeff
A258
|