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I finally got some springs for the water bay door and cannot get them installed. They are about 1/2" too long but I figure that is for slack so that they hold the door all the way open. The numbers match the old struts but I cannot compress them (150lbs) to get them on.
Anyone know of a strut compressor I can get to install these things?
Karen & Adrian Abshire
1998 2 slide 45' Newell Coach 498
Prior: 1985 Foretravel ORED 35, 1988 38' Foretravel U280, 2000 Foretravel 42' U320, 1990 Bluebird Wanderlodge WB40
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Steve Bare
1999 Newell 2 slide #531
Posts: 1,616
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It's been a while since I did my bay doors but as I remember if you pop both struts off on the bottom end as you hold the door open you can easily pop them off the top and install new strut on each side at the top. Then lower the door just enough to line the struts up with the ball at the bottom and push them on. I have never used any kind of tool to install bay door struts.....
1993 Newell (316) 45' 8V92,towing an Imperial open trailer or RnR custom built enclosed trailer. FMCA#232958 '67 Airstream Overlander 27' '67GTO,'76TransAm,'52Chevy panel, 2000 Corvette "Lingenfelter"modified, '23 Grand Cherokee.
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Thanks for the link Steve - that shows me what I have to make!
Hoosier, my struts are horizontal for the water bay - I wish they were vertical, would be a lot easier to get to and replace...
I wonder if some of those clamps from harbor freight used to clamp wood together would work for this with some modified ends...
Karen & Adrian Abshire
1998 2 slide 45' Newell Coach 498
Prior: 1985 Foretravel ORED 35, 1988 38' Foretravel U280, 2000 Foretravel 42' U320, 1990 Bluebird Wanderlodge WB40
(This post was last modified: 06-18-2016, 07:32 PM by
pairodice.)
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you should make or have made one of the strut compression tools like steve references. (steve, thank you again)
i gave one away at the rally.....
tom
2002 45'8" Newell Coach 608 Series 60 DDEC4/Allison World 6 Speed HD4000MH
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Sorry, Adrian...I thought of that after I went to bed last night and remembered your coach is 5 years newer than mine.
1993 Newell (316) 45' 8V92,towing an Imperial open trailer or RnR custom built enclosed trailer. FMCA#232958 '67 Airstream Overlander 27' '67GTO,'76TransAm,'52Chevy panel, 2000 Corvette "Lingenfelter"modified, '23 Grand Cherokee.
Posts: 1,205
Threads: 154
Joined: Sep 2012
Do all of the struts have to only be compressed by an inch or so?
Karen & Adrian Abshire
1998 2 slide 45' Newell Coach 498
Prior: 1985 Foretravel ORED 35, 1988 38' Foretravel U280, 2000 Foretravel 42' U320, 1990 Bluebird Wanderlodge WB40
Posts: 2,647
Threads: 225
Joined: Jul 2012
The first bay door strut I changed with my sons help only took about 1/2 hour. After I made one of the tools I could change a strut out in a couple minutes. Well worth making one. I actually put one together using scrap pieces of metal I had laying around. Wasn't pretty and screwed together rather than neatly welded but worked great.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
PO 1999 Foretravel 36'
1998 Newell 45' #486
1993 Newell 39' #337
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I made a compression tool for the gas springs on the rear engine door using a 1" adjustable pipe clamp. I had to grind off the sides on the sliding piece to fit into the available space and to drill a large hole in the flat surface to prevent slipping. Works great. Later l will post a photo.
2001 Newell #579
tow a Honda Odyssey
fun car: 1935 Mercedes 500K replica
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Here are photos of the tool you can make to replace your gas springs or struts for the engine door.
2001 Newell #579
tow a Honda Odyssey
fun car: 1935 Mercedes 500K replica
