Bubble door gas struts

by William Heath

Feb 10, 2010

Thanks Michael, Jonathan, Phill, Bob, and everybody else who took the time to respond to my request.

You guys have been very helpful.

Michael, I think I will go to NAPA and try your solution since it seems to be working.

I originally purchased two struts from Aircraft Spruce, but I didn't realize they were really for raising a canopy.

They are short and very strong, will not work very well for the larger movement needed of swinging open a door. I envy you guys that are already flying. My goal is to have my 701 in the air by mid-summer.

It will have been three and a half years in the making.

Thanks again everybody for helping out. This is a great resource for Zenith builders.

Later

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  • Jim Huckins

    Ok found the scrap the NAPA part BK 819-5622....you will probably need to get the End fittings from McMaster Carr. Also is the latest cable tension still 35 Lbs for the rudder ? Checking mine tomorrow.

    Feb 11, 2010

  • Michael Petersen

    Hi William
    Sorry this has taken so long!
    Here is the whole lowdown on the struts for your doors.
    As I said, I could not keep the top mounts from popping out of the sockets on the struts. As the door comes down the strut compresses and rotates slightly and for some reason there was just not enough play to allow that without popping off, even though it was fine on my original flat doors. Measured all the original mount distances and they were within 1/32" but apparently still would not work. Scratched my head for several days and decided to make a new top mount from a flush head AN screw with a head size identical to the original ball mount. That gave it enough play to work just fine (opened and closed the door about 100 times). Anyway, that seemed to be the fix.
    As far as the gas shocks- Here is the info on the ones I got at NAPA
    NAPA part # BK.819-5622
    Manufactured/sold by Service Plus Distributors, Bristol PA 19007 Website SPDHardware.com
    Numbers on the strut read APD-GSNI-5000-60
    Niterider G06/04 7674
    Not sure if they are 60 lbs but that could be what the last number is on the strut. Like I said, tried three different strengths of the same length (11") and these seemed to work the best.
    I have some pictures but seem to have difficulty loading them on to this post. If you would like them please email me @ Winger@brainerd.net and I will send them to you.
    Hope this helps, come on up to Minnesota sometime.
    mike/body>

    Feb 15, 2010

  • Jim Huckins

    Mike, I'll send you an e-mail. Very interested in your connection points for the Gas strut. Mounting on the fiberglass door etc .
    Thanks
    Jim

    Feb 15, 2010