The big end of the gas strut (spring) has to be up so the oil will be metered through a small internal orifice to get a smooth steady damped movement. The seals do not have any tendency to dry out. If you put the rod end upper-most, you will not get the damped action on extension, and then on retraction you'll get a hydraulic lock before full retraction is completed. Take care not to scratch the rod or let it corrode; the rough spots will gouge the shaft seal and cause leaks. The higher quality gas springs have an internal seal that peals back and forth something like peeling a latex glove inside-out off your hand or rolling the glove back on. The result is no shaft seal to leak. For sources just do a Google search using Gas Springs as key words. Some vendor sites will also show you how to size the gas springs for your application. Sid Wood Tri-gear KR-2 N6242 Mechanicsville, MD, USA sidney.w...@l-3com.com
McMaster Carr or WW Grainger, do not remember for sure but someone sells valve adjustable gas struts. Open the valve and release pressure until it is where you need it. I have no idea what happens if you release too much pressure? Maybe more can be added, maybe it can't, I have no idea. I know someone who has one on his canopy but I have not questioned him about it. I have been told that the big part (gas and oil end) goes upward when extended, the small shaft should be coming out the bottom when extended (inverted that is) the reason is said to be that the seals where the shaft comes out will dry out if in the opposite direction. If you look at the gas struts on auto hoods, van hatchback doors etc, the shaft comes out the bottom on all of them when extended. Larry H. ________________________________ From: "sidney.w...@l-3com.com" <sidney.w...@l-3com.com>t Robin, Drilling a hole in the gas spring will produce an oil shower depending on which end you go for. The oil is for damping, so you can get a smooth, controlled steady movement. Proper operation depends on which end is up. Welding will most likely destroy the elastic seals. A better approach is to get the gas springs sized for your application. The gas springs are rated in pounds force at full rod retraction. How much PSI that turns out to be is not of any concern. As the rod extends, the force will steadily diminish until it hits the stop; the
