Quote:
Originally Posted by Lenie
Does anyone out know if there's a site out there that sells ss struts that will work w/fesler hood hinges for my 68 firebird w/original steel hood. Mine stopped working last week and am looking for hopeful replacements. I know the fesler site sells them but I really don't want to spend $230 plus tax and shipping every three years for my $700 hood hinges. Please don't take this wrong, I'm not bashing fesler products at all as they are beautiful pieces, and yes I have called them and they were very polite but I'm just not wanting to finance the upkeep at the asking price and am hoping there are other options out there for struts otherwise I will just put my stock ones back on as they work fine. I've been unable to find any but was hoping someone else has found something. Thanks ahead of time.
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Hello Lenie,
I'll tell you what, if you send us back your weak struts I can give you $100 credit towards a new pair. Unfortunately the advice given here, while generous, won't solve your problem. We have our struts custom made for our applications. This is one of the reasons they are pricier than our competitors. Our manufacturing standards are quite strict and we spend the extra money to implement features such as double seals. As far as our competitors struts, they won't fit. As mentioned above, our struts are custom built and that holds true for their size as well as construction. Price wise it would be handy if our struts were an "off the shelf" type of product like what McMaster and our competitors sell but it is not. I have listed some Tips and Tricks here that will help your struts last as long as 10 years. It all comes down to maintenance. Hopefully this post helps you with your dilemma. I will make sure my staff knows the situation should you decide to call in and take advantage of the trade in. If you should have any questions, you can always reach us here at (480) 748-2000 or take advantage of our online chat feature.
Tips & Tricks for Gas Struts
1. Shaft down is the preferred option for mounting a gas lift support. In order to achieve the damping or cushion at the end of the gas spring's travel, the piston assembly inside of the gas spring must pass through oil, slowing the extension speed near the end of the stroke. Shaft down orientation also ensures that the shaft and sealing components are consistently lubricated which reduces seal wear and maximizes the life of the gas spring.
2. Using your hinges actually extends the life of the struts. Because each strut contains oil and seals, moving the oil around by opening and closing the hood will prolong the life of your strut. Hinges that are left sitting for long periods of time actually contribute to the strut wearing out faster because the seals in the strut actually dry out and crack which causes the gas and sometimes oil to leak out, making the strut useless.
3. Because hot gas expands, heat will make the struts stiffer. For every additional 15-degrees of heat above 70-degrees expect a 3% increase in pressure. If your hinge is having trouble keeping the hood up, try heating the gas lift support with a blow-dryer or heat gun for a few seconds. (Do not expose the strut to extreme heat for longer than 15 seconds). Since gas lift supports are affected by temperature, your hinges may function differently in different weather climates.
4. Output force of all gas springs slowly decreases over time. Many factors affect the rate of force loss, such as: cylinder size, orientation, amount of cycles, ambient temperature, vibration and the geometry of the application. Extreme operating conditions such as temperature, dust & contaminants may shorten the expected life of any strut.
Sincerely,
Carrie Fesler
(480) 748-2000
www.feslerbuilt.com
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