Gas strut length
Discussion
I have a 96 Chimaera and can measure up the strut for you tomorrow Daz.
The boot will open a bit more than the strut allows, I know this because I occasionally have to pop the strut off its ball end when I fill with gas, this is to get enough clearance for the bigger size LPG pump nozzles.
I prop the strut in the boot rain channel which equates to the additional inch of lift I need, for some time now I've been meaning to buy a strut that's 1" longer so I no longer have to pop the strut.
Perhaps this is my moment to solve the problem, I'll measure up in the morning and post the answer here, I can then order a strut 1" longer from SGS
Dave.
The boot will open a bit more than the strut allows, I know this because I occasionally have to pop the strut off its ball end when I fill with gas, this is to get enough clearance for the bigger size LPG pump nozzles.
I prop the strut in the boot rain channel which equates to the additional inch of lift I need, for some time now I've been meaning to buy a strut that's 1" longer so I no longer have to pop the strut.
Perhaps this is my moment to solve the problem, I'll measure up in the morning and post the answer here, I can then order a strut 1" longer from SGS
Dave.
SILICONEKID345HP said:
Boot strut measurement fell by the wayside, so I'll look at it tomorrow.
But didn't you get the answer (see above) already?
My current strut looks to be the original, I say this because there is the number 96 at the end of the long code printed on the ram body, it was manufactured by a company in Leicester called "Camloc".
Camloc still exist, here is their website:
http://www.camloc.com/
My 20 year old boot strut still works well which says to me Camloc make a quality product, but as I would like the boot to open a little more I'm looking to order the same strut but a fraction longer.
The free length of my current strut taken from the centre of the bottom ball joint to the centre of the top ball joint is 480mm. I have observed with the strut removed from the bottom pin the boot will easily allow for a strut that is 60mm longer, this will provide enough clearance to get the larger LPG fill nozzles onto 'Ol Gasbag's' LPG filler which we positioned at the original petrol filler point.
For everyone else the extra boot lid clearance provided by a 60mm longer strut will make getting their roof in and out of the boot a bit easier, as far as I can tell there are no downsides to using a longer strut as the hinges can easily cope with 60mm more lift, While 60mm doesn't sound like a lot in practice it translates to quite a bit more boot lid clearance than the small figure first suggests.
I'm not sure of the strut force but others have warned against ordering a ram that's too strong as it can force the boot out of alignment, current wisdom suggests a Chimaera strut should have a pushing force no greater than 250 Newtons.
Here is the Camloc code printed on the strut:
8B2200244B2025L-1Q4709-24/96
The code is not easy to read, so I may have misread the number one for an "I" or read Q when it's actually a zero?.
The number could therefore be:
8B2200244B2025L-I04709-24/96
To help, I have attached a photo of the strut showing the Camloc code.
I have emailed the Camloc technical department with view to purchasing the same strut with the same pushing force, but one that rather than measuring 480mm from centre of the bottom ball joint to centre of top ball joint, measures 60mm longer IE 540mm.
I'll keep everyone updated on this post as I progress the 60mm longer strut idea, people with a later Chimaera who have a different hinge system and a boot that conveniently opens to give a lot more clearance should ignore this post, the above information is only for those with the earlier boot hinges as later cars use a very different strut.
Dave.
Camloc still exist, here is their website:
http://www.camloc.com/
My 20 year old boot strut still works well which says to me Camloc make a quality product, but as I would like the boot to open a little more I'm looking to order the same strut but a fraction longer.
The free length of my current strut taken from the centre of the bottom ball joint to the centre of the top ball joint is 480mm. I have observed with the strut removed from the bottom pin the boot will easily allow for a strut that is 60mm longer, this will provide enough clearance to get the larger LPG fill nozzles onto 'Ol Gasbag's' LPG filler which we positioned at the original petrol filler point.
For everyone else the extra boot lid clearance provided by a 60mm longer strut will make getting their roof in and out of the boot a bit easier, as far as I can tell there are no downsides to using a longer strut as the hinges can easily cope with 60mm more lift, While 60mm doesn't sound like a lot in practice it translates to quite a bit more boot lid clearance than the small figure first suggests.
I'm not sure of the strut force but others have warned against ordering a ram that's too strong as it can force the boot out of alignment, current wisdom suggests a Chimaera strut should have a pushing force no greater than 250 Newtons.
Here is the Camloc code printed on the strut:
8B2200244B2025L-1Q4709-24/96
The code is not easy to read, so I may have misread the number one for an "I" or read Q when it's actually a zero?.
The number could therefore be:
8B2200244B2025L-I04709-24/96
To help, I have attached a photo of the strut showing the Camloc code.
I have emailed the Camloc technical department with view to purchasing the same strut with the same pushing force, but one that rather than measuring 480mm from centre of the bottom ball joint to centre of top ball joint, measures 60mm longer IE 540mm.
I'll keep everyone updated on this post as I progress the 60mm longer strut idea, people with a later Chimaera who have a different hinge system and a boot that conveniently opens to give a lot more clearance should ignore this post, the above information is only for those with the earlier boot hinges as later cars use a very different strut.
Dave.
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