Russ and Jennifer
Member
I've never really been happy with my rope style tiller tamer so I came up with a new method recently. I was changing out the gas struts on the rear hatch of my 2000 Chev metro and thought Huummmmm.
I haven't been able to try this out on the water yet, but sailing across the driveway it works real well very smooth and positive action and a good adjustment range.
I guess I failed miserably at taking photos of the oak adjustment block portion, but I made it by placing another piece of scrap against it and drilling at the part line so a 1/2 round in the oak portion sits on the larger body of the strut and the smaller portion rides against the rod. there's a u-bolt retaining the block to the strut that has an adjustment knob (wing nut) on one leg of the u bolt for friction control. The strut was de-presurized by drilling a 1/16" hole near one end BTW. after the gas escaped, the hole was sealed with JB weld as there's a small amount of oil in the strut as well.
Sorry it's not better detailed, but perhaps it will be food for thought if someone else decides to build a better mousetrap also.
I haven't been able to try this out on the water yet, but sailing across the driveway it works real well very smooth and positive action and a good adjustment range.
I guess I failed miserably at taking photos of the oak adjustment block portion, but I made it by placing another piece of scrap against it and drilling at the part line so a 1/2 round in the oak portion sits on the larger body of the strut and the smaller portion rides against the rod. there's a u-bolt retaining the block to the strut that has an adjustment knob (wing nut) on one leg of the u bolt for friction control. The strut was de-presurized by drilling a 1/16" hole near one end BTW. after the gas escaped, the hole was sealed with JB weld as there's a small amount of oil in the strut as well.
Sorry it's not better detailed, but perhaps it will be food for thought if someone else decides to build a better mousetrap also.