Roof strut seized

[seanb]

Hey folks,
Been a while since I been on. Well after having my bongo for many yrs I have moved on and selling my beloved van. Anyway today while checking the many things I need to put right I decided to raise the roof to check it all still works. This was a disaster as it seems a strut has seized. This buckled the roof, split the fibreglass, made a right mess. Looks like a strut has seized.
I can get the roof raised about a foot, I can see the struts. Can I change the gas struts if the roof is not full open.
Cheers

[mikeonb4c]

Ouch - sounds nasty. My guess is that if you can get a webbing strap around it to take off the tension, and you can brace the roof, that you might then be able to remove it provided you can access the bolts to undo them. Be careful though that the compressed strut can't burst from its restraint.

But a seized strut sounds a bit unlikely to me so i'll be interested to see what others say. Don't act in haste and until certain what caused it, is my advice.

[g8dhe]

Unless your certain that its a jammed strut, its just if not more likely to be a seized motor on one side or the telliflex cables/motors come loose from the mountings.
What ever has failed is going to a pig to change unless you can lift the roof, several people have done so, but its fiddly work.
There is a link here to posts about changing the struts when raised http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... =3&t=68281
Here is another regarding problems with motors and cables http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... =3&t=63021
and there is also a Factsheet in the Members area on the AFT.

[Bob]

Again, well done Geoff.

[seanb]

Well, I managed to try again today and pushed the roof up while opening and the it seems the strut had seized. The chrome end was rusty and crust formed on it. I can get the roof open to repair the damaged roof box. One question, should the strut be able to be pulled down by hand when the roof is up? I suspect the strut has lost it gas if I can pull the roof down a wee bit by hand.

[g8dhe]

No it should be VERY difficult to compress by hand! Usually need to use ratchet straps to compress them.

[seanb]

Thanks Geoff, two new struts it is

[g8dhe]

See this thread http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... =3&t=68281

[seanb]

A big thanks for the pointers on changing the struts, a really easy job with guides on here.
Job done, now to fibreglassing the crushed roof.
Thanks again
Sean

[mikeonb4c]

A big thanks for the pointers on changing the struts, a really easy job with guides on here.
Job done, now to fibreglassing the crushed roof.
Thanks again
Sean

Great you got it sorted. Maybe do a bit of research on best resin for repair as don't think its a polyester resin based roof. Here's an old thread discussing it:

http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... it+Express

[BongoBongo123]

Really pleased this ended well for you, bravo !