Horizonal lift struts

[jrthomas]

OK. Here it is. I have a Model 4 Speedster and I have a pair of the streamlines lift struts for the horizontal. The front attachment is the ball type adjustable but the rear is flat with a 1/4" hole. The bolt is 3/16". Is this too much "slop" that might cause excessive wear? I appreciate all advise. James Thomas

[HighWing]

James,
The hole is supposed to be 3/16" as you know. I don't think I would be comfortable with the excess room. A couple of thoughts. I think the first thing I would try is to make a bushing that would reduce the hole diameter. An idea might be to get a couple of quarter inch steel pop rivets, remove the mandrel and drill to 3/16" ID and cut the free end slightly shorter than the tab thickness. If you weld or have a friend who does, you could weld the hole shut sand smooth and redrill.
Lowell

[jtpitkin06]

Make bushings from a short piece of 1/4 inch O.D. steel brake line tubing available at auto parts or from salvage. The I.D. is 3/16


JP

[wwillyard]

I modified mine with rod ends for easy adjustment.

[Av8r3400]

I scrapped mine with the rod ends for a solid "V" shaped strut. I was not happy with the idea of that tiny threaded rod-end.

[jrthomas]

I may have solved my problem. I have some hard nylon tubing, the type you might run control cables through. It's 3/16" inside diameter and 1/4" outside. I cut a piece just wide enough for the thickness of the strut and slid it on the bolt then through the lift strut. It should prevent any movement that might wallow out the 1/4" hole and give some cushioning too. What do y'all think, good fix or not? James Thomas

[HighWing]

Good idea, that would work for me.
Lowell

[Av8r3400]

I would add a washer on either side and call her fixed. :D