EWG

Active Member
The locking mechanism to keep the cat flap/upper tailgate horizontal or fully open of the hard top of my 1962 Series 2a is broken.
It was always an unsatisfactory feature anyway so I'm going to arrange to have telescopic gas struts made to fit.

Does anybody know how much the upper tailgate/cat flap weighs please?

The few articles I've seen on the 'net suggest around 62 lbs or 30 kilos.

Is this about right but I'd be very grateful if someone could tell how much it weighs.

Thank you
 
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I do not think it would be any where near 62lb. Take it off and weigh it. Agri parts stores will have a range of struts as many farm machine's use them,
 
I have one but it is buried at the back of the garage so I can't get to it easily. however, I carried it effortlessly with one hand so I would agree with @tottot it can't be anywhere near 62lb.

can't see it being any heavier than a car tailgate, so maybe discovery or range rover struts will do
 
I've been thinking about gas strutting the bonnet with spare tyre on. I wouldn't expect it to hold the weight, just help lift it up and down, I'd keep the bonnet prop. Reason being I have back problems and would like to keep the tub clear for a tool box.

I know bonnet gas struts are a popular mod in the car world, has anyone done it here?
 
haven't done it to a car, our merc 190e uses struts which allows the bonnet to go vertical if needed, gm trucks with big bonnets use a spring mechanism.
 
I've been thinking about gas strutting the bonnet with spare tyre on. I wouldn't expect it to hold the weight, just help lift it up and down, I'd keep the bonnet prop. Reason being I have back problems and would like to keep the tub clear for a tool box.

I know bonnet gas struts are a popular mod in the car world, has anyone done it here?
You would need to ensure that the lateral strength of the bonnet was sufficient to handle the push load of the struts, (you'd certainly need one each side), otherwise it may want to bend at the strut attachment points.
 
Thank you for all your replies.
The weight of the tailgate or cat flap is approximately 32lbs or 15.5 kilos.
If anyone is considering the same conversion as mine, there are two names I can give you :

1. SGS
2. Struts Direct

Just Google and the details appear.
 

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