If I open the small rear barn door on uneven ground, I have to do some sort of contortion act to keep the door open and do what ever I need to in the back. This is sometimes difficult when holding a certain beverage, where spilling even a single drop would be sacrilegious. So, I lost my temper with the damn door, and used all 11 official languages at it, as well as some sign language. Upset and irritable, I rummaged through my garage to "MacGyver" a cunning plan.
I found some of my old gas struts that had gone soft. Of the 4 I found, one was very soft and I could push the rod in by hand with a reasonable amount of force, even though it says 550Nm on it ( I doubt it is anything even close to that). I found the 2 swively thingys that fit on the ends, and found a bracket that was for an old garage door motor.
I cut the bracket up and proceeded to check that the stroke length will work on the door. With a little common sense and a tape measure I marked where the bracket must be fixed to the body, and where the piston rod end must fit to the underside of the door. I then center punched where to drill and made the hole ( scary stuff !!! ). I then did the same on the underside of the door.
I cleaned up the holes and painted the exposed metal to ensure there will be no rust issue, and fastened all the bolts. OH MY GOODNESS !!!!...... It is the most beautiful thing I have ever done to the Iron Maiden......hahahaha
What a pleasure to open the door now. The door doesn't slap you silly when you open it, but one still needs to hold the door to prevent it slamming open ( I know ......slamming open ......that sounds weird ), and it is still a 2 finger operation to close the door too, BUT .... the friggin thing stay open now !!!!!
It could probably be slightly less pressurized to assist the unwary trying to sneak into the back of the Patrol, but then I will at least know who was trying to get in when I see them knocked out on the floor.....
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