How to Find the Correct Replacement Gas Strut
If you’re searching for a replacement gas strut, the process is straightforward. Each gas strut is marked with a part number, usually stamped or printed directly on to the cylinder. Simply locate this number, jot it down, and enter it into the search box above – just remember to omit any spaces or hyphens for best results. This will quickly guide you to the exact strut you need, making replacement a simple task rather than a guessing game.
If you’re uncertain about compatibility or if the markings have worn off, don’t worry. Our team is always on hand to help you identify the best match, whether for a classic car boot or the lid of your vintage camper. Reliable, speedy service is our standard: once you’ve found your strut and placed an order, our team moves promptly to process your quote, so you’ll be back up and running without delay.
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What to Do If the Part Number Is Hard to Read
It’s not uncommon for the part number on your old gas strut to be tricky to spot – especially if it’s been printed in blue on a black background or has faded with use. If you’re struggling to make it out, there are a couple of practical steps you can take:
- Check for any remaining visible digits or letters using a torch or by gently wiping the surface clean
- Take a clear photo of the strut from different angles – sometimes details show up better on camera
- Compare your strut to similar Camloc models to help narrow down your options
- If you’re still stuck, reach out to us on the phone or by email. Our engineering team is ready to walk you through identification and recommend the right replacement
When you have your new strut, we recommend you note down the part number somewhere safe for future reference. This simple step saves time and trouble next time you need a replacement.
Gas strut dos and don’ts
Here is a list of a few things we recommend when designing your application and mounting our gas struts.
Preventing Over-Compression and Over-Extension
Do incorporate robust mechanical stops in your design to safeguard your gas struts. By adding physical limits at both the fully open and fully closed positions, you ensure your gas struts never travel beyond their intended range. This simple addition protects the struts from potential internal damage caused by excessive extension or compression, and contributes to reliable, long-lasting performance in your application.
Do Different Applications Require Special Gas Struts?
Whether you’re fitting gas struts to a kitchen cabinet, a motorhome hatch or agricultural equipment, you might wonder if there’s a big difference in how they’re made or installed. The short answer is: while gas struts serve a wide variety of roles – from supporting car boots to lifting beds and opening heavy machinery panels – the essential installation guidelines remain consistent across applications.
The specifics of size, force and materials may vary to suit different environments (think marine-grade corrosion resistance or heavy-duty plant equipment), but the fundamental principles are the same. Once you understand the basics of mounting and handling gas struts, you’ll find that the same core rules apply, no matter where they’re used. This means if you can install a gas strut on a kitchen cupboard, you already have the know-how to fit one in a camper van or on agricultural machinery.
With that reassurance, let’s look at some important dos and don’ts for reliable, safe gas strut performance in any setting.
Types of Gas Struts for Various Applications
Gas struts are an essential component across a surprisingly wide range of applications, far beyond just automotive use. Here’s a breakdown of some common types and where you might find them in action:
- Automotive struts: Used in car bonnets, boots and hard tops for easy opening and safe support
- Marine struts: Designed to withstand harsh marine conditions, these are perfect for hatches and storage compartments on boats and yachts
- Industrial struts: Heavy-duty gas springs built for plant machinery, equipment hatches and industrial panels
- Recreational vehicle struts: Ideal for motorhomes, campervans and caravans – think overhead storage, beds and access panels
- Furniture and interior struts: Providing gentle, controlled movement in beds, kitchen cabinets and other furniture pieces
- Agricultural and commercial vehicle struts: Frequently fitted to access panels and storage units on tractors, harvesters and work vehicles
- Specialty struts: Including roof light or skylight struts for smooth, safe opening and closing in both residential and commercial settings
As you can see, whatever the project – from a boat hatch to a kitchen cabinet – there’s a gas strut designed to handle the job efficiently and safely.
Do
Do mount our gas struts in pairs to prevent side loading. Mounting in pairs helps balance the load and reduces the risk of uneven wear or stress on the piston rod and seals.
Do mount our gas struts rod down to ensure that the main rod seal is well lubricated at all times; this ensures that the oil is in the correct position to allow you to benefit from our end of stroke damping. It is recommended that during storage, gas springs are kept rod down. Proper orientation – ideally within 60 degrees of vertical – also minimises wear and tear and extends the life of the strut.
Do ensure that all our end fittings are fully screwed down on to the gas springs, as this will reduce the chance of the threaded studs being broken off during operation. Make sure the end fixings are in line to prevent any side load forces and always fully tighten the fixings on to the strut.
Do use ball joint end fittings wherever possible, as this will reduce the risk of side loading the gas springs. Ball joints help alleviate uneven forces and prevent damage; whenever using ball joints, ensure the ball joint studs are screwed into the application all the way up to the spanner flats, with the cup of the bearing fitted securely over the ball joint.
Do provide physical stops at the strut’s limits – make sure the strut cannot be over-extended or over-compressed, as this preserves the integrity of both the strut and the application.
Do avoid external side load forces on the gas strut or the end fittings, and always keep the piston rod clean from contaminants and debris to maintain optimal operation.
When releasing pressure from your Vari‐Lift gas springs, always let the gas out in small amounts; that way, you are less likely to de‐gas the struts past the pressure you require.
It is always recommended, when a heavy object is being lifted up to allow an operator to gain access underneath it, that an Econoloc gas strut is used. This is to ensure the operator’s safety in the event that the gas springs are overloaded or misused.
Don’t
Do not apply solvents to the gas struts as this can wash the lubricating oil off the piston rod and also degrade the seals, which can cause the seals to fail prematurely.
Do not paint the gas struts as this could transfer on to the piston rod which may pass the main rod seal of the gas spring and cause the seals to fail.
Do not grip the piston rod in any way as grooves or damage can cause oil and gas to leak out of the gas strut.
Do not apply anything to the piston rod as this can cause the main rod seal to fail during cycling.
Never pierce or heat gas springs as they act as a pressure vessel. When used correctly and manufactured to our strict manufacturing and engineering procedures, gas springs are very safe.
Additional important precautions:
- Do not lubricate a gas strut. They are already filled with oil for damping and are designed to be self-lubricating.
- Do not puncture or incinerate gas struts under any circumstance. They are under high pressure and can be hazardous if mishandled. For safe disposal, consult a professional service.
- Never attempt to re-gas or refill a strut yourself. This is a hazardous operation and should only be performed by qualified personnel.
Taking these precautions will help ensure both your safety and the longevity of the gas struts.
