[Jasen]

After 3 years of using the prop stick I decided to replace it...

with a couple Strongarm gas springs also known as lift supports. $35 each at Schucks/Kragen/Checker/O'Rileys

First support the hatch with a prop stick. I'll rent you mine for 50 cents an hr. plus shipping. Rental time starts at time of shipping and ends at time returned.

Now pry loose the retaining clips (one at either end) there is no need to completely remove it, just pry it up enough to remove the support from the ball post.

Theres a notch to slip in a small straight blade screw driver.

Clip removed just so you can see what it looks like, no need to remove for install.

Ball socket with clip installed.

Now hold the dome light switch firmly (one per side) and unscrew the lift support and slide out. You might need to grab the lift ram with a pair of pliers to break it loose.

Now slide the new support into the dome light switch and screw on good and tight. Make sure you align the tab and slot of the ball catch and the dome light switch.

Now just push each end of each ball catch onto the ball post. They'll just snap in.

Make sure you ship my prop stick back ASAP as not to get charged any unnecessary rental fees :mrgreen:

 

[moneymaker]

Does the prop stick have any stress cracks or fatigue? Is there a money back guarantee?

 

[Jasen]

The prop stick is 3 years old and to how long it sat at the lumber yard prior to that can not be determined at this time. Moisture, temperature and possible insect infestation play a major role in the longevity of the prop stick. It has been primed to protect against these elements, but there is no warranty expressed, implied or otherwise, other then it is a stick and has splinters.
A sure way to know if the prop stick has failed is if you wake up bent over the double doors and have a moderate to savvier pain or aching sensation to your chest, back, shoulders, and or head, based on the given height of your physical structure. If this occurs, discard the prop stick in accordance with Federal EPA standards and find youself a nudder stick.

 

[Tygre II]

Does the prop stick come with a multi lingual instruction book poorly translated from Chinese to English? Does it have a 800 number going to India for customer support?

Great Write-up, by the way. Thanks...
:goodpost:

 

[Jasen]

It was designed in the US, engineered in Japan and manufactured in Mexico. The owners manual is English to Korean to Chinese to Engrish.
Unfortunately the customer service folk in Bangladesh have been over worked for many years. Customer service is now out of Nigeria.

 

[Leeann_93]

:lol:

 

[Casey]

Is it typical that both struts fail at the same time, and suddenly? My '95 hatch struts 'let loose' a few days ago out of the blue. :screaming:

 

[Leeann_93]

Is it typical that both struts fail at the same time, and suddenly? My '95 hatch struts 'let loose' a few days ago out of the blue. :screaming:

Yes - especially in the cold.

 

[Jasen]

One of mine was still pretty good. It took a lot for me to push it closed once I had it removed. But one isn't enough to hold up the hatch.

 

[Leeann_93]

No, it isn't. The hatch is pretty danged heavy.

 

[ihatemybike]

Not a fix, but I like better than a prop stick. Since my parts van has blown lift supports, I use small locking pliers on one of the extended rods with it clamping just enough to keep the door up, but not enough to scratch/dent the rod.

 

[Leeann_93]

Not a fix, but I like better than a prop stick. Since my parts van has blown lift supports, I use small locking pliers on one of the extended rods with it clamping just enough to keep the door up, but not enough to scratch/dent the rod.

That's what I did with a Dodge Omni a loooong time ago until I could afford to replace the supports. Works nicely

 

[dogwagon1]

a great write up especially with the pics I did mine in 5 mins only did one though, the bad one, if it ain't broke dont fix it LOL :goodpost:

 

[Munken]

My gas springs gave up a couple of weeks ago, at the first night with temperatures below zero. I bought blueprints for the prop stick from Russia .....
The instructions were impossible to read, and I just realized that I has been using it upside down all the time.

 

[Jasen]

Wow, you'd think with the rough winter climate in Northern Europe they would have applied a weather resistant coating on the prop stick. At least they use a smaller dimension which should save weight and not restrict your load capacity or noticeably hurt your MPG.

 

[Black89cs]

Nice writeup, I always wondered what those wires were for. So the ends just screw off of the strut so they can be replaced with the vans ball sockets?I may invest in some new struts then.. I was holding out because I wasn't sure what those wires went to.

 

[Jasen]

Nice writeup, I always wondered what those wires were for. So the ends just screw off of the strut so they can be replaced with the vans ball sockets?I may invest in some new struts then.. I was holding out because I wasn't sure what those wires went to.

Yup, you'll probably need to grab the piston with some pliers to twist the ball socket off, mine were really on there tight.

The left/drivers switch is dome lights and the right/passenger is the rear defrost over ride.

 

[Black89cs]

Nice. So what does the defrost override do? Shut down when the hatch is raised? I've got a set of struts I pulled from a van at Pick&Pull but I didn't put them on my van due to only one having the wiring. I may put them on to see if they'll work. They held the glass up at the yard but it was warm when I bought them... If not I'm out a few bux or however much I paid for them at the time.

 

[Jasen]

Yea, turns it off when you open the hatch.

 

[Black89cs]

Ahhh, I see. I won't be needing your prop stick if I go to swap mine, I'll likely use my big ice scraper that's about 3ft long.. has a brush on one end and the scraper on the other.. that's been my "keep from konking my head" prop since I've owned the van. :lol: