Oil struts vas opposed to gas struts (1 Viewer)

Jan 3, 2017
215
122
Huntly
Funster No
46,720
MH
Frankia i640 SD
Exp
Since 2004
I have a Frankia with a drop down bed in the cab area. The oil strut has lost oil and is either needing to be fixed or replaced. My repairer is attempting to get a price from SMC for parts.
I am trying to see if I can source replacement oil struts in the UK as I believe gas struts are not suitable as a replacement.
Just wondering if anyone else has encountered similar problems and what solutions they managed to achieve.
 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
53,321
149,532
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
Drop down beds normally use gas struts, have a chat to SGS, they are very helpful.

 
OP
OP
Cairngorm
Jan 3, 2017
215
122
Huntly
Funster No
46,720
MH
Frankia i640 SD
Exp
Since 2004
Drop down beds normally use gas struts, have a chat to SGS, they are very helpful.

I did speak to them and when I told them it was an oil strut, they said that a gas strut was not suitable. I’m assuming that since there is oil coming from the strut that it is a oil strut and not gas. But I may be wrong.

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Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
53,321
149,532
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
A gas strut still has oil in it, most struts have a manufacturers part number on them you should be able to find info on it from that.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Cairngorm
Jan 3, 2017
215
122
Huntly
Funster No
46,720
MH
Frankia i640 SD
Exp
Since 2004
A gas strut still has oil in it, most struts have a manufacturers part number on them you shoulbe able to find info on it from that.
Ah!!! Knowledge is power. I did give them all the numbers that I could see on the strut, but it didn’t mean anything to them. Will have to take it off to measure it properly.
 
Dec 12, 2010
5,405
21,519
Cumbria
Funster No
14,651
MH
C Class
Exp
since 2011
As Lenny says, gas struts have oil in them to lubricate the piston and seals. I can't imagine what an "oil strut" would be, other than some sort of "dampener" like a shock absorber, but couldn't see it operating as a "spring" to assist raising or lowering something ?
If you do replace them, see if you can fit them with the body section lower than the chromed rod part as that could help retain the oil over time ?
I've bought struts from SGS for various jobs. They do a range of "adjustable" struts which have a small Allen grub screw in them, which you undo to let out some of the gas, which reduces the "strength" of the strut so you can "tune" them to the application. Just be careful though, as you can let out too much gas and you can't replace it once it's gone !

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