| Author |
Message |
magoo (Magoo)
Intermediate Member
Username: Magoo
Post Number: 2490
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 17, 2002 - 10:15 pm: | |
Vince just remember to keep silicone lube on the shafts every once in a while to lube the seal. |
Vincent William Porto (Vincentporto)
New member
Username: Vincentporto
Post Number: 8
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 17, 2002 - 1:30 am: | |
Hi all,
Success! The new struts arrived and got installed this weekend - they keep the lid up better than Viagra. Just for kicks I measured the old struts using a bathroom scale (inquiring minds want to know!). After compressing the pistons a few times to reduce the static friction, I took several measurements per strut and averaged them. Results are:
Avg old struts: 51 lbs resistance at 2" compression
Avg old struts: 50 lbs resistance at 4" compression
Avg new struts: 76 lbs resistance at 2" compression
Avg new struts: 82 lbs resistance at 4" compression
Big difference. Interestingly both old struts actually had a lower compression resistance at 4" than at 2" and these were new, unused struts with extra $$$ 'Ferrari' silkscreening! Certainly not linear for new or old units. Thanks to all for your inputs. Now I don't have to hold the lid up with my head to check the oil.
Ciao e molto grazie,
VWP
|
Alberto (Aabreu)
New member
Username: Aabreu
Post Number: 50
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 11, 2002 - 10:12 pm: | |
Vincent:
Sorry for the delay, I had not been to the site in a few days. I live in the Kensington area, but unless I am going to or from the house you won't see it there. Weekends in La Jolla, Coronado, and back roads is where you're most likely to see me (and the car.)
It seems like there are at least four or five Ferrari owners in San Diego who are active on this site. We should all get together some time. You belong to either of the Ferrari clubs? |
TomD (Tifosi)
Member
Username: Tifosi
Post Number: 507
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 11, 2002 - 9:30 am: | |
just be careful with struts that are too strong, you can end up bending the hood in order to close them |
Aaron Marks (Aaronb)
New member
Username: Aaronb
Post Number: 23
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 10, 2002 - 1:05 pm: | |
Vincent - Been meaning to email you off line here. My 328 and I are up the road in Oceanside - We ought to get Alberto and hit the hills soon!
Aaron |
Vincent William Porto (Vincentporto)
New member
Username: Vincentporto
Post Number: 7
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 4:20 pm: | |
Thanks everyone,
Magoo, you probably hit it right on the head with the seals - the 'new' struts do squeak like a pinched balloon, even after some silicone lube. I contacted Lyle Tanner (BTW, a nice guy) at ferraripartsexchange and he is sending out two new replacement struts. Hopefully these will keep the lid up. I'll keep you posted with the results. Thanks again!
Ciao,
VWP
Alberto - where in San Diego are you located/drive? I see lots of 308s, F355s, 360s, and an occasional 456, but virtually no 328s. |
Hans Magnus Bjorneli (Bjorneli)
New member
Username: Bjorneli
Post Number: 3
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 9:21 am: | |
I had the same problem and brought new one's from Ferrari of Houston (total USD 110,-). They work perfect even in Norway (where I keep the car) in 25 deg F.
Hans |
magoo (Magoo)
Intermediate Member
Username: Magoo
Post Number: 2305
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 10:29 pm: | |
Vince the seals in those has gotten hard and the gas has leaked out around the seal. When you get your new ones be sure to keep the shaft lubed with silicone lube. That keeps the seal from getting hard. |
Alberto (Aabreu)
New member
Username: Aabreu
Post Number: 48
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 8:14 pm: | |
Vincent:
I also live in San Diego and recently replaced the engine lid struts on my 328. They held the engine lid right out of the box, with no compression. The ones you got are shot would be my guess. |
BretM (Bretm)
Intermediate Member
Username: Bretm
Post Number: 2202
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 12:23 pm: | |
I've got aftermarket ones on that you have to slam the lid down a bit in the summer to get it to latch, but I never had a problem with them not holding it up. In the dead of winter I'll have to help them pick up the bonnet, but I like their harder compression more than the stock ones. Unfortunately since a PO did it I don't know what they are, although when I'm home I could check them out a bit. |
Craig Dewey (Craigfl)
Member
Username: Craigfl
Post Number: 335
Registered: 1-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 6:40 am: | |
When I got my new ones, I fully compressed them against my bathroom scale to see what force they were capable of vs. the old ones. I also checked the force at about 1" compression(simulating the "open" condition). You may just have one bad one that needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, I didn't write down the numbers.... |
Edward Gault (Irfgt)
Member
Username: Irfgt
Post Number: 994
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 5:49 am: | |
They will work the first time the best that they ever will. Send them back. |
Vincent William Porto (Vincentporto)
New member
Username: Vincentporto
Post Number: 6
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 12:51 am: | |
I just installed two new brand new engine lid struts (got them from Lyle Tanner at ferraripartsexchange) on my '88 328, and to my dismay, they won't hold the engine cover up. Not even close. They do have 'some' compression springiness but evidently not enough! I know of the strut weakness in cold weather but don't have this problem here (San Diego only has summer and pseudo-summer). Do these things need a few compression (or heat?) cycles to work properly, or should I just send them back for replacements? Ideas anyone? Thanks in advance! - VWP |