dan
Well Known Member
Every few years, one (or both) of my tip-up canopy struts gives up the ghost. It happens. Van's now charges $32 apiece for replacement C-690 (Van's p/n) struts, as you can see here (http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/parts.txt):
C-690 REPLACEMENT STRUT $32.00
It's not a bank breaker, but for the longest time I've had this feeling like that's gotta be a jacked-up price. Several years ago I searched for a cheaper source for the same part and came up short.
So this time I had to replace 'em, I again started doing some research. The part is the Stabilus Lift-o-Mat 8x18mm p/n 752819. I don't even remember where I found this PDF, but it came from somewhere on Stabilus' web site:
http://www.rvproject.com/Stabilus1597.pdf
It shows the specs of the 752819 as:
Stroke Length: 6.3"
Extended Length: 15.95"
Force: 22.5 lbs
So anyway, I emailed Stabilus to see where I could buy these puppies directly. They responded today and told me that "Orr & Orr" is the recommended distributor. Well, lo and behold, they sell 'em for $18.25 apiece!!
http://orrorr.thomasnet.com/item/gas-springs/gas-springs-with-composite-ends/h-9503-25
Don't know about you, but I'm happy to have found a half-price source! Figured I'd share this little tidbit with the rest of the RV world. Pass it on.
Oh...another little tidbit. If you wipe the strut down with alodine, all the white printed text comes right off. Kind of a cleaner look.
C-690 REPLACEMENT STRUT $32.00
It's not a bank breaker, but for the longest time I've had this feeling like that's gotta be a jacked-up price. Several years ago I searched for a cheaper source for the same part and came up short.
So this time I had to replace 'em, I again started doing some research. The part is the Stabilus Lift-o-Mat 8x18mm p/n 752819. I don't even remember where I found this PDF, but it came from somewhere on Stabilus' web site:
http://www.rvproject.com/Stabilus1597.pdf
It shows the specs of the 752819 as:
Stroke Length: 6.3"
Extended Length: 15.95"
Force: 22.5 lbs
So anyway, I emailed Stabilus to see where I could buy these puppies directly. They responded today and told me that "Orr & Orr" is the recommended distributor. Well, lo and behold, they sell 'em for $18.25 apiece!!
http://orrorr.thomasnet.com/item/gas-springs/gas-springs-with-composite-ends/h-9503-25
Don't know about you, but I'm happy to have found a half-price source! Figured I'd share this little tidbit with the rest of the RV world. Pass it on.
Oh...another little tidbit. If you wipe the strut down with alodine, all the white printed text comes right off. Kind of a cleaner look.