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Cobra Gas Struts

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Karl Striedieck

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Mar 31, 2015, 10:22:52 AM3/31/15
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Anyone out there have a source for Cobra trailer gas struts in the US?

The trailer has an aluminum top and holds the Duo stab and wing tips.

Two numbers have been written on the inside of the trailer next to the struts: 455 and 1100.

Thanks

Karl Striedieck

mzi...@hotmail.com

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Mar 31, 2015, 10:41:42 AM3/31/15
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Williams Soaring...

Bob Caldwell (BC)

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Mar 31, 2015, 10:48:38 AM3/31/15
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Actually I believe Wings and Wheels has taken over all of the Cobra parts sales that used to be at Williams

BC

Steve Leonard

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Mar 31, 2015, 1:49:39 PM3/31/15
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Wings and Wheels. 455 is your key number, 1100 is the number of newtons in your gas struts. Call or use their on-line ordering system. If you order on line, you need to make sure you put in the comments what force you need, because when I ordered some, they just had single seat and two seat categories. And the force I needed was only shown in the single seat category, and teh trailer is for an AS-H25.

Steve Leonard

Karl Striedieck

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Mar 31, 2015, 5:46:20 PM3/31/15
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Thanks guys.W+W does have Cobra stock, but the struts they had were 1200N as opposed to the 1100N on my trailer. On a warm day with the stab and tips out the top was very hard to pull down so another 100N wouldn't help. I'll use a friend's unused ASK-21 strut for the month it will take to get two struts from Deutschland via a glider container to Eastern Sailplane.

Karl Striedieck

HGXC

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Mar 31, 2015, 7:20:55 PM3/31/15
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I have a 30 year old aluminum cobra trailer and my struts were 900 and I used a 1100 replacement. I have no issue lowering the top.

Dennis

rec.aviation.soaring

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Apr 1, 2015, 6:12:29 AM4/1/15
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On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 10:22:52 AM UTC-4, Karl Striedieck wrote:
I had good luck ordering them directly from Agnes Spindelberger ag....@cobratrailer.com about 5 years ago. My trailer was an aluminum top 1992 vintage. Price was OK and I had them in less than two weeks. With Euro low now price should be even better. Getting exactly the right length and force was critical. They can help you based on your trailer serial number. I mistakenly reversed the strut and trailer top would not completely close. Email support from Spindelberger solved the problem. Make note of which end attaches to the top and which to the bottom when removing the old one. Consider doing the access hatch up front too.

Stuart Grant

Karl Striedieck

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Apr 1, 2015, 9:22:02 AM4/1/15
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On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 10:22:52 AM UTC-4, Karl Striedieck wrote:
That was my first attempt, but a check three weeks later revealed that nothing had been done with the reason given that new shipping requirements were more complicated.

Dave Nadler

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Apr 1, 2015, 9:42:23 AM4/1/15
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Karl - last time I needed struts Agnes handed them to me at Aero,
and I checked them through direct on return flight (with no packaging,
just tags). Amazingly was easy, no hassle, arrived here OK.
I'm not going to Aero this year but perhaps someone else on
this newsgroup could fetch them?
Hope that helps,
Best Regards, Dave

Dan Marotta

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Apr 1, 2015, 10:22:00 AM4/1/15
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Have you thought of getting them repaired/regassed?  Google revealed several options; here's one:  http://www.sgs-engineering.com/gas-struts/re-gassing-service
--
Dan Marotta

Karl Striedieck

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Apr 1, 2015, 6:05:25 PM4/1/15
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On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 10:22:52 AM UTC-4, Karl Striedieck wrote:
I did check into the recharge option, but could find no service in the US. The one mentioned is in the UK. There's one in Alberta Canada but the phone attempts were so much hassle I gave up.

s6

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Apr 1, 2015, 7:14:18 PM4/1/15
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Hi
I had mine done at Strutwise Surrey BC Canada
fast efficient service and reasonnable cost.

S6

s6

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Apr 1, 2015, 7:26:58 PM4/1/15
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Hi

More info
www.strutwise.com
1-888-589-1208 canada usa
S6

Clay

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Apr 1, 2015, 10:46:35 PM4/1/15
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McMaster Carr does have adjustable force gas struts that I have used successfully on my trailer, but it is not a Cobra. The end fitting are removable on these, I was able to use the old ones from the struts I replaced.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#gas-struts/=wkjmpn

Karl Striedieck

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Apr 2, 2015, 6:21:43 AM4/2/15
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On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 10:22:52 AM UTC-4, Karl Striedieck wrote:
I checked McMaster Carr and Grainger who offer a huge selection of gas struts, but none come close to the specs needed. Almost all are too small and the various other dimensions would have to be just right.

Meanwhile, I've borrowed a strut from an idle Arcus trailer until my new struts (from Spindleberger) arrive on a container in a month.

Thanks for all the input!

HGXC

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Apr 2, 2015, 7:48:02 AM4/2/15
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I tried some different combinations from McMaster. One was an inch shorter but otherwise would fit and i discovered that inch was a hugh deal. Had to send them back. McMaster is a good company I must have ordered 2-3 different sets and they all didn't work.

Dennis

Mike the Strike

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Apr 2, 2015, 9:23:58 AM4/2/15
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> Thanks for all the input!

When your trailer gas struts fail, it's a sign that you've owned your glider too long. Time to order a new one! (The Euro is heading down to parity with the US dollar).

Mike

peters...@gmail.com

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Apr 2, 2015, 9:40:11 AM4/2/15
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On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 10:22:52 AM UTC-4, Karl Striedieck wrote:
You might try suspa.com, a US manufacturer of gas springs.

uncl...@ix.netcom.com

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Apr 2, 2015, 10:11:49 AM4/2/15
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Order now and start putting away money to pay for it in a year or 2 when it is built. Exchange rate then-TBD.
UH

Jim

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Apr 2, 2015, 6:20:21 PM4/2/15
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Karl,
Save time AND money and just call EasyLift in FL. Tell them the force, fastener type (eyelet,etc) and open&closed length.
Bansbach Easylift of North America, Inc.
50 West Drive
Melbourne, FL 32904
Tel (321) 253-1999
Fax (321) 253-5546
este...@easylift.com
www.easylift.com

Mike the Strike

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Apr 16, 2015, 10:44:57 AM4/16/15
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I see Karl took my advice and his Duo is up for sale. I wonder what the replacement is?

Mike

Karl Striedieck

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Apr 16, 2015, 11:59:03 AM4/16/15
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On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 10:22:52 AM UTC-4, Karl Striedieck wrote:
A new one it is. But "parity" these days is another $45K above the asking price.

Meanwhile, the strut from the Arcus trailer is working fine until new ones sail in.

Mike the Strike

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Apr 16, 2015, 12:09:56 PM4/16/15
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Karl:

Do I get a ride in the new ship for getting the right answer to your problem?

Mike

ND

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Apr 16, 2015, 3:28:52 PM4/16/15
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On Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 9:23:58 AM UTC-4, Mike the Strike wrote:
check W&W XD

Karl Striedieck

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Apr 16, 2015, 9:41:11 PM4/16/15
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On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 10:22:52 AM UTC-4, Karl Striedieck wrote:
Mike, OK, come to Pa to collect.

azo...@yahoo.com

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Apr 17, 2015, 12:31:47 AM4/17/15
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What is the intended new sailplane? Arcus, ASG-32, ASH-30, or perhaps the 2-seater that Windward was supposedly working on at some point?

BG

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Apr 17, 2015, 1:20:21 AM4/17/15
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On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 7:22:52 AM UTC-7, Karl Striedieck wrote:
> Anyone out there have a source for Cobra trailer gas struts in the US?
>
> The trailer has an aluminum top and holds the Duo stab and wing tips.
>
> Two numbers have been written on the inside of the trailer next to the struts: 455 and 1100.
>
> Thanks
>
> Karl Striedieck

Easy Lift has been a great place to find every strut in my glider and tralial

BG

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Apr 17, 2015, 1:25:15 AM4/17/15
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Easylift has been a great resource for every strut in my DG 800 and cobra trailer.

The notation inside your trailer top written in a Sharpie pen give you the extended length and force in Newtons.

BG

Karl Striedieck

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Apr 17, 2015, 8:50:45 AM4/17/15
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On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 10:22:52 AM UTC-4, Karl Striedieck wrote:
> Anyone out there have a source for Cobra trailer gas struts in the US?
>
> The trailer has an aluminum top and holds the Duo stab and wing tips.
>
> Two numbers have been written on the inside of the trailer next to the struts: 455 and 1100.
>
> Thanks
>
> Karl Striedieck

BG,

I tried Easylift again (Carlos) and he said the longest gas spring they have is 400 mm and my Cobra trailer springs are 1550 mm.

That's the same answer I got on an earlier call.

He asked for a part number if you have such, or any invoice or names

KS

danlj

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Apr 17, 2015, 3:18:20 PM4/17/15
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Karl, contact Williams Soaring with the numbers. They will have our can obtain replacement has struts. They replaced mine last summer. The mechanics at the local FBO did the work.
Dan

Karl Striedieck

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Apr 17, 2015, 6:37:25 PM4/17/15
to
On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 10:22:52 AM UTC-4, Karl Striedieck wrote:
> Anyone out there have a source for Cobra trailer gas struts in the US?
>
> The trailer has an aluminum top and holds the Duo stab and wing tips.
>
> Two numbers have been written on the inside of the trailer next to the struts: 455 and 1100.
>
> Thanks
>
> Karl Striedieck

Williams turned all Cobra stuff over to W+W and they don't have that size.

KS

cliff...@gmail.com

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Apr 19, 2015, 11:44:16 AM4/19/15
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http://www.indgassprings.com/compression-gas-springs.html

Try here I've not tried them, but can't find the place in Pa that I used to use.

CH

Linwood Stevenson

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Apr 19, 2015, 10:13:41 PM4/19/15
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Karl,

May be too late for this thread.. A couple years ago was in similar strut need and John Murray at Eastern Sailplane had them at the time. Not sure about now....

Linwood Stevenson

Karl Striedieck

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Apr 20, 2015, 6:49:32 AM4/20/15
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On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 10:22:52 AM UTC-4, Karl Striedieck wrote:
> Anyone out there have a source for Cobra trailer gas struts in the US?
>
> The trailer has an aluminum top and holds the Duo stab and wing tips.
>
> Two numbers have been written on the inside of the trailer next to the struts: 455 and 1100.
>
> Thanks
>
> Karl Striedieck

Mine are coming on an Eastern Sailplane container.

KS

t...@adirondacksoaring.com

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Aug 11, 2016, 1:42:15 PM8/11/16
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I have a fiberglass top Cobra and need the correct size to order. Can't seem to read the strut number or force. Anyone have an idea what I need to order from Easylift?


Thanks,

Tim Hanke
Saratoga Springs, NY

ZZ

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Aug 12, 2016, 6:28:42 PM8/12/16
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Karl
I am going to speculate that the 1100 figure is the strut's Newton rating. I have seen 1200 and 1300 Newton struts on glider trailers.
Paul
ZZ

uncl...@ix.netcom.com

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Aug 12, 2016, 6:41:00 PM8/12/16
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On Friday, August 12, 2016 at 6:28:42 PM UTC-4, ZZ wrote:
> Karl
> I am going to speculate that the 1100 figure is the strut's Newton rating. I have seen 1200 and 1300 Newton struts on glider trailers.
> Paul
> ZZ
>
> Did you notice that the thread is over a year old?
UH

Morgan

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Aug 14, 2016, 11:46:49 PM8/14/16
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Most likely, if you look on the metal triangle inside your trailer where the strut attaches, there will be an 1100 or some such number written down. That is the Newtons value of the spring you need.

I just ordered a replacement from Wings and Wheels. I'm sure you could figure out a replacement other than buying the exact model from W&W, but it was easier to just place the order and be done with the issue.

Morgan

stu8...@gmail.com

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Sep 13, 2016, 7:48:42 PM9/13/16
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I put these on a Swan trailer last year.
It did require building a rig to set the force and making some end fittings.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#6465K98

Stuart Venters
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