fish box support

[sclancypb]

i want to replace the "arm" that currently holds the top of our ice boxes open with a stainless gas hatch lift. I have search all over the web and found very little helpful info - i only want to drill once to mount brackets and size the correct lifts in terms of stroke and weight...HELP!

 

[jtybt15]

There are basically two mounting configurations. Which end is closest to the hinge. Next is determining how much lift each spring you'll need for the distance the mounting point is from the hinge. The further away from the hinge, the more leverage and the less force needed. Then there's the fact that the closer to the hinge, the less in the way the spring will be when raised.

To figure out mounting points, get the collapsed/extended sizes of a few springs. Pick a mounting point(inner) and with the lid raised, mark a point on the opposite side, just a tad less than the extended spring. Now close the lid and make a corresponding mark on the same side as the close(hinge) mount. Measure the hinge mount point to that mark to get the closed(collapsed) length needed. the closed length should be MORE than collasped length of the spring dimensions. Clear as mud, huh!

Here's a pic to get some idea.

 

[sclancypb]

yeah, except the box that i am doing it on is too small for me to climb inside to mark mounting point when closed.....

 

[jtybt15]

LOL!! Just extend the line from both mounting points to both the lid and sides of the box, you don't get inside.