Has anyone on here got the uprated roof springs on their Devon (earlier style with the struts at the sides)? JK sell them, but I’m sure others do too. https://www.justkampers.com/devon-roof-springs-vw-t2-bay-1967-1975.html With the extra weight of solar panels, and the ravages of time, the roof is getting harder to lift. In fairness, it could be the ravages of time on me as well as the struts, but either way I’d appreciate any improvements possible. Any advice, experience, alternatives? And if there’s summat that can be done, would you think it’s a techenders type of job? Thanks in advance, you lovely people
I found your thread from a few years ago, about possibly using gas struts, but it ended without a conclusion! What did you go with in the end? And yes, if the springs are the extra springy ones, and the best option, thank you for the offer. I do like the idea of gas struts but didn’t ever find out if it worked.
had these uprated ones for ages never fitted, pm me is easier . fitted gas and works fine after lots of nm guess work, lucky I could get them regassed for free issue to play with settings. Trouble with devon roofs like most things on a devon are not even weight distributed....
They’re the earlier style ones that are centre mounted along the sides rather than at front and back end.
They're long 'uns . Mine are at the ends and I changed the springs a few years ago. Can't say it made that much difference. The springs are pointing in the wrong direction to give much assistance to get the roof moving. Still needs a good heave.
I think JK market them as giving extra lift if you’ve used one of their roof caps, which obviously add weight. I’ve just added solar panels, but the roof definitely doesn’t spring up like it used to. Gotta be worth a try. I think I’ll have the ones that @the 3 crispies has lying around unused… better to buy from here than JK! So now I just need to sort an extra pair of hands or two for a techenders spring swap
Might work if it was ok before. Careful changing them - they're very twangy. I nearly lost several fingers doing mine. If you can, use ratchet straps to hold them closed...and keep your head out of the way
Yes I have them in mine and very good they are too. I don't have a roof cap thingy so the roof fairly snaps up into place. Actually not totally sure they're uprated but they are new, I bought them from Woody (if anyone remembers him).
I have the JK uprated springs. Because of the "over centre" layout of the struts - they point down with the roof closed , starting the lift is harder. That would also be the case with gas strut replacements. But then they thump up satisfactorily. Even though my solar panels are quite light, the original springs barely held the roof up in any case before the panels were fitted. If you have struts with locking pins for the springs then replacement is as described in a few places, need lots of force but straightforward. If like mine you have swaged in springs, no fixings visible just a "waist" about 10cm from one end then you have to cut and weld the tubes to swap the springs as they aint coming out...I had to make a jig (which I still have) that I used to hold it straight with quite high pressure on the ends ...
I’ll have a look at yours at some point if I may, just to compare, but I think I have the straightforward type…. No form of waist that I can see, and there are locking pins (although I’ve never known what they actually did!)
I will watch or help with interest as my roof does not go up with ease , you have to be like Charles Atlas to push it up .
