SX2 Gas strut

[Bob PerkinsParticipant @bobperkins67044]

I ordered a gas strut conversion from The little Machine Shop a few weeks ago to hopefully fit my SX2 super. I had a few concerns as the SX2 was not listed amongst the list of clone machines, although from the photos and descriptions it seemed suitable. It arrived within about three weeks. I spent a couple of hours fitting it this evening. The instructions were spot on and the fitting was really straight forward. I haven't used it in anger yet but first impressions are positive in comparison to the torsion spring, there seems no movement at all when moving between course and fine feed.

Bob P

[Bob PerkinsParticipant @bobperkins67044]

[John ShepherdParticipant @johnshepherd38883]

I fitted my X2 with gas strut from the bonnet of a Peugeot car obtained from a breakers yard and unashamedly used Little Machine Shops instructions and template.

The modification has transformed my machine and it is well worth doing IMHO.

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

I posted the comments below last week on the SX2 DRO thread, it is just FYI:

Commercial gas springs are warranted for 2000 cycles. They may last longer, but that is what the manufacturers warrant them for. The main factor is dirt contamination (even tiny amounts of house dust) on the rod which degrades the rod seal.

To put it in perspective, if you cycled the gas spring once per evening 5 evenings a week in a home shop, it would last about 7 years. If you cycled it once an hour for 40 hr / week in a factory setting, it would last about a year.

They work great for a while, just don't weld them on – make them easily removeable so if you have to change them, you can.

A major manufacturer is Hahn, link below.

http://www.hahn-gasfedern.de/en/products/gas-springs.html

Another manufacturer is Suspa, link below.

http://www.suspa.com/us/products/gas-springs/functionality/

Just my $0.02 – your mileage may vary.

JD

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