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[pauls]

A neighbour has a merc and when he presses the button to open his boot it opens all the way. Is this possible to do with the omega.
 I was thinking just put stronger struts in ?, 

[tunnie]

Father in-laws Mercs have done this, he has a 14 plate one and before than an 03, both did that.

The Omega boot lid is too heavy I think, when I've opened up the Father-in-laws merc the boot lid feels so light 

Don't think it can be done 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Contact

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/gas-struts

they offer a service where they can re-gas struts. This is particularly vital on late 70s early 80s cars which pioneered their use. Brand new units are very very rare, and the stock of 'arf decent' used ones are dwindling. As they're in the business, they may be able to suggest a stronger strut from another vehicle of compatible length?

[Diamond Black Geezer]

and a quote from their website...


"Up-Rating Gas Struts

Existing gas struts can be uprated to a higher force if additional weight has been added to an application, such as a spoiler or bike rack on a car boot - saving you money over purchasing new gas struts! New gas struts purchased from SGS can also be supplied them at a higher pressure than the factory setting."


sounds promising 

[pauls]

Thanks for that I have emailed them so see what happens

[EMD]

The boot closes like a guillotine on mine but it holds up ok  Can be quite dangerous 

[zirk]

Can't see a strut making any difference as mod, it will be the spring vs the boot weight if it is do able.

How's that song go, 'All I want for Christmas is me two front.......'

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Might be missing something, but the gas struts are the spring power of the strut. Via compressed gas. There's no separate coil spring elsewhere on the mechanism, they're not gas dampers, with a separate spring, like on the front suspension, say. Fit a stronger strut, ie: with a higher pressured gas inside, and the boot will open with more force. Not faster, per se, as there's a damped effect within the strut, too. But with more lifting force.

As EMD says, with a worn strut they close pretty sharpish, but once held up, they stay up. I'd suggest at the highest point the boot is probably close to balanced perfectly.

[minifreek]

The Omega boot lid cannot be made to open on its own without added outside assistance no matter what pressure/type of strut is installed, the way the mechanism works makes it so that just popping the boot keeps it closed rather than opening all by itself. I tried it myself with stronger gas struts, same length just uprated pressure, although they did assist in opening the boot that bit easier, they also ruined the mechanism itself and bent the 'stops' that are installed from factory with the little bolts that are there and the bent bits of metal that stop the boot from opening too much...

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Thanks 

If you look at the mechanism of the Omega, vs Carlton, or even a 'premium' vehicle such as BMW, Mercs etc, you'll see a massive difference in the quality of the mechanism. Basically a bit of bent tube and a spring. Admittedly now often damped, but it's scarcely any more advanced than the system on a 1970s saloon/estate car. The Omega has a fairly costly to make, intricate mechanism which as minifreek observes does several things, including actually holding it shut, as well as holding it open, all in one

Another reason why Omegas are damn good cars. 

[STEMO]

The only car I've seen with this feature is a RAV4, and I'm sure I can hear a motor driving a hydraulic pump on that.

[Andy B]

A neighbour has a merc and when he presses the button to open his boot it opens all the way.  ....

My Merc closes the tailgate too when I press the button 

[Andy B]

The only car I've seen with this feature is a RAV4, and I'm sure I can hear a motor driving a hydraulic pump on that.

I know someone with a Honda something estate, that'll close on the button too 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

A neighbour has a merc and when he presses the button to open his boot it opens all the way.  ....

My Merc closes the tailgate too when I press the button 

And that was the point in Car Design where we went too far. The singularity, the point of no return. From that point on there's been self-parking, auto lamps, and next we'll have seats which wipe and moisturise your backside for when you forget to not defacate yourself whilst driving. 

[Andy B]

....


And that was the point in Car Design where we went too far. The singularity, the point of no return. From that point on there's been self-parking, auto lamps, and next we'll have seats which wipe and moisturise your backside for when you forget to not defacate yourself whilst driving. 

Someone in Merc R&D needs to live in the real world. Total closure on my car is via infra red, whereas the central locking (dead locks are apparently too dangerous to fit in MB's world) is rf. What that means is that I can unlock the car from that far away, it's relocked by the time I can walk to it, but to close the windows & roof, I've to vitually stand next to the car .... ie so the infra red can see the door handle. Complete waste of effort.