Torsion springs to assist bonnet opening.

[Daytona Dek]

My SV Daytona bonnet is so heavy which is a tribute to how well built it is, but ideally is a two man job to raise it without twisting on one side causing paint cracking. I have considered gas rams but positioning will be a problem. Obviously the closer to the fulcrum point the greater the pressure of the gas ram required will be. This made me think about an alternative. I have a cranked stay at the moment. Pull it forwards and it locks. Push it forwards and it releases to close. I’m thinking if I could use a double torsion spring attached to this stay to give some assistance on the lift. Anyone got any experience of this? Thanks.
Dek

[cycleguy55]

Having springs or gas lifts applying pressure to fiberglass is not to be approached without careful planning and accompanying reinforcement of attachment points.

Proceed cautiously.

[Daytona Dek]

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

Having springs or gas lifts applying pressure to fiberglass is not to be approached without careful planning and accompanying reinforcement of attachment points.

Proceed cautiously.

I get what your saying. But that’s partly the reason I’m considering a torsion spring rather than gas struts. The torsion spring would fix on the cranked stay which is strongly attached because it has to take the weight of the bonnet which is considerable. I can see there is room for some calculations here. I could weigh the bonnet using a spring balance at the windshield end and I can see the nearer to the fulcrum point the greater the assistance force required will be. I’m not looking for it to self raise but just to have some initial assistance so that it becomes a one man job to lift the bonnet rather than two.
Dek