Edit: subject should be a question!
My parents are selling their FL place and have given me a very nice queen size Amish built Murphy bed. It has a Rockler #54386 pivot mechanism with hydraulic struts labeled 140kg (308#). I took the bed apart 3 weeks ago and I have it mostly re-assembled at my house but when I pivot the bed up the strut is too long.... so I need to compress it about an inch. Safely preferably.
I'm thinking about buying a pipe clamp but open for suggestions. Pichers below.
Looking at the instructions from Rockler it seem like there should be a stop at the top of the cabinet that holds the frame vertical when it's closed and that if you remove the stop the frame will go past vertical and allow you to just slide the end of the strut on the pin.
In reply to APEowner :
No fair, you're telling him what he needs to know and not answering the question!
APEowner said:Looking at the instructions from Rockler it seem like there should be a stop at the top of the cabinet that holds the frame vertical when it's closed and that if you remove the stop the frame will go past vertical and allow you to just slide the end of the strut on the pin.
Appreciate you taking the time to do that but Yes I have seen the manual and the normal steps are not working. I have removed the stop. If I climb in there (where the mattress goes) and have somebody fold it up all the way past vertical.. until the platform hits the wall, it's still about an inch too long. Strut is 28". So I need to compress it.
You may have to push the whole unit away from the wall to get enough tilt.
Barring that option the pipe clamp would likely work if you are careful. May have more luck with the old school screw style than the new school clamp style.
Could also try a ratchet strap wrapped around the shock if the body has enough length to make it work.
Good news is other than frustration and maybe a pinched finger you will not get too hurt if one end of the shock is fixed to something.
In reply to 93gsxturbo :
Thank you.
The whole thing is screwed to the wall at the middle and top. Unscrewing is definitely possible but it'll want to close once the strut is in place and I suspect it'll be a real ornery bitch to pry open if it's not anchored to the wall... But I will definitely think about this option.
Yes the clamp and strap clamp are the same ideas I am pondering. I have a Stanley bar clamp with the plastic trigger style clamps- either my hands are too weak (likely) or it can't develop enough clamping pressure. So here I am.
Leaning toward getting an old school acme thread style pipe clamp but I'm not sure if the clamp surfaces will slip off. I might try grinding a divot in each face to keep it centered.
Prybar?
I would avoid anything that might scratch the shaft where it goes into the seals. Pressurized fluids want to be free!
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
Prybar just might do the trick. Good idea.
If you look at the instructions, you're supposed to have the internal rod of the hydraulics attached to the bed side and the outside cylinder attaches to the frame on the wall.
Also looks like if you take the permanent stop off and lean the mattress support all the way back to the wall (without you inside the cavity) you might be able to reach between the slats to get the nut on.
In reply to the_machina :
I could turn it around but not sure it makes any difference... on the total length.
The platform can swing all the way to the wall with me behind (not easily) so no need to reach between slats.
It may be easier to remove the cylinder and compress slightly with a strap (then re-install) so now a new idea is in my head.
I don't think unscrewing the frame from the wall and rasslin the thing will help since the pivot is a fixed point and the length will actually won't change much more. (I may have to draw it in cad and measure that to confirm)
For things like this, I usually use big zip ties and have multiples of them so I can "eek" out a little out of each one at a time. However, that's a big load.
What if you take the pivot bolt out of the mattress frame, connect the strut, then use a pry bar to raise the mattress frame and reinstall the bolt?
You might even be able to just block under the mattress frame, remove the pivot bolt and rotate the frame to get the strut attached, then rotate the mattress frame back into place.
No Time said:What if you take the pivot bolt out of the mattress frame, connect the strut, then use a pry bar to raise the mattress frame and reinstall the bolt?
You might even be able to just block under the mattress frame, remove the pivot bolt and rotate the frame to get the strut attached, then rotate the mattress frame back into place.
I like this idea! I actually think the bolt can stay in but the pivot "seat" has a cover plate on top that holds the bearing in position. I think I could remove the plate then stack some 2x cribbing under the platform for a fulcrum and try to use the platform as a long lever.
Going to need a bunch of help for ballast to hold it in place while I put the plate back over the bearing seat.
Thanks!
OHSCrifle said:Leaning toward getting an old school acme thread style pipe clamp but I'm not sure if the clamp surfaces will slip off. I might try grinding a divot in each face to keep it centered.
Weld a 3/4" or 1" hex nut to the jaws on both ends of an old school acme threaded pipe clamp and have at it. The hex nut will keep the shock centered up on the jaws.
I would try a ratchet strap.
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