On the Fence About Strutting This Stuff

5677 Views 39 Replies 11 Participants Last post by speedlever, Dec 1, 2018

news2u

Discussion Starter · May 4, 2017

2

The FIGS engineers make a great set of hood struts...not complaining a bit about the quality. And even without instructions (you don't get any), it's impossible not to be able to figure out the 5 minute install. Only needed a ratchet and 10mm socket. Again, great craftsmanship and ease of installation. But, Wow! My hood now only opens half the distance it used to with the prop stick. At $145, I did not expect this.

Now I'll need a hood light, cuz the semi-closed hood blocks the light from the overhead fluorescent. Is this typical of hood lifts or is there a pair out there that opens wider?

See less See more

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 40 Posts

ISO Truck

· #2 · May 4, 2017

Nice struts!

I don't think my hood with prop stick opens any where near as much as yours. In fact, probably not much more than those struts are opening it.

Carsmak

· #3 · May 4, 2017 (Edited)

Iso, There are two holes in the Hood, Typical of every Honda I've owned since early 90's. It allows you to place the Hood in near "vertical" position, when using the second spot.

News, this is why I went with the Struts that @DK-NY is selling at his Ridgeline Store on eBay, I'll be installing them this weekend but from what I understand, you can still use the "Prop Stick" in the second position as it has a "quick" disconnect on the strut.

G-1 hood strut kit He has a "Forum Member Special Price", Just PM him.

Reactions: 1

news2u

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 4, 2017

Carsmak said:
Iso, There are two holes in the Hood, Typical of every Honda I've owned since early 90's. It allows you to place the Hood in near "vertical" position, when using the second spot.

News, this is why I went with the Struts that @DK-NY is selling at his Ridgeline Store on eBay, I'll be installing them this weekend but from what I understand, you can still use the "Prop Stick" in the second position as it has a "quick" disconnect on the strut.

G-1 hood strut kit He has a "Forum Member Special Price", Just PM him.

Will definitely check that out Carsmak. Thank you.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Reactions: 1

ISO Truck

· #5 · May 4, 2017

2

Carsmak said:
Iso, There are two holes in the Hood, Typical of every Honda I've owned since early 90's. It allows you to place the Hood in near "vertical" position, when using the second spot.....

My manual shows two positions, both clearly marked under the hood, too. In truth, there is not a huge difference between the two.

Here is a photo of my hood open with the prop stick in the position that opens the most (i.e. more vertical.)

See less See more

Carsmak

· #6 · May 4, 2017

I'll take a picture of the locations on my '06, and where it moves the hood to. May have changed with the '09 Update?

GhostYK1

· #7 · May 5, 2017 (Edited)

There are three prop locations on my 2012 G1 hood. The two up top and then another down really close to the windshield. Have to be honest with you. With all of the work that I have done under my hood lately. I have never had to used the 3rd option (vertical). I don't really see the need to use it.

ISO Truck

· #8 · May 5, 2017

GhostYK1 said:
There are three prop locations on my 2012 G1 hood. The two up top and then another down really close to the windshield. Have to be honest with you. With all of the work that I have done under my hood lately. I have never had to used the 3rd option (vertical). I don't really see the need to use it.

Ghost, mine has that cut out as well, but I do not believe it is intended for use with the prop stick. My manual does not suggest it as a suitable location, and I can tell you that when I put my prop stick there it does not seat properly and it has virtually no leverage for supporting the hood. The hood is very precarious in that position. (As a test, try holding the hood up with just your hands from that same location!!)

My '07 Pilot also has 2-positions for the prop stick, but the prop stick is anchored on the vehicle's left hand side of the engine compartment. A "third" cutout is in the identical location as the Ridgeline's (i.e. the right rear corner of the hood) on the Pilot, yet there is no way for the prop stick to reach it.

I believe that "third" cutout is simply an artifact from the manufacturing process. I do not believe it is intended for propping the hood vertical with the prop stick. If it is, that prop stick is in the wrong location for adequately supporting the hood in the near-vertical position.

See less See more

feetdry

· #9 · May 5, 2017 (Edited)

Removed my hood stick when I installed my Figs kit about 8 years ago and 200,000 miles. The "weight" savings has increased my Fuelly signature about a tenth of an mpg.

Anyone want to buy my blue stick?

Reactions: 1

Carsmak

· #10 · May 5, 2017

ISO Truck said:
Ghost, mine has that cut out as well, but I do not believe it is intended for use with the prop stick. My manual does not suggest it as a suitable location, and I can tell you that when I put my prop stick there it does not seat properly and it has virtually no leverage for supporting the hood. The hood is very precarious in that position. (As a test, try holding the hood up with just your hands from that same location!!)

My '07 Pilot also has 2-positions for the prop stick, but the prop stick is anchored on the vehicle's left hand side of the engine compartment. A "third" cutout is in the identical location as the Ridgeline's (i.e. the right rear corner of the hood) on the Pilot, yet there is no way for the prop stick to reach it.

I believe that "third" cutout is simply an artifact from the manufacturing process. I do not believe it is intended for propping the hood vertical with the prop stick. If it is, that prop stick is in the wrong location for adequately supporting the hood in the near-vertical position.

No, I believe that 3rd location is for "Technicians" to use and not unqualified owners/operators. In that position, even the slightest gust of wind will pull it from that location. In this thread here @dopes6070 is utilizing it for it's intention, pulling the 3.5l out.

Reactions: 1

ISO Truck

· #11 · May 5, 2017

Carsmak said:
No, I believe that 3rd location is for "Technicians" to use and not unqualified owners/operators. In that position, even the slightest gust of wind will pull it from that location. In this thread here @dopes6070 is utilizing it for it's intention, pulling the 3.5l out.

Ahhh, that makes sense that it's intended for use by auto techs/mechanics in the shop. No way would I trust the strut to hold the hood from that position out in my driveway. Like you said, one gust of wind or bumping the strut and you'd have a serious problem.

Carsmak

· #12 · May 5, 2017

I've used it in my garage, which like @news2u was showing in his garage in this post, it allows significant more light when working under the hood.

ISO Truck

· #13 · May 6, 2017

Carsmak said:
I've used it in my garage, which like @news2u was showing in his garage in this post, it allows significant more light when working under the hood.

Even in the garage I would be very careful. When I put my prop stick in that position, it does not seat squarely (as it does in the other two positions) and the whole thing is very precarious. One bump and that hood could slam down. I can also see the hinges working awkwardly against the leverage of the hood weight, trying to pivot around the fulcrum of the prop stick. That can't be good for them.

I am going to hold my position that this third rectangle is not intended for routine use with the prop stick. Like I said, it's there on our Pilot too but the prop stick can't reach it. Our CRV also has two locations for the prop stick, plus this extra recatangle in the same location.

If I needed to prop the hood open that far, I would want an additional something holding it open. In a garage, that might be a sturdy bungey or strap from an overhead rafter. This would be safer and would also relieve the strain on the hood hinges.

Anyway, sorry for the sidetrack. My only point really was that I wouldn't fault these gas struts for not opening the hood wider. From what I can see they are opening as much or more than the prop stick does in it's normal operating positions. Sure looks like a nice upgrade to me.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

news2u

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 7, 2017 (Edited)

ISO Truck said:
Even in the garage I would be very careful. When I put my prop stick in that position, it does not seat squarely (as it does in the other two positions) and the whole thing is very precarious. One bump and that hood could slam down. I can also see the hinges working awkwardly against the leverage of the hood weight, trying to pivot around the fulcrum of the prop stick. That can't be good for them.

I am going to hold my position that this third rectangle is not intended for routine use with the prop stick. Like I said, it's there on our Pilot too but the prop stick can't reach it. Our CRV also has two locations for the prop stick, plus this extra recatangle in the same location.

If I needed to prop the hood open that far, I would want an additional something holding it open. In a garage, that might be a sturdy bungey or strap from an overhead rafter. This would be safer and would also relieve the strain on the hood hinges.

Anyway, sorry for the sidetrack. My only point really was that I wouldn't fault these gas struts for not opening the hood wider. From what I can see they are opening as much or more than the prop stick does in it's normal operating positions. Sure looks like a nice upgrade to me.

Beg to differ, my friend. But regardless. After a few days with these Figs low profile struts, I'm no longer on the fence.

I think you get used to them...unless you're going to be under the hood for awhile like to adjust the valves--not that you do that often. I like the idea of adding an LED light (if someone could recommend one I'd be greatly appreciative), which I now may do.

But until then, I'll leave the stick in, because with a screw driver I can easily disable the struts and open the hood to its fullest range. On my '07, there is clearly a square hole in which the stick seats perfectly. It fact, it's my understanding that's the setting preferred by most mechanics since it helps provide the most headroom and bring in the most light. So on those 2 points, I really do believe size matters, so here's mine fully extended:grin::

See less See more

DK-NY

· #15 · May 7, 2017

The third hood prop position on the G-1s is used by dealership mechanics when working on Bank 1 [firewall side] or when pulling the engine. Not something one would use very often as an owner.

dk

Griz

· #16 · May 8, 2017

news2u said:
Beg to differ, my friend. But regardless. After a few days with these Figs low profile struts, I'm no longer on the fence.

I think you get used to them...unless you're going to be under the hood for awhile like to adjust the valves--not that you do that often. I like the idea of adding an LED light (if someone could recommend one I'd be greatly appreciative), which I now may do.

But until then, I'll leave the stick in, because with a screw driver I can easily disable the struts and open the hood to its ffullest range. On my '07, there is clearly a square hole in which the stick seats perfectly. It fact, it's my understanding that's the setting preferred by most mechanics since it helps provide the most headroom and bring in the most light. So on those 2 points, I really do believe size matters, so here's mine fully extended:grin::

That other company that makes stuts make an under hood light

DK-NY

· #17 · May 8, 2017

Griz,

Take a look at our RIDGELINE-MODS eBay store at http://stores.ebay.com/Ridgeline-Mods for our engine compartment LED LIGHTING kits for G-1s and G-2s.

Also our hood strut kits have quick cam releases when the full open hood prop position is required, to pop the struts off the ball studs without tools.

Danny K.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

Griz

· #18 · May 8, 2017

DK-NY said:
Griz,

Take a look at our RIDGELINE-MODS eBay store at http://stores.ebay.com/Ridgeline-Mods for our engine compartment LED LIGHTING kits for G-1s and G-2s.

Also our hood strut kits have quick cam releases when the full open hood prop position is required, to pop the struts off the ball studs without tools.

Danny K.

You're who I was thinking of

news2u

Discussion Starter · #19 · May 8, 2017

DK-NY said:
Griz,

Take a look at our RIDGELINE-MODS eBay store at http://stores.ebay.com/Ridgeline-Mods for our engine compartment LED LIGHTING kits for G-1s and G-2s.

Also our hood strut kits have quick cam releases when the full open hood prop position is required, to pop the struts off the ball studs without tools.

Danny K.

Appreciate it. Thx.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Carsmak

· #20 · May 8, 2017

@news2u , that's the set I just bought, (Struts & Hood Light Kit) as @DK-NY has or had a special running, weather and other stuff kept me from working on it this weekend. I'm really sure you could sell the "FIGS" kit rather easily.

1 - 20 of 40 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.