Well, that seems like an elegant solution to holding up the hatch with bikes
on there.  Amazingly simple.  I am gonna do that first thing in the morning.
  Don Hanson

Date:    Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:33:49 +0000
From:    Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@COMCAST.NET>

"But my "Westphal-ian fix " is a stick.
A fancy stick, but a stick nonetheless."

Part of the Gary Lee hatch spare tire/gas can/bike rack set up is a 1"
diameter PVC about 12/14" long that gets slid onto the end of one of the
struts. It automatically slides into place when the hatch is opened. Easy to
release by pushing up on the hatch and cenering the PVC and let the hatch
down.
This is a very old fix for this issue.

Bob Stevens
'87 Syncro Westy