Re: Rear Spring Removal
What a lot of people in the Model A hobby don't seem to realize is that the 3\8" bolt down through the center of the spring was not meant to hold all the tension packed into a spread rear spring. The frame member safely cages the spring assembly so that the tension is being held by the frame member and the two U-bolts, not the center bolt.
I know that people pull rear ends all the time with the spread spring still attached and mostly get away with it. However, it is not a safe practice. The photo in a post above is a loaded shot gun with the safety off. If the head of the center bolt were to pop off the upper leaves will hit the ceiling and take your head with it if you are standing over it.
The use of chains and C-clamps increase safety, but you still have to attach them with the tension on the bolt. That could easily be when it decides to let go. There was an article a few years ago in one of the Model A magazines where some Model A'ers had removed the rear axle assembly with the spring still attached. While they were hooking up the spring spreader the bolt let go. The upper leaves hit the roof of the building. Luckily no one was leaning over it. The next worry was that the leaves had to come back down.
For the person that asked the question, the following is the safe way to approach a Model A rear spring:
1. Obtain a proper spring spreader.
2. Spread the spring and remove the shackles while the spring is still attached to the frame member.
3. Remove the rear axle assembly. The spring spreader can be left in place for as long as the rear axle assembly is removed from the car.
4. If you want to remove the spring from the car collapse the spring spreader and remove it. The spring is now no longer lethal and it can be unbolted from the car.
5. There is some amount of residual tension left in the spring assembly, however, it is very little. The center bolt can be safely removed. A couple C-clamps will aid the process, but they are not essential for safety purposes.
6. If the project was to restore the spring re-assemble it with a new center bolt and assemble the spring. Bolt it to the frame member before you attach the spring spreader and spread the spring. The rear axle assembly can then be bolted up with the shackle bolts.
Tom Endy
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