Old spring trick

[cuzncletus]

40 years ago I used to help an old man in Southwest Virginia who specialized in T's and A's. He was crippled by arthritis. I wasn't much use except for lifting heavy things, but I tried to listen and learn. One trick he used was to grind a shallow depression in the end of spring leaves, then secure a roller from a needle bearing in the groove with some heavy grease right before assembling the springs. It was to allow the springs to move without binding at the ends. He said it was an old trick, but I never heard of it before or since. Just curious if anyone had ever heard of this or tried it.

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by cuzncletus

40 years ago I used to help an old man in Southwest Virginia who specialized in T's and A's. He was crippled by arthritis. I wasn't much use except for lifting heavy things, but I tried to listen and learn. One trick he used was to grind a shallow depression in the end of spring leaves, then secure a roller from a needle bearing in the groove with some heavy grease right before assembling the springs. It was to allow the springs to move without binding at the ends. He said it was an old trick, but I never heard of it before or since. Just curious if anyone had ever heard of this or tried it.

Hey Cletus,
Never heard of that 'trick', but would like to know if it worked as wanted ?
A much easier 'trick', to accomplish same goal, IMO, is to chamfer the bottom edge of each spring end....so that is moves easily/smoothly without digging in over time. Another thing to do after chamfering, is to ROUND off each end somewhat and that helps also ! And, a little lube never hurts then either.

[J Franklin]

I have a box of spring rollers that I got at a garage sale they were from the 1930's. They show a tool to place them between the spring leaves, I don't have the tool but figure I can make one. No groove to grind with this product.

[C26Pinelake]

We truly learn something on here every day ! Thank you for sharing ! ! Wayne

[Mitch//pa]

indeed
thank you

[Gold Digger]

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Another trick my dad talked about was to prize the end of the springs apart and slip strips of inertubes in. He said cars back then would ride like buggies with this fix.

[Synchro909]

When I have a spring apart, I clean it up and repaint it but I add a heap of powdered graphite to the primer and give it a few coats. Once dry, you can leave a mark like you used a pencil on it simply by rubbing it with your finger nail. It gives good lubrication between the leaves that doesn't attract dirt and dust, is invisible and its right in where you want it. Lasts for years too.

[Synchro909]

When I have a spring apart, I clean it up and repaint it but I add a heap of powdered graphite to the primer and give it a few coats. Once dry, you can leave a mark like you used a pencil on it simply by rubbing it with your finger nail. It gives good lubrication between the leaves that doesn't attract dirt and dust, is invisible and its right in where you want it. Lasts for years too.
With decent shockers on the car, I don't worry about the dampening effect of friction between the leaves.

[burner31]

My Uncle had an old trick, then my Aunt found out.
I miss my Uncle.

[cuzncletus]

The problem is I don't know if it worked. In theory it seems like it would. The groove was to keep the roller needle from working out from between the springs under pressure. I'm sure it would work initially, long term I'm not so sure. The old man's name was Ballard Phlegar (sp?). My favorite quote from him was; "They quit making Buicks when they quit making the straight eight."

[Ray in La Mesa]

While I think it would work to make the spring more responsive I believe over the LONG run it would create stress points leading to a fracture of the spring leaves.

[J Franklin]

OK I found the rollers, here are a few photos

[john in illinois]

The barbs would keep the rolers in the sping untill they wore out. I have no idea how long they would function. Interesting idea.

John

[Pete]

Bad idea.
It would create high stress points.
A better idea is put UHMW or Teflon strips between the first 3 leaves.

[J Franklin]

This was a pr-teflon fix. When was teflon invented?

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

This was a pr-teflon fix. When was teflon invented?

April 6, 1938.

http://www2.dupont.com/Teflon/en_US/...s/history.html

[cuzncletus]

THis was in the early 70's. I don't remember even hearing of teflon then, no matter when it was invented. As to stress points, and this may have validity, Ballard ground the shallow reliefs in the underlying spring, allowing the upper spring to slide over it. The grooves were about an inch from the overlying spring. They were also not as deep as the small needle bearings, likely less than .10 of an inch. I'm sure he didn't invent this technique but got it from an old timer when he was in his youth.

[RandyinUtah]

Thanks for the history lesson on Teflon, I learn something everyday from you guys.

[Pete]

Who discovered teflon and how was it discovered?
Teflon was discovered by Dr. Roy Plunkett on April 6, 1938 at the DuPont research laboratories in New Jersey. Dr. Plunkett was researching chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants so he produced 45.36 kilograms of tetrafluoroethylene gas and stored it in small cylinders at dry-ice temperatures in preparation to chlorinating it. He prepared a cylinder for use but none of the gas came out- however the cylinder still weighed the same as before. Plunkett opened it to find inside was a white powder, which he fortunately decided to characterise for properties other than refrigeration potential.

After studying this product, it was evident that it had very low surface friction, heat resistant and chemically inert. As Dr. Roy Plunkett became aware of the potentially useful qualities of this product, specialist polymer chemists and engineers from the Central Research Department investigated the substance further, resulting in the accidental discovery of Teflon.
After this, Plunkett was transferred to the tetraethyl lead division of DuPont and received many awards and honors for his discovery.

[J Franklin]

What a slick scientist he was!