Ken I think we need to return to your framework! How are things progressing? Sorry for the deviations I inadvertantly started here!
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Ken I think we need to return to your framework! How are things progressing? Sorry for the deviations I inadvertantly started here!
uh uh uh.thats is a goos frame rite there!!!
Steve - This is the stuff that makes doing this more fun. Uncle Bob's female library is so BIG I bet he has to put them on a separate computer :LOL:
Well I went to my guy that does the springs yesterday and got a real education on spring manufacturing.
I'm thinking this is pretty sophisticated stuff in this day and age...Not!
Here is the process,
First they cut the main leaf to the proper length. Then they turn it up on it's edge and make a 45 degree cut the width of the spring. This is done so when the eye is rolled it will lay flat against the width of the spring and make a true 360 degree opening for the bushing. Next it is heated so they can stick it into the manual machine that work's like a stretcher or shrinker, where it crabs the spring with serrations to pull it in and around the mandrel that creates the spring eye. He uses some sort of brass busings like Henry did instead of rubber. Once it's cooled he lays out where the bends will take place. This springs needs to be 40" wide, center of bushings, with a 12" rise in the center for rear end clearance.
This is the part that blew me away, this guy knows from experience how for and in what location to bend this on a manually controlled hydraulic press to get the correct centers and rise. It took him about 5 minutes to finish the main leaf. He made about 3 corrections and he nailed it.
I had to leave, but the front spring and the other rear leafs should be done today. I will follow up with the rest of this as soon as I get them back
Ken
Some more of the spring
Send her over to help me, I could do with a hand :LOL:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack F
That's one of the cleaner spring shops that I have seen......
Mike in Tucson
Steve,
I'll put you in the queue, she is in big demand.:rolleyes:;)
Jack.
I can think of 2 good reasons why Jack :LOL:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack F
Boy Howdy!!!:HMMM:
Jack.
I would like to teach her how to MIG weld ;) See what see does with some of those sparks:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Jack F
Ken
Well i wouldn't mind standing by to rub in any burn cream !!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Thurm
I'm Shocked, SHOCKED at how many dirty old men there are here.........................:eek:
Oii less of the old please Bob, I'm only 58 on saturday so still a youngster :LOL:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter
Wadduh you mean - dirty
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i8...uff/thefly.jpg
Hey! That's my daughter you're talking about! :LOL:
Hey Ken, that "looks like" Atlas Leaf Spring in Industry?
They just made me some custom lenght springs for a vintage trailer repair.
Yes John, that's who is doing this. Great family!
Ken
I think I might pay real money to watch the girl in the overalls run a jitterbug sander over Ken's springs.......AND I would pay money to NOT have to watch uncle bob's girl do anything......
mike in tucson
Hey Steve have you moved your computer up to your lockup as I don't think Sue would be too happy with some of your comments. But in says that,as Ken says,it is this sort of friendly humour that makes this site so fantastic. And our Uncle Bob and his private library of young ladies, well I just haven't the words to describe it.:LOL:
I dont think ANYONE would have the right words..:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Whiplash23T
Ken,thats amazing work on the springs..They are gunna look amazing done in stainless...:cool:
[QUOTE=Ken Thurm;422226]Steve - This is the stuff that makes doing this more fun. Uncle Bob's female library is so BIG I bet he has to put them on a separate computer :LOL:
Ken, the computer at NASA doesn't have enough gigabites to handle kindly old Uncle Bob's collection! :LOL::LOL: You have to figure how much space each one of his cuties takes up!! :eek::LOL:
You are right about spring shops still operating in the dark ages, kinda like Blacksmiths. When I had the rear spring built for my 27 years ago I got a glimpse of how they do it..........lots of heating cherry red in a kiln and beating into shape with hammers. To show you how prices have changed, the one they did for me 23 years ago was $ 20.00. I had another main leaf made by the same people a couple years ago and it was $ 118.00! I was a little shocked to say the least.
Don
Don,
I still can't get over the skill of this guy that made the springs. To see a real camercial craftsman like this guy these days is rare. He didn't call today, I hope I get them tomorrow so I can drop them off at the heat greater. I'm anxious to polish them, watch after all this heat they won't polish:eek:
Ken
Happy Birthday Steve! I'll be sharing that birthday with you..bit younger though I'm afriad ;):cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by roadster32
That spring is going to look great! :eek:
Happy birthday Steve!! I have underwear older than you :LOL:
Ken
...and saved only for holey (Holy?) days, I assume:whacked:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Thurm
Happy Birthday to you !!!!!!!!!!:)Quote:
Originally Posted by 35fordcoupe
Happy birthday,
Steve and 35 ford. Better early than late.:):)
Jack/
Happy Birthday Steve. Hope the weather is dry for you guys!
Thanks boys and 35coupe happy birthday
I got my springs back today, very pleased with the way they turned out. If you need any, Atlas Spring Company in Industry Ca. is a nice place to go. Well it's off to the heat treater.
Ken
Oops forgot the photo's!!
Those look really nice, Ken. So they now heat treat them to give them the springiness? Do they do that by heating and then cooling in oil? I've heard that is the process. Did they give you any indication how SS will work in that respect compared to the usual steel they use?
Don
I wonder if they could make just one leaf for the old truck. The smallest leaf on the back of my 48 is cracked in two pieces. I thought I'd weld it together, but a new leaf would be great without replacing the whole thing.
Don - I'm not sure if it is different with stainless, but I will find out tomorrow. I'm going there in the morning and will let you know.
Steve - Don't weld it, send it to me and I will get it made.
Ken
Ken - thanks!:cool:
I just got back from the heat treater. He wouldn't let me take any pictures, must of thought I was an Industrial Spy or something. Because it has been heated up on the ends to roll the shackle eye it has to be annealed back to it's natural state. They do this by heating it to 1900 degrees then putting into a nitrogen tank to cool it. Then it goes back into the oven again to 900 degrees to get it to 41-44 Rockwell hardness, then it is cooled down naturally. My concern all along with using stainless has been breakage. He assured me it won't break but it could bend, he would know more when he see's what hardness it actually comes in at. Every 10 degrees affects the hardness rating.Quote:
Originally Posted by Itoldyouso
Some of there ovens are two story's high, it is a pretty amazing place. I'm supposed to get them back Friday.
Ken
Ken, not meaning to derail your thread, but would this guy be interested in doing me up some front springs for my gasser????
I'm watching with interest regarding them springs Ken, very interesting
Dave,Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
His name is Fernando at 626-333-7373, very easy to work with and good prices. I think I drove him nuts and took up a lot of extra time and he was very fair with me. I really like the quality of his work.
Ken
Well, see Ken, if you didn't look like James Bond they wouldn't have been so suspicious of you. :LOL: That's interesting how they do it. I had always heard they alternated between dunking it in water then oil to quench it, but maybe modern technology has surpassed that way of doing it, or maybe that was just urban myth.
Did they say anything about it affecting your ability to polish them?
Don