[AT] New Idea Mower

[Steve W.]

Must be a good dealer, most of them would have steered you toward a
"nice new three point like this here...."

Spring steel isn't hard to work with IF you know the alloy and tempering
characteristics of it. Most often the place you buy it can give you a
sheet on it's properties. Usually it is simple though. If it comes in
annealed condition you would form it like regular steel, then heat the
part to red hot and quench in oil or water depending on what alloy you
have. You now have a spring. Others you have to heat and form then air
cool. Then there are the real fun alloys that just get formed, usually
smaller radius than needed and then they spring back into the needed
size.
As for buying it, that depends on how much and what type you need, most
steel shops have it BUT they may not want to sell a small piece. That is
when you start asking about scrap....
http://www.techsavvy.com/industry/file/national/09dvn/psw05.html
http://www.lapham-hickey.com/Products/SpringSteel.cfm
http://www.precisionsteel.com/products/default.asp?n_cat_id=3

Steve Williams
Near Cooperstown, New York

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vaughn Miller" <VMiller at messiah.edu>
To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 8:53 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] New Idea Mower


> Thanks for the response Steve.  Turns out that a local dealer is able
to get
> me the part from New Idea (I had wrongly assumed that I would not be
able to
> get the part).  The rivet holding the spring goes through the housing,
so
> that did not present a problem to remove.
>
> The idea of making one is interesting for future reference.  How would
you
> go about forming spring steel like that?  Where can one get spring
steel.
>
> Thanks again for the response.
>
> Vaughn
>
> >>> falcon at telenet.net 6/6/05 8:19:17 AM >>>
> Vaughn,
>
> >From looking at it I would guess it is supposed to be longer and have
a
> tang that hits the top of the trip release, correct? If so you can buy
> spring steel and make up a new one easily enough.  Is that a blind
rivet
> holding it in or is it a spiral nail type? Either way remove the rivet
> and pull that spring out. Plan the new one to wrap a bit tighter since
> it looks like that one has spread some. The hole will be the hardest
> item since good tempered spring steel is kind of tough. The way around
> that is to use a SMALL tip on a torch and heat JUST the area of the
hole
> to red. Then drill it while it is still warm.
> OR if your not really picky and just need it to get the job done, put
it
> back together and toss a spring on the outside of the housing. Just
buy
> one at the local farm store or even Lowes or Home Depot have them.
>
> Steve Williams
> Near Cooperstown, New York
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Vaughn Miller" <VMiller at messiah.edu>
> To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 9:10 AM
> Subject: [AT] New Idea Mower
>
>
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I have  a New Idea 30A mower that I use to mow some pasture.  It is
> equipped with a trip rope lift mechanism.  A spring has broken under
the
> top cover of the lift so that it will not catch again once you pull
the
> rope to trip it.  The spring consists of spring steel about =" wide.
> >
> > Here are some pictures :
> http://home.messiah.edu/~vmiller/mower/mower.htm
> >
> > Any ideas on fixing this?
> >
> > Vaughn Miller
> > Dillsburg PA
> >
> >
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