[AT] Bending a hook on a spring

[George Willer]

Len,

The original spring was most likely made without any heat at all, after the
heat treating was done while it was still straight wire.  Rusty and pitted
is bad news because the pits are stress raisers where cracks can begin.

If you do try to use heat to form the loop, it's rapid cooling that will
cause brittleness.  Slow cooling will cause the heated area to remain
softer.  It's worth a shot if the normal use doesn't tend to make the
softened loop fail.  The black smith way to cool slowly... drop the hot
spring in a bucket of wood ashes or lime.

I have to make a lot of pedal return springs for my (16) Cubs.  I do it
cold.

George Willer

> -----Original Message-----
> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com [mailto:at-
> bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Len Rugen
> Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 11:57 AM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> Subject: [AT] Bending a hook on a spring
> 
> Speaking of a WD-45...  I started fixing my broken Joy Ride seat on mine
> last night.  All I got done was exercising a wasp, taking the old one
> apart and scrounging a spring.  The problem is 2 short but strong
> extension springs.  They are about 5" long hook to hook, 2" dia and 1/4
> or 5/16 rod size.  The hooks on the old springs broke.  I have a similar
> size spring, but it's way long.  My idea is to cut it into sections of
> the size I need, but then I need to put a hook on each end.  My Dad did
> this on the first broken spring years ago, but his replacement was
> weaker than the last original spring.  I just broke the last original
> one.  I know he we thru several of his replacements because the hook
> would break off where he heated it.
> 
> Any hints on how to put a hook on a spring?  Will heating it make it
> brittle?  Could his have broken just because they were old, rusty and
> probably pitted before he bent them?  If I heat the spring, should I try
> insulate it so it cools slowly?
> 
> Thanks.
> _______________________________________________
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> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
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