[AT] Bending a hook on a spring

[william.neff.powell at comcast.net]

You may actually "Work Harden" the spring by bending it without the aid of heat...? 

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "George Willer" <gwill at gwill.net>
> 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.
> > _______________________________________________
> > AT mailing list
> > http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at