Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
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Topic author - Posts: 192
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:37 pm
- First Name: Jem
- Last Name: Bowkett
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 Touring #9267
- Location: Spalding United Kingdom
- Board Member Since: 1999
Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
A friend recently hit a pothole. Stopped, couldn't see any damage. A mile later the steering locked up. The front main leaf had broken across the centre bolt hole, the 2 sides worked out of the spring clamps and the front of the car dropped down. Never heard of this before, but it is an obvious stress point for the leaf.
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- First Name: Frank
- Last Name: van Ekeren
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- Location: Rosedale Vic Australia
Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
That's why every town once had a black smith/ spring works. Springs break.
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- First Name: Les
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Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
I had it happen on a rear taper leaf. Fortunately not the main leaf. Fortunately we have a local spring manufacturer and between us I got a new taper leaf made!!
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Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
I replaced a rear spring assembly because the top leaf had snapped in half.
William L Vanderburg
1925 Touring
1922 Center Door Sedan
1925 Touring
1922 Center Door Sedan
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Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
Loose U bolts.
Forget everything you thought you knew.
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Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
When T ‘s were used for everyday transportation that was fairly common. But that was over 50-60 years ago or longer.
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Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
I have a accessory front taper leaf spring that doesn't use a center bolt. The spring uses upward facing dimples the size of the center bolt head rolled into the spring leafs. I have seen era advertising for this type spring saying, "Avoid broken spring leaf failures with our springs". So your friend's experience is Model T era perfect.
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Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
When I rebuilt my springs both front and rear had one spring each broken at the center bolt. Welded them up good as new.
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- First Name: David
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Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
When leaf springs break at the center bolt hole, 99% of the time it is because the center bolt isn't tight enough, and/or the spring clamp isn't tight enough. That lets the spring flex where it shouldn't. There shouldn't be ANY flex in the center of the spring. Dave
1925 mostly original coupe.
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Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
I have two 13's, and both had had the front springs replaced. I wonder if that happened often? I remember it took me over a year to find a good replacement for my roadster, but I finally did. 1913's had two styles of springs, front and rear. Some had the curled leaves and some didn't.
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Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
I have a lot of them over the years. That and cracked front frame members.
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Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
I never have a spring break. It seems that we get busy here on the farm about then.
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Topic author - Posts: 192
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:37 pm
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- Last Name: Bowkett
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Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
Herb, the moment I posted that subject line I was waiting for someone to come out with that line!
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Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?
Good job Herb. I was waiting for Perry to mention it.
I refrained for some reason.
I haven't had one break there but have seen a few broken ones before.
I refrained for some reason.
I haven't had one break there but have seen a few broken ones before.
When did I do that?