Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
User avatar

Topic author
Jem
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?

Post by Jem » Mon Dec 21, 2020 5:13 pm

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.


Kerry
Posts: 1297
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 2:42 pm
First Name: Frank
Last Name: van Ekeren
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 touring, 1916 pick-up, 1924 coupe, 1926 touring, 1927 touring
Location: Rosedale Vic Australia

Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Post by Kerry » Mon Dec 21, 2020 5:34 pm

That's why every town once had a black smith/ spring works. Springs break. :o


Les Schubert
Posts: 1311
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:47 pm
First Name: Les
Last Name: Schubert
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 27 roadster 13 touring
Location: Calgary

Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Post by Les Schubert » Mon Dec 21, 2020 5:57 pm

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!!

User avatar

Will_Vanderburg
Posts: 811
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:59 pm
First Name: William
Last Name: Vanderburg
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 2
Location: Jackson, NJ
MTFCA Number: 28382

Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Post by Will_Vanderburg » Mon Dec 21, 2020 7:11 pm

I replaced a rear spring assembly because the top leaf had snapped in half.
William L Vanderburg

1925 Touring
1922 Center Door Sedan

User avatar

Charlie B in N.J.
Posts: 638
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:40 am
First Name: CHARLIE
Last Name: BRANCA
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: "27 Tudor / "23 Touring
Location: Brick N.J.
MTFCA Number: 28967
Board Member Since: 2010

Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Post by Charlie B in N.J. » Mon Dec 21, 2020 7:27 pm

Loose U bolts.
Forget everything you thought you knew.


John kuehn
Posts: 3907
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Kuehn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
Location: Texas
MTFCA Number: 28924

Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Post by John kuehn » Mon Dec 21, 2020 7:45 pm

When T ‘s were used for everyday transportation that was fairly common. But that was over 50-60 years ago or longer.


kmatt2
Posts: 558
Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2020 1:41 pm
First Name: Kevin
Last Name: Matthiesen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 26 T Coupe, 16 T Open Express, 21 TT Flatbed. 15 T Roadster, 13 & 25 T Speedster , 51 Mercury 4 door sport sedan, 67 Mercury Cougar
Location: Madera CA 93636
MTFCA Number: 11598

Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Post by kmatt2 » Mon Dec 21, 2020 10:19 pm

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.


Mike Royster
Posts: 42
Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:47 pm
First Name: Michael
Last Name: Royster
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Runabout 1916 Runabout
Location: Shelby NC
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Post by Mike Royster » Mon Dec 21, 2020 10:56 pm

When I rebuilt my springs both front and rear had one spring each broken at the center bolt. Welded them up good as new.


D Stroud
Posts: 1015
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:45 am
First Name: David
Last Name: Stroud
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 Coupe
Location: Mound City, MO 64470
Board Member Since: 2011

Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Post by D Stroud » Tue Dec 22, 2020 6:26 am

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.


Original Smith
Posts: 3284
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
First Name: Larry
Last Name: Smith
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
Location: Lomita, California
MTFCA Number: 121
MTFCA Life Member: YES
MTFCI Number: 16310

Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Post by Original Smith » Tue Dec 22, 2020 10:55 am

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.


Dan Hatch
Posts: 4111
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:31 pm
First Name: Dan
Last Name: Hatch
Location: Alabama
MTFCA Number: 49974

Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Post by Dan Hatch » Tue Dec 22, 2020 11:21 am

I have a lot of them over the years. That and cracked front frame members.


Herb Iffrig
Posts: 1513
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:47 am
First Name: Herb
Last Name: Iffrig
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911 Torpedo, 1918 TT Hucksters
Location: St. Peters, MO

Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Post by Herb Iffrig » Tue Dec 22, 2020 2:17 pm

I never have a spring break. It seems that we get busy here on the farm about then.

User avatar

Topic author
Jem
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

Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Post by Jem » Tue Dec 22, 2020 5:30 pm

:D Herb, the moment I posted that subject line I was waiting for someone to come out with that line!

User avatar

Rich Eagle
Posts: 6796
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: Anyone had a Spring break at the centre bolt?

Post by Rich Eagle » Tue Dec 22, 2020 6:05 pm

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.
When did I do that?

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic