bit by a spring

today i replaced the spring bushings and shackels on my rear spring of my 36 ford pickup. i has a freind of mine help me, he is 70 years old and when he was 16 he was working on a rear spring of an, a pickup, the spreader sliped and hit him in the face . it cut him up bad, he said it split his lip and opend up his mouth. so today he was geting nervous, and he was making me nervous. he said be careful, and watch out . finally it sliped luckely it just bit my arm. i had the rear end on the back of my 64 chevy flatbead , it makes a good work bench. i wonder if the flathead gods where mad at me .we took the spring apart and then got the maine leafe on . so tomarow i am going to sand all the outher leafs i will be happy when that is all done and the truck is on the road

 

Shoulda clamped the spring together with some C clamps and took out the centerbolt. Release the clamps and the spring comes apart in pieces, leaving very little stress in the main leaf to cause grief when you finally get to releasing that from the shackles.

I ALMOST got bit by my first Model A spring while in a big rush to pull it apart. Didn't use a spreader at all and a shackle broke once the half side was popped off!!!
Nearly took it in the side of the head but got lucky...
Got a big respect for those springs and their stored energy after that!!!!

 

You want to have your wits about you when you're doing that kind of stuff. Check and recheck. 2 clamps each side just in case. Think before you undo anything. I haven't had a scare yet but I'm really careful and go slowly.

 

"C" clamp, "C" clamp, "C" clamp!!!

 

...and C-clamp some more. You can never be safe enough when working around that much stored energy!

 

You can't have too many when doing that !
I have about 20+ big "C" clamps just for that kind of stuff !
I really enjoy having all my body parts and in working order !

 

Those things are a bit scarey lol. I was helping a buddy lower his OT car and we didnt have all the tools, and hes the kind that doesnt think of safety(he had a Kblazer w no rearend fall on him once too) anyways, i stood back after bit cuz id heard too many horror stories. And low and behold the spring went sailing a majority of the shop. Keep in mind this was a diesel shop that was well over 100ft long also!!!

 

You got to be careful with springs. Recently, down here; a NASCAR Modified driver was attempting remove the spring from a wreck damaged coil-over shock, when the shock broke and the spring hit him with only a glancing blow and knocked out eight teeth!