spreading a reversed spring

how do u spread a reversed eye model a spring? i have spread a normal spring. cant get my bar to stay with reversed eyes

 

Was wondering the same thing.

 

First dis***emble the spring pack so you just have the main leaf. Install the main leaf on the shackles and tighten all the shackle nuts. Now with a jack under the rear axle place the remaining leafs on top of the main leaf with the center bolt coming through the leafs. Slowly jack up the axle keeping the bolt centered. The weight of the car will compress the spring and when the threads are accessible install the nut. I reversed my first main leaf on my '35 Ford when I was 14 using this method and never had a problem. Some may call it common sense but it really is very simple.

 

Don't know if this will help,just a though,spacers will allow room for shackles to be fit as per normal.May need to shorten up spreader tool to allow for 3/8 plates.
Cheers

 

I just take a couple pieces of heavy angle iron and heavy c clamps, put the angle iron on the main leaf and tighten the c clamps, works for me.

 

I'd be afraid of the clamps rolling off the angle iron with all that spring tension. I've always had the spring fastened to the car and used floor jacks on mine.

 

It can be a dangerous exercise if not thought thru correctly.
Keep your hands and face away from it especially if working under a car.
There can be a lot of energy stored in a loaded spring and Ive seen one go off during a removal.
You really need to use the best of attachments to be safe, not make shift stuff.
Installing the main leaf and then loading the additional leaves is a good way to do any spring, reversed eye or not.

 

Break the spring pack down, hook up one side but don't attach it to the crossmember. Then place a small wood block underneath the eye that is still loose and place another block at the center of the spring underneath the crossmember.Make sure the spring eye is underneath the spring perch and jack it up with a floor jack using the block under the crossmember as a leverage point until it the eye lines up with the perch then put the shackles on. At that point re-***emble the spring and you can move the axle back and forth to line up the the spring bolt with the eye in the crossmember. This process always worked for me.