Made in USA leaf springs

[2008RN]

22 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

43 pound/feet. The shoulder of the bolt will bottom out on the hanger, make sure it has done that then tighten. DO NOT attempt to use the nut to pull the bolt into place. It will strip the nut and ruin the wet bolt.

Do you press them in place?  If so, what is the best way to do this at home without a press?

[jd1923]

Just got this today and it looks great. Thanks to those who suggested it! amazon.com/dp/B00H7LPKKU?ref=fed_asin_title

Edited Tuesday at 07:41 AM by jd1923

[MAX Burner]

They make lubing the wet bolts so much easier, @jd1923

 

[Geronimo John]

10 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Just got this today and it looks great.

Have had mine for over a year and love it.  You are correct in that it makes greasing our zerks much easier.

GJ

[ScubaRx]

On 8/25/2024 at 12:16 PM, ScubaRx said:

As you are the fourth owner, that may well be the case. I have pictures of yours and another being built for Jim Oliver in 2009. Jim was adamant about there being no such thing as overkill and I know he put 5200 pound axles and the larger five leaf springs under his. Being as all the current models were Elites (at that time) and the only axles and springs they would have had on hand would have been the HD's, I just assumed that yours were too. Jim named that trailer "The Beast" and it had full extension drawers mounted under the hull between the steps and the front axle.

Edit: @CRM has located a photo of the underside of Jim's "The Beast." It had four leaf spring packs rather than five so now I wonder if the axles were 5200 pounds when originally built.

[CRM]

3 minutes ago, ScubaRx said:

Edit: @CRM has located a photo of the underside of Jim's "The Beast." It had four leaf spring packs rather than five so now I wonder if the axles were 5200 pounds when originally built.

The axles tubes look to be a smaller diameter than mine, so maybe?

[ScubaRx]

On 8/26/2024 at 9:52 AM, 2008RN said:

Do you press them in place?  If so, what is the best way to do this at home without a press?

The wet bolt is only pressed into the shackle strap. I don't have a hydraulic press either but I do have a vise and a big ole hammer. Remove the zerk fitting from the end and drop it into the shackle strap orienting the grease exit hole 90 degrees to the strap. Loosely clamp the bolt into the vise and using your big ole hammer tap it down until the backside of the bolt head makes solid contact with the strap. Replace the zerk, or leave it out for now because you're probably gonna have to hit it again to make the shoulder seat against the strap on the other side. DO NOT use tightening the nut in an effort to pull it into place, you will only strip the nut and could damage the threads on the bolt.

FYI: In American English, a vice is an immoral habit or practice (or the second in command after the President) and a vise is a tool with closable jaws for clamping things. But in British English, the tool is spelled like the sin: vice.

[ScubaRx]

On 8/6/2024 at 7:23 AM, Ronbrink said:

You’ve heard it from me a time or two before and probably will a time or two again, “don’t thread on Crazy Horse”!

I have no idea what this means.

 

[John Welte]

On 8/26/2024 at 9:21 PM, jd1923 said:

Just got this today and it looks great. Thanks to those who suggested it! amazon.com/dp/B00H7LPKKU?ref=fed_asin_title

I have one too.  Don't unscrew and loosen the gripper too much as you can lose the little parts that grip on to the zerk.  There are about three or four little pieces that will be lost.  How do I know this?  I did just that and had to buy another 90 degree attachment.  Great tool though!

John

[rideandfly]

On 8/26/2024 at 10:52 AM, 2008RN said:

Do you press them in place?  If so, what is the best way to do this at home without a press?

Pins sometimes can be pressed in and out with something like a Ball Joint Service Kit if it will fit within the work space, but it's normally too expensive to justify for one job, unless a friend has one.

This Maddox kit from Harbor Freight looks very similar to my Pittsburg kit, it's on sale until 8/29/24 for $44.99:

https://www.harborfreight.com/ball-joint-service-kit-for-2wd-and-4wd-vehicles-63610.html

[jd1923]

5 hours ago, rideandfly said:

This Maddox kit from Harbor Freight looks very similar to my Pittsburg kit, it's on sale until 8/29/24 for $44.99:

Or you can go to O'Reilly's or most national chain A/P stores and borrow this same tool. They charge the cost of it to your credit card and bring it back in 1-2 days and they will refund/credit your card. We have an O'Reilly's 1/2 mile from home, and I have used their loaner program a good dozen times.

I purchased a ball joint press that is much longer required for some applications, but I do ball joint service regularly having rebuilt 3 truck suspensions in just the last 4 years. For the Oliver, just borrow one for free if you need it!

Edited Thursday at 01:29 AM by jd1923
3 in 4 years, not 2 years (my old body hurts enough!)

[ScubaRx]

Since you (or at least myself) would never try to press the wet bolts into the shackle straps while under the trailer, I can't see this being an issue or a useful tool. If you own a vise and a hammer, you have all the tools you need. If not, this job is probably beyond your capabilities.

Edited Thursday at 03:28 AM by ScubaRx

[rideandfly]

6 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

Since you (or at least myself) would never try to press the wet bolts into the shackle straps while under the trailer, I can't see this being an issue or a useful tool. If you own a vise and a hammer, you have all the tools you need. If not, this job is probably beyond your capabilities.

When someone makes a different choice on how to do a job does not mean they cannot perform a job. Most folks here probably use a hammer,  but there is another way.

Edited Thursday at 10:15 AM by rideandfly

[Geronimo John]

On 8/27/2024 at 11:56 AM, ScubaRx said:

The wet bolt is only pressed into the shackle strap. I don't have a hydraulic press either but I do have a vise and a big ole hammer.

Spot on ScubaRX.   Would add well greasing the spring and insert.  Also using a deadfall hammer would work a bit better than the big ole hammer.  May also cause less damage should we have eaten our Wheaties that morning.  🙂

GJ

[2008RN]

17 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

Since you (or at least myself) would never try to press the wet bolts into the shackle straps while under the trailer, I can't see this being an issue or a useful tool. If you own a vise and a hammer, you have all the tools you need. If not, this job is probably beyond your capabilities.

Yep, I have a hammer and a mounted vice.  I use to be a machinist, and sometimes my mind gets stuck in using proper tools. Big ole hammers and vices just remind me of blacksmithing and welding. I  almost thought of spending a few hundred bucks on a Table top arbor press that I could get the 10" drums under for pressing the bearings, but then I figured I was starting to get carried away. 

[2008RN]

6 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

Spot on ScubaRX.   Would add well greasing the spring and insert.  Also using a deadfall hammer would work a bit better than the big ole hammer.  May also cause less damage should we have eaten our Wheaties that morning.  🙂

GJ

I like the deadfall hammer I think I have a 2 pounder.  I also have a few large brass punches that I could use with the sledge.   I am starting to think it would be fun to borrow the Orielly's ball joint press.  I have never used one.

[rideadeuce]

Now y’all have given me an excuse to buy another tool - Dead-blow hammer. Although, I don’t think it would be necessary in this situation. I used a regular hammer and a 3/4 in socket to cover the zerk fitting and it seated easily over strong base like a vise. Unfortunately, I am in the process of changing out the 2 1/4 in shackles for 2 1/2 in shackles that Lew sent me. So after 3 subsequent wet bolt installs I have gotten fairly proficient at it. Hopefully, this time it will give me the necessary clearance for the easy flex to work properly. 

M

[rideadeuce]

Finally, leaf springs do not hit the Easy-Flex. Installed the 2 1/2 in shackles Lew sent me without difficulty.

Two jacks, 13/16 socket, 11/16 socket, 13/16 wrench, 3/8 and 1/2 in torque wrench, hammer, vise,  Impact wrench, wrags, and LockNLube grease gun.

I know I was 2 out 1500 on the coupler issue but I can't believe that I am the only one this was happening to after upgrading to the ALCAN springs. Happy that I did not cut them to fit and theoretically the increase in 1/2 in shackle length should lower the camper by the same. So the first pull up the driveway will be the test but I did cut off about 1/2 in of bolt length on the back of the bike rack to make up difference. Again, just happy that everything is back together and working. Looking forward to fall trip and going on the ALCAN eventually!

Best,

Mike 

BEFORE

AFTER

 

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by rideadeuce