Spring specs

[chipwitch 73]

Seems my tractor is missing a few springs.  Is there a reference table or something that shows spring specs?  Just the ones that have popped out at me so far are the tiller idler pulley (drive mule?) and the tiller lift assist.  I saw one or two other small springs on the tractor that don't look like they belong there or they're the wrong ones.  Be nice to double check their specs.

 

If not, what do you do about replacing springs?  Dealer only?  Trial and error?

[Save Old Iron 1,571]

II have not seen a cross reference list but here is a possible source

 

[chipwitch 73]

Pretty much what I expected

 

As far as lift assist springs go, I guess that's easy enough to calculate.  Places like McMaster publish all their spring specs so selection isn't a problem.  The bigger problem for me are the springs that maintain belt tension.  I could determine that mathematically if I knew what the belt tensions were supposed to be.  Are those numbers published anywhere?

 

[KATO 115]

 i dont have a tiller but I have used the dealer on several other springs

and the prices werent out of line

[groundhog47 347]

If you need the measurements I'll get it for ya, the part # is 4629 lift assist (pricy) and idler (back pulling) for attach by brake is 6135 (front pulling spring may be different). I'll get ya the big one length, but don't have a small one to go by. Kelly, a vendor member on here mentions in a post that the old car hood springs will prob work. If lucky enough  to have a nearby Tractor Supply store they have a good assortment in stock usually. And  to

 

As for other springs I'm relatively new and haven't seen or haerd of a list yet, but tha would be a great idea. One member suggested we get a pulley size comparison, good idea also, but .....

Edited May 29, 2014 by groundhog47

[GlenPettit 1,717]

Lift Assist Spring: (Snowthrower & Tiller) WH Part #8-4311 . . . . . . .       .  

Used with front SNOWTHROWERS and rear ROTOTILLERS, to assist with lifting of these heavy implements:

    

Springs are 7.75" long, 1.5" diameter, and made of 7/32" ( .220" ) thick Wire. 

The special High Temperature Annealing in the manufacturing process gives these extension springs a very unique high lift torquewhen under stress, making them much stronger than a Zinc or Chrome plated spring of the same size. Springs are painted Red.

[SousaKerry 503]

The big things to know when finding replacement springs are.

Over all lenght

maximum extension(or compression)

spring rate

outer diameter

wire diameter

number of turns

material

 

When some of these are known others can be calculated a couple of manufactures with extensive catalogs are Lee Spring, Associated Spring.  There are also ANSI standard springs that meet predetermined criteria these are the springs usually found in hardware stores or places like Fastenal.  Usually when I need one I take the remnants into a store like Fastenal and try to match it up the best I can with what is on the shelf and go from there.  95% of the time the spring you need can vary by quite a large margin and still work.  At work when we are designing new equipment and a spring is needed we will often choose one from a sample kit and try several similar ones before finding the right one.  We do this as the calculations do not always work the way you would think.