INT: Metalurgy and Springs

Galileo · Post by **Galileo** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 1:26 am

Don't know whether this should be found in off-topics or what, but here goes.

I have need of a spring that I am not able to find locally. The spring is 2" long by .5" round (OD) and maybe 18-20 ga steel.
It is also fairly light pressure.

I have found similar dimensioned springs locally, but have much higher pressures, which won't work.

So, here's the question. Will heating up the heavier spring and slowly cooling it lighten the pressure of it, or just comprimise the strength of the spring?

If it matters, it's an internal carbuerator spring, so, yes, amount of force matters.

Thoughts?
Sasha?
Gundo?
Anybody?

G--

------------------
Gabriel Tullis

"I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God."
Luke 1:19 (KJV)

Sasha · Post by **Sasha** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 1:54 am

One of the rules of thumb I learnt in blacksmithing is that a spring pushes (or pulls) both ways.

This may seem obvious until you see some of the Rube Goldberg things that people put together without taking the time to think about this.

Unfortunately annealing the spring will not make it easiier to "push" it will just mean that it will stay bent and not want to push back.

You can probably fiddle around a lot and come to a "sort of" compromise where the spring will be "squishy" and soft on both compression and depression....but that is not what you want going on inside your carburator.

You could get a thicker spring with the same amount of "push" to it and grind it thinnner (keeping it very cool with frequent quenches).
Frankly your best bet is to buy the right spring (I know you have tried). Get in touch with a custom spring works and get them to mail one to you. It is a small spring so the postage isn't an issue.

Sasha

Gundo · Post by **Gundo** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 9:34 am

I no one else, a local tool & die shop will be able to get you a specific spring, or at least put you in touch with a spring-maker.

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schreiber · Post by **schreiber** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 10:13 am

I took a class in differential equations a couple of years ago, and found out that there are incredibly crazy sorcerer's concepts behind springs.

There's also a lot of math and engineering involved in car manufacture... if I were you I'd not settle for making something like this... experience has taught me that it's pretty easy to screw up your car when it comes to carbeurators.

HELMUT

Aidan Cambel · Post by **Aidan Cambel** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 9:41 pm

Are you trying to find it to replace the spring in your carb? Since its a carb, I am guessing the vehicle has some age on it. What kind of car is it?

I am in "junkyard heaven" - aka Alabama. I might can find the exact spring if I know more about what it goes in.

In Service,
Aidan

Galileo · Post by **Galileo** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 11:39 pm

Aiden,
It's a 66 Dodge 2.5 ton flatbed (farm truck) with an extended 318. The carb is a 2 bbl stromberg model WW. Piece of cake to work on, but finding a stinking spring for the accelerator pump is a pain, and no, the spring does not come with a new pump or carb kit, that was our first route. The other option is to get an aftermarket carb, and mount it on there...

G--
(Mopar Man!)

Man, I wish I had my old 360 that I pulled from my truck... the spring looks nearly identical...

[This message has been edited by Galileo (edited 03-29-2001).]