I have a 1924 Turtle Deck Roadster and am a newbie. When someone rides in the passenger side, the bottom bolt of my right headlight bumps my Hassler Spring. Checked the leaf springs and they don't appear broken (what I can see). All body to frame bolts are in place. Can leaf springs just wear out and get weak? any other ideas from the forum would be helpful?
I can't imagine how that could happen unless the Hasslers are not installed properly. Take a look at this picture of my '17 Torpedo Runabout. Yours should look very similar.
You appear to have a lot more clearance than I do. I tried to attach a pic but it exceeds the file size, so I measured the distance between the bolt and the Hassler Spring and it is only 3/4". Does this tell us anything?
If the spring is installed wrong are they hard to adjust or move?
Ok, got a picture loaded. Hope this helps you, helps me find the key to the problem.
Ok, got a picture loaded. Hope this helps you, helps me find the key to the problem.
As I extrapolate the arch from my right in the photo to the shackle, it doesn't line up. Hasslers raise the height of the car about an inch. It may be that someone tried to lower it back, or, yes, sometimes springs do just sag from age, stress, collisions or other causes. If there is a truck spring or repair facility near you, they may be able to re-arch and re-temper the spring for you. Otherwise, good original replacements are easy enough to get. Sometimes you can even straighten them yourself (cold), sometimes it even works.
Anyone else see what I see?
Good luck!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Yeah, it looks like the spring flattens out toward the eye. More arch in the spring is needed. That will raise the body away from the axle.
I've re-arced them cold leaf by leaf in a press and in a big vice with a pipe as a lever, both worked fine. Just don't try to bend where the bolt hole in the middle is - it'll break.
I think the main problem is the spring perches are not pulled out and reversed so they head out towards the wheels, therefore your hassler springs are a lot closer to the headlight bolt look at the above photo and then look at yours? Jack Daron am I correct??
His perches are reversed,but the original spring clamp is holding the Hassler saddle out to far.
What do you mean by "a perch", sorry don't understand this term?
The pad that the spring sets in is in the wrong place. The pad should be 4 or 5 inches closer to center.
Dan the perch is the metal piece that goes into top of axle and the springs mount to it.
Could it be that someone replaced the spring with a 26-27 low arch? KB
Guys, here is a full frontal view of the car. Does this change anything?
Thanks for the comments so far
car.4.bmp (46.5 k) |
I am really having trouble with getting pictures added to this. However, again looking at the car and trying to figure out what is being suggested, I now realize that the bottom of the Hasslers on both sides are hitting the axle as I have marks on the axle on both sides where they have hit???? This is kind of leading me to think that I don't have any support with the leaf springs??? HELP
It may be easier and simpler following the original instructions which include the proper measurements.
I thought there was a downloadable set of instructions on the MTFCA or MTFCI website but I don't think that is the case anymore.
In the mean time, you can look at the instructions here:
http://modelt.org/discus/messages/2/31862.html?1309270337
You can save the images, enlarge them and then print them.
If you remove the spring clamps, if you loosen the Hassler brackets that straddle the leaf spring, you may be able tap them inwards to their proper location.
If you need to compress the coils, it can be done with a threaded rod, two nuts and a flat piece of metal with a hole in it.
I personally think Hasslers are ugly. My car had a set and I removed them.