Air Jack overhaul project

[p0689109]

I decided to strip and clean this air/hyd jack I picked up at auction a bit back. I used it to lift the camper van for a bit of an inspection and boy did it make that easy. It works all right but was a bit bashed and scraped. Upon strip down I found one of the four springs that retract that actuator had broken and the previous owner had done a "fix" to keep her working. It must have had a hard life in a builders yard or on site as there was sand and grit in all the nooks and crannies. The bottom truck plate had a big circular hole in it where the jack reacted so that had to be cut out and new metal inserted. Luckily the main jack unit just needs a good paint and repaint. The side panels and top cover have taken the beatings.
Anyway I need your help in tracking down a replacement spring. I have been on the website www.entexstocksprings.co.uk but they only advertise bog standard tension springs with a loop connection each end. As you can see from the photos my spring is held in place at the base with a nut and countersunk screw. The size is in imperial 6 ins long, 1 inch coil dia and 1/8in wire diameter.
Heres hoping somebody can steer me in the right direction.
Cheers Michael T

 

[AndyStobbs]

Looks different to mine but I admie your effort. I've got two 20t ones here. Started stripping one that had a hammer blow to the air chamber and quickly put in the 'to do' dark corner.

 

[penfold]

I think you'll struggle to get one like that, not sure how spendy getting custom terminations on springs is. Could it be modified to take off-the-shelf springs?

 

[the snooper]

I think the best you will do cheaply is find a slightly shorter spring and make an adaptor to mount it

 

[Fergus]

The last time I saw a spring like that it was one of four on a kids rocking horse..

 

[Robotstar5]

We used to use Springmasters they could supply pretty much any spring

 

[Jan]

Trampoline spring?

 

[p0689109]

Many thanks for feedback. I have emailed spring masters. Hopefully they will come up with a deal at a sensible price.

 

[Mick - Ford Focus]

Been Thinking About This One - Would Just 2 Springs Opposite Each Other Return The Jack !

M

 

[p0689109]

Did you not notice in the first picture the set up. There is a saddle plate across the actuator and onto this ,in pairs, are four springs, quite hefty jobs too. A world power lifter would have trouble trying to extend one! You need all that force to ensure the jack fully lowers away from the job in hand. I also want to keep the jack to original spec. As I mentioned the previous user/owner had carried out a usable fix but I want to return it to spec.

 

[p0689109]

I have had a reply from springmasters. They said for the four they would want £33.20 each and just for one £75.00, both plus vat and postage. The single price was more than I paid for the jack at auction!. Looks like I will have to rethink the job.

 

[Robotstar5]

I have had a reply from springmasters. They said for the four they would want £33.20 each and just for one £75.00, both plus vat and postage. The single price was more than I paid for the jack at auction!. Looks like I will have to rethink the job.

I suppose that's for set up costs, unit price will drop as quantity goes up? but no good for a one-off

 

[MCKDAVID]

need to get yourself to one of your local garden equipment repair shops, tons of springs like that on lawn tractors type kit, you need the type that hold on the mower deck.

find a decent one with a "grave yard" of old kit, and no doubt they'll have plenty lying, at least 10 on each tractor of different poundage & length sort of thing a few quid to the beer fund would aquire I would imagine..

 

[p0689109]

Good idea MCKDAVID. We have a decent one here in Stoke where I bought my new chain saw. I will give them a visit on Monday.