Rebending leaf springs

[DPittman]

Any experts here on rebending leaf springs? I am wanting to straighten out a small end portion of a leaf with out causing damage. I just need to flaten out the curved and "machined" length (2.75")then drill a hole thru the stuff for a mounting bolt.

 

[Mega arc 5040dd]

When you say without causing damage do you mean without changing the spring characteristics or temper?

 

[DPittman]

When you say without causing damage do you mean without changing the spring characteristics or temper?

Ya I guess i was pretty vague there... I dont want it to break or bend.

 

[slow-poke]

Back in the day I had springs re-arched by shop, they just used a hydraulic press, no heat.

You can drill them if required but you need a decent drill bit as they are pretty tough steel.

 

[historicalarms]

In my experience with main springs for antique firearms, if you bend without heating to the point that it retains a new form, there will be cracks in the spring that will almost immediately fail in use...in other words anneal then bend, then re-heat treat, then re-temper.
ohh ya...drill your hole in the annealed state.
Brownells sells flat spring stock (a local gunsmith may have a selection close by...Stel...) in its annealed state that you can make your own new spring from , comes with "how to torch heat treat" directions that most home shop gunsmiths will use because of equipment limitations.

 

[DPittman]

In my experience with main springs for antique firearms, if you bend without heating to the point that it retains a new form, there will be cracks in the spring that will almost immediately fail in use...in other words anneal then bend, then re-heat treat, then re-temper.
ohh ya...drill your hole in the annealed state.
Brownells sells flat spring stock (a local gunsmith may have a selection close by...Stel...) in its annealed state that you can make your own new spring from , comes with "how to torch heat treat" directions that most home shop gunsmiths will use because of equipment limitations.

That's not what I wanted to hear. I need to drill both ends of the spring and only straighten the one end a bit. Maybe I will have to anneal both ends and leave them in that state. I think the leaf is heavy enough material that it should not likely fail ( I hope and guess) .

 

[Chicken lights]

What's it being used for?

A leaf spring shop, while probably not one close by, likely has a scrap bin you could poke through

 

[DPittman]

What's it being used for?

A leaf spring shop, while probably not one close by, likely has a scrap bin you could poke through

I am making a modification to my little plane tailwheel. I am mounting a tailwheel to a leaf spring and the leaf spring to the back end of the plane...completely different set up from the original.