custom leaf springs

[eschneider]

anyone know where I can get british leaf springs made?
apparently the brits used a thinner width spring steel (i.e., MGB) and I'm having trouble finding a spring guy who will make springs.

yes, i know about the composite spring guy.

thanks!

 

[JPSmit]

why wouldn't you just buy new then from Moss or whomever?

 

[eschneider]

why wouldn't you just buy new then from Moss or whomever?

I used MGB as an example. This is actually for Morgans. The problem is that most spring makers can do it, but don't have the correct width steel stock in house.

 

[JPSmit]

Ah - is it possible to go at this another way - source the steel and bring it to the spring builder

 

[mikeyr]

why wouldn't you just buy new then from Moss or whomever?

Moss or whomever may not have the springs, not all British cars are MGs /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

For my front springs which I needed badly, I ended up buying 3 sets of broken and/or worn out springs to make one set. Took a leaf here and leaf there until I had a proper set because I also could not find a spring maker with the right materials.

I do wonder why its so hard to find the right materials.

 

[Dave Russell]

why wouldn't you just buy new then from Moss or whomever?

I used MGB as an example. This is actually for Morgans. The problem is that most spring makers can do it, but don't have the correct width steel stock in house.

I would check with some of the Morgan dealers for parts or ideas.

Isis Imports Ltd. for the USA in San Francisco, CA.
https://www.morgancars-usa.com/morgan.html

Melvyn Rutter, Ltd. in Hertfordshire, England.
https://www.morgan-motors-cars.com/

Libra Motive in London, England.
https://www.libramotive.com/

Morgan Spares Ltd. in New York, USA.
https://www.morgan-spares.com/

Wykeham's in London, England.
https://www.wykehams.co.uk/

There are three Morgans in my local all brand Brit car club. Parts are not exactly common.
D

 

[eschneider]

I would check with some of the Morgan dealers for parts or ideas.

I -am- a morgan specialist. <grin> We've dissociated from the factory (they're not supporting older model parts much anymore)

Leaf springs from England can cost $400 US (each) + shipping. That's silly. We should be supplying england at the current exchange rate.......

 

[LarryK]

If the set is not broken, they can respring them for your and temper them.

 

[Dave Russell]

I would check with some of the Morgan dealers for parts or ideas.

I -am- a morgan specialist. <grin> We've dissociated from the factory (they're not supporting older model parts much anymore)

Leaf springs from England can cost $400 US (each) + shipping. That's silly. We should be supplying england at the current exchange rate.......

apparently the brits used a thinner width spring steel (i.e., MGB) and I'm having trouble finding a spring guy who will make springs.
thanks!

"We" are not making much of anything any more. You "could" get a set of Moss springs for some other make & use the parts to adapt to what you need. Likely to cost more than $400 each when you are finished. I think it's just part of the price you pay for having an old Morgan.
D

 

[zblu]

What year is the mog in question?
what length/width/thickness?
how many?

 

[eschneider]

What year is the mog in question?
what length/width/thickness?
how many?

The big issue is width. Nominal 1.5"; actual 1-7/16". I'm accustomed to pricing at $75-$100/spring for custom springs, but no-one has the correct width spring stock.

 

[zblu]

My dogs collar is wider than that! and some prams have wider leafs than that, I'll ask around, maybe some of the motorcycle sidecar people have sources, must be an early mog, 3 cyl aircooled?

 

[zblu]

cyl=wheel

 

[Popeye]

Perhaps a dumb suggestion, but is it possible/practical to take a wide spring stock and cut it down to the proper width?

 

[eschneider]

My dogs collar is wider than that!

I guessing that's not a british dawg? <grin>

must be an early mog, 3 cyl aircooled?

Nope. Same width for everything from 1947-2007 (Not sure about those bloody new-fangled Aero8's). Trikes were prolly same width, but they were cantilevered ala' frogeyes.

Not sure off the top o' my head, but I beleive the MGB's and midgets use the same width..... Dunno about TR2/3's.

 

[eschneider]

Perhaps a dumb suggestion, but is it possible/practical to take a wide spring stock and cut it down to the proper width?

Not a dumb question. Interesting suggestion, but I'm looking to make 10 or more sets. Not sure what considerations would come into play with the uniformity of the spring specs (temper, spring rate, yadda). I'm sure it could be done by a determined person with a pack 'o hacksaw blades......

Just heard from the last of the other morgan guys. The particular variant of spring I was looking for immediately is officially unavailable anywhere.

 

[zblu]

When people ask me what breed it is I tell its a chihuahua on steroids, actually an 87kg Great Dane
Checked some springs here, about 43mm by about 5mm

 

[DrEntropy]

Seems that pack a hacksaw blades is lookin' more like the solution.

I'm surprised the Moggys use a "proprietary" spring. I'd have figger'd it to be a "production" one from another make.

 

[eschneider]

I'm surprised the Moggys use a "proprietary" spring. I'd have figger'd it to be a "production" one from another make.

I'm actually guessing that Morgan springs were either bent in-house (between sheaves of kiln-dried ash) or ordered from the spring shop 'round the pub - but I believe the stock was common material.

At least the rear wasn't a "sliding pillar" design like the front.

I measured the B's in the shop - they were wider (1-7/8") but the MGTC were the same width and thickness.

The spring guys all seem to know the 1.5" width as "british spring" stock.

maybe I should be asking the MGT-series racing guys who makes their custom springs? Hmmmmm..... Recommendations on who to talk to?

 

[eschneider]

...an 87kg Great Dane....

Oh, my!

Hey, will he take a saddle? What are the fuel costs on that kind of transportation?

Checked some springs here, about 43mm by about 5mm

according to my google units converter from US inches to the-rest-of-civilization, that's still a bit too wide. I do thank you for taking your time to investigate.