Cliff,
I did a similar thing, with great success (humility).
I used a 5/8" threaded rod from Home Depot (probably the same as yours). The
nuts I used were sold in the same display stand, and were intended for joining
two threaded rods together. These nuts are about 2 -1/4" long (gives a lot
of bearing surface). I backed up each nut with a pair of washers (to act as
thrust washers). For the bottom plate which interfaces with the pan, I used
a spare transmission tail shaft flange, which with just a little grinding fit
between the shock support bolts perfectly. All moving parts got a healthy
amount of grease. This worked great in disassembling my TR4A, disassembling
my TR3A, and reassembling my TR3A. And there's still plenty of life left.
There is no need to pay the big bucks to buy one of these. If you still have
trouble with our's, let me know and I'll loan you mine.
(p.s. Thanks for the help with Ronnie. I'll let you know when I hear from
him.)
Bill Babbitt
TR3A in a Bag (but hopefully not for ever)
Gales Ferry, Ct.
In a message dated 2/28/98 21:52:11, chansen@exis.net wrote:
<<
I spent this last week chasing down material to make a
front spring compressor for my TR4A. Essentially I got a
piece of grade 5 equivalent 5/8" threaded rod, a steel
plate to push up against the spring pan, and some grade
5 hex nuts and washers. Cost about $15 total, modeled
after TRF's tool.
I have just about destroyed this tool removing one spring.
Too many threads on the rod are chewed to make me feel
confident about using this thing to remove the other spring,
let alone install them. I can just see it, I get the other spring
pan loose, its coming down, and the nut strips its threads.
Now I have to cut a piece of grade 5 steel rod with a 400 lb/inch
spring holding the rod in tension.
Anybody "been there, done that" with these spring compressors?
Should I try to make another using heavier material, or give up
and buy the tool from Moss/TRF? If so, which is the better value?
Thanks for the advice.
Cliff Hansen
chansen@exis.net
1966 TR-4A CTC 64615L (Anxious to be done with front end work)
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