Front and rear Spring Bushings 5781 or CO1T-5781-A and 5781 or CO1T-5781-A

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Guys

In the last several posts some interesting things have come up. Maybe we need a discussion of how to install and fit the bushings and pins.

For example you need to have a pin in the bushing as it is pressed into the spring eye to reduce chance of distorting the bushing if the spring eye is not round.

Or pressing the bushing in instead of driving it in.

Or leaving the old bushing in place and putting a long snug fitting rod through the old bushing and the new bushing and using the new bushing to push the old bushing out as the new is installed.

Buying bushings that to long and cutting them off to fit after they are installed.

Just some thoughts.

Cheers Phil

[Mike K]

Years ago i used to buy the bushes from Jacobs spring works in Oakleigh but they are probably long gone .

It's often the case that the spring eye is not a perfectly circular shape , the eye can be worn to a oval shape or it may have been originally manufactured slightly out of round which makes installing a new round bush a difficult job.

If you have access to a lathe you can machine some new bushes to suit your springs. Measure each spring eye dimension and then make each bush to suit each eye.

You could fit a bronze liner into the machined steel bush , make the bronze liner thicker than required, press it in, then bore it to suit the pin diameter.

[sth65pac]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Years ago i used to buy the bushes from Jacobs spring works in Oakleigh but they are probably long gone .

It's often the case that the spring eye is not a perfectly circular shape , the eye can be worn to a oval shape or it may have been originally manufactured slightly out of round which makes installing a new round bush a difficult job.

If you have access to a lathe you can machine some new bushes to suit your springs. Measure each spring eye dimension and then make each bush to suit each eye.

You could fit a bronze liner into the machined steel bush , make the bronze liner thicker than required, press it in, then bore it to suit the pin diameter.

Yeah Mike,
I actually have a lathe (yet to assemble in my workshop), but I think procurement method might be better time wise My motto has always been if you have to spend a month making a small item, it's probably better to buy one.

I would probably have to practice for about a year to be good enough to turn out one bush. Better men than me have mastered lathes, I can skim a commutator and probably make a pin, but that's where my skills (and I am an electrical fitter) ends.

PS I have all my fingers...still

Cheers,

Ian

[sth65pac]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

Hi Guys

In the last several posts some interesting things have come up. Maybe we need a discussion of how to install and fit the bushings and pins.

For example you need to have a pin in the bushing as it is pressed into the spring eye to reduce chance of distorting the bushing if the spring eye is not round.

Or pressing the bushing in instead of driving it in.

Or leaving the old bushing in place and putting a long snug fitting rod through the old bushing and the new bushing and using the new bushing to push the old bushing out as the new is installed.

Buying bushings that to long and cutting them off to fit after they are installed.

Just some thoughts.

Cheers Phil

My method is to place a stake or wide blade into the split end of the eye of the spring and spread it slightly prior to installing a new bush. It takes a bit of force but with a 12" cold chisel with a 1" blade you can hammer it into the split and spread the eye just enough to make the bush slide in with little effort. Being mindful its spring steel and it has a force stored when you do this!

The bushes must be pressed in and not hammered using a solid tube as close to the bush diameter as possible. (some sockets are good). With the eye spread the bush sometimes goes all the way in, but a press is handy for the final placing.

That is a good tip to add the centre pin, I haven't done that in the past, but it would reduce the chance of crushing your nice new bush. (been there, & done that)

Having reamed the eye hole with a brake wheel cylinder hone and suitable lubrication first.
Its a messy job and you have to go slowly so as to not damage the hone.

Cheers,

Ian