regarding the rear springs

AA Ford Discussion Group relating to the repair and restoration of your AA Ford.
smilebigtt
Posts: 267
Joined: December 27th, 2008, 9:30 pm
Body Type: flatbed
Model Year: 1930

regarding the rear springs

Post by smilebigtt »

I was looking at the photo's of an AA and noticed a second set of springs other then the main springs. My truck has the main springs but does not have the smaller upside down set of springs. What is this other set for?
Drew Mashburn
Posts: 496
Joined: April 25th, 2005, 2:25 pm
Model Year: 1930
Location: Ojai, California

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by Drew Mashburn »

Smiley:

More than likely, they are helper-springs (for lack of another term). You know, so an even heavier load can be hauled. I have what's left of an old frame with a set of helper-springs attached to it. They kind of look like the rear cantilever spring assemblies, but cut right down the middle from top to bottom. Looks like the front or rear half of an assembly.

-- Drew
Drew Mashburn
smilebigtt
Posts: 267
Joined: December 27th, 2008, 9:30 pm
Body Type: flatbed
Model Year: 1930

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by smilebigtt »

That makes sense. I just wanted to be sure that not all AA's had then as standard factory equipement. thank you
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Barney1930
Posts: 82
Joined: December 28th, 2008, 2:52 pm
Body Type: 82A
Model Year: 1929
Location: Aurora, Oregon

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by Barney1930 »

Sometimes referred to as 'Overload Springs"
Barney
Rosenkranswa
Posts: 123
Joined: January 15th, 2003, 6:11 pm
Model Year: 1930
Location: Malvern, PA

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by Rosenkranswa »

I have a pair of Maremount helper springs on my early '30 AA, they supposedly add another ton to the capacity.
The truck was originally a tanker from Iowa used to haul water and kerosene out to the combines. Apparently most of the tankers had the helper springs.
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spectria
Posts: 1874
Joined: May 15th, 2008, 9:53 pm
Body Type: Mail Truck, Stakebed
Model Year: 1931
Location: Quincy, Ca.

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by spectria »

Here is a pic of my set pre restoration. Note what the addtional load can do to the frame.
Attachments
31 AA Right rear frame Break at A Frame Mount CIMG1885_resize.JPG
31 AA Right rear frame Break at A Frame Mount CIMG1885_resize.JPG (46.65 KiB) Viewed 8851 times
31 AA Booster Springs CIMG1924_resize.JPG
31 AA Booster Springs CIMG1924_resize.JPG (63.76 KiB) Viewed 8851 times
Dave in Quincy, Ca. I love Pics!!!! Post them All!!! :)
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TruckMan
Posts: 132
Joined: March 10th, 2009, 10:36 am
Body Type: Garwood Dump
Model Year: 1928
Location: Wisconsin

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by TruckMan »

I would only keep those helper springs on the truck if you'll have a heavy body or haul heavy loads. Otherwise get yourself a mouth guard and a kidney belt. You are in for a stiff ride.
TruckMan
smilebigtt
Posts: 267
Joined: December 27th, 2008, 9:30 pm
Body Type: flatbed
Model Year: 1930

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by smilebigtt »

Truckman: "a heavy body" ? I will take it you are referring to the truck body and not my fat A-- :D
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spectria
Posts: 1874
Joined: May 15th, 2008, 9:53 pm
Body Type: Mail Truck, Stakebed
Model Year: 1931
Location: Quincy, Ca.

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by spectria »

smilebigtt wrote:Truckman: "a heavy body" ? I will take it you are referring to the truck body and not my fat A-- :D

I think he meant my Fat A$$.

:D
Dave in Quincy, Ca. I love Pics!!!! Post them All!!! :)
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smilebigtt
Posts: 267
Joined: December 27th, 2008, 9:30 pm
Body Type: flatbed
Model Year: 1930

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by smilebigtt »

Boy Spectria, the frame in your photo is just ripped in two. A lot of stress there.
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spectria
Posts: 1874
Joined: May 15th, 2008, 9:53 pm
Body Type: Mail Truck, Stakebed
Model Year: 1931
Location: Quincy, Ca.

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by spectria »

Hey tt,

There was an A-Frame of about 20 feet mounted just forward of those cracks. Along with a monster winch (see photo) the truck was last used for as a yarder to pull Redwood and Doug Fir logs off of Nor Cal Mountains.

I have since carefully cut and ground all those bits off to bring the frame back to original.
Attachments
31 AA Winch CIMG1890_resize.JPG
31 AA Winch CIMG1890_resize.JPG (82.04 KiB) Viewed 8612 times
31 AA Winch assembly View CIMG1914_resize.JPG
31 AA Winch assembly View CIMG1914_resize.JPG (50.78 KiB) Viewed 8613 times
31 AA A-Frame Mounts behinf Winch CIMG1919_resize.JPG
31 AA A-Frame Mounts behinf Winch CIMG1919_resize.JPG (51.52 KiB) Viewed 8611 times
Dave in Quincy, Ca. I love Pics!!!! Post them All!!! :)
Join the Ford Model AA Truck Club - membership form at http://www.fmaatc.org
smilebigtt
Posts: 267
Joined: December 27th, 2008, 9:30 pm
Body Type: flatbed
Model Year: 1930

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by smilebigtt »

You can't say they were'nt work horses. Just keep patching it back together.
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TruckMan
Posts: 132
Joined: March 10th, 2009, 10:36 am
Body Type: Garwood Dump
Model Year: 1928
Location: Wisconsin

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by TruckMan »

I meant the TRUCK body weight. By the way, mine runs about 1200 lbs.

I should have asked how much travel you've got before your helper springs engage. If you can keep them from "helping" during normal operation, they do add quite a visual element. AA springs are already impressive as they are. In fact, a yard of sand, between 3900 and 4200 lbs just makes my truck sit level. I have steel spoke single wheels on the '28 with 6.00 x 20 front, 6.50 x 20 rear tires, just FYI.

Truck Man
TruckMan
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spectria
Posts: 1874
Joined: May 15th, 2008, 9:53 pm
Body Type: Mail Truck, Stakebed
Model Year: 1931
Location: Quincy, Ca.

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by spectria »

HeHeHe!

About the load you mention, What is the Load rating? With Helpers?
Dave in Quincy, Ca. I love Pics!!!! Post them All!!! :)
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smilebigtt
Posts: 267
Joined: December 27th, 2008, 9:30 pm
Body Type: flatbed
Model Year: 1930

Re: regarding the rear springs

Post by smilebigtt »

Last night I did some building up of the bushing hole in the spring pivot bracket. I had to build up I bet a 1/4 inch across the bottom of the bushing bore. I ground it down to where I could tap the bushing in with a lite stroke of a hammer. Now I need to ding the bushing in a way to make sure it does not turn in the bracket and block the grease hole. Took about four hours of work but I'm very happy. One more to do.
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