RE: Springs

[William and Melissa Johns <gizmology-at-gizmology.net>]

Exactly right.  Also, some extension springs (ones you pull, instead of 
compress, sometimes "tension" springs) have a preload, a minimum force that 
will extend them.  You can usually recognize these springs because there is 
no space between the coils.  If there is space between the coils, there is 
no preload.

Lots and lots and lots more info at

http://www.mech.uwa.edu.au/DANotes/springs/intro/intro.html

Be sure to check out the entire site - it's awesome!

I used valve springs from a junk 350 my mechanic had sitting in his 
yard.  Free!  I bet a junkyard could provide you with more springs that you 
could stand.

Bill



At 04:48 PM 11/4/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>...Spring rate. I believe this is listed in lb/in of compression. So
>if you have a spring 1.5 inches long, with a compressed length of .5 inches,
>and a spring rate of 10 lb/in, it will basically hold up 10 pounds when it
>bottoms out. Oversimplified example, but that's how the numbers come
>together.

--

"If cats could talk, they wouldn't."  --  Nan Porter