How short is too short for haybine header springs?

lastcowboy32 · Aug 17, 2020

I have two of these Hesston 1070 haybines.

Both header springs have failed on my runner.

I pulled both springs off of my spare.

The plan is, to put the working springs on my runner... then unthread the plug from the ends of broken springs and rethread to make a shorter spring.... probably need to get some threaded rod to extend the bolt at the other end.

Looking at the two springs that I pulled out of my spare, looks like one already had this operation done to it.

I'm going to have to measure the broken ones on my runner.... maybe they have been reworked once... not sure if I can do it again.

Yes? No?

New springs are probably spendy...

Brendon-KS · Aug 18, 2020

These springs should have 39 coils and the one to the front in your first picture has only 36 so you're probably correct that it broke once before. The original
springs have a maximum length of around 33" without yielding the material and missing a few coils will take that down to around 30". So, you'll want to make sure
you are always less than that during operation. Also keep in mind that a shorter spring won't float the header as well since the spring force will drop off more
rapidly as the header rises up.

lastcowboy32 · Aug 18, 2020

(quoted from post at 06:00:33 08/18/20) These springs should have 39 coils and the one to the front in your first picture has only 36 so you're probably correct that it broke once before. The original
springs have a maximum length of around 33" without yielding the material and missing a few coils will take that down to around 30". So, you'll want to make sure
you are always less than that during operation. Also keep in mind that a shorter spring won't float the header as well since the spring force will drop off more
rapidly as the header rises up.

Thanks for the comment.

The part about how well it floats the header with a couple of coils missing is a subtle effect that I didn't think of.

Right now, my "running" haybine is running with two broken springs, so even a short spring will be better than no spring... but it seems that I should also at least take a look at what a new replacement would cost, even if they are available.

How short is too short for haybine header springs?

lastcowboy32

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Brendon-KS

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lastcowboy32

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