(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Spring Tester?

J

JRSutton

Well-known Member
Here's a stupid question - Over the years I find myself constantly disregarding spring specs in various repair projects. You know, the "should be 1.5" at 40 lbs" type specs.

It's never really seemed to matter, but I'd like to be able to actually check some springs if I could.

I can think of a million ways to make a device to measure them - but I'm surprised that I've had so much trouble finding an old tester anywhere. I've tried ebay over and over again, but usually only find very high end equipment - $500 plus.

Maybe I just don't know what to call it?

Given how common these specs are, I would have to think there's got to some old testers floating around somewhere. Anybody have a good word or brand that might help in my search?
 
Here's a simple unit, simply a hydraulic piston made to the correct diameter to have a 1 square inch area and a pressure gauge!

<img src = "https://www.jegs.com/images/photos/500/555/555-80538.jpg">
Spring tester
 
Or how I have done some is to get a bathroom scale. I set it in my hyd. press and then measure the spring before and after where I want the height and then read the scale.
 
Hello JRSutton,

Think out of the box, fish scale. Cabela's has them,
I have two they are for commercial copy machine work,


GUIDO.
 
I have had one somewhat like the picture Bob posted below for years. I use mine in a drill press to press down the spring the correct amount for a proper reading. I have a gage to measure the distance down to read the compression of the spring. I put a valve in the drill chuck to press the spring down on the spring tester. If the engine spec is for a40 pound spring it needs to read 40 pounds at the distant the rocker arm reaches its full extension down on the spring. No idea what I paid for it.
 
Hello JRSutton,

On second thought, you may be looking for something automotive. Kent-More makes one, part # 22738-02 0 to 500 lbs. part 22738-02. another one is 125 lbs. capacity, part #j29126,

Guido.
 
Here's a picture of what I had in mind, but this one's $500

I just figured that given the number of references I run across for spring specs, that surely this must have been a very common issue in shops around the country years ago - I would have expected a device like this to have been a more common fixture back in the day - and therefore more readily available now on ebay. I guess not.

I can make something on my own - I was just hoping to find an old used one for well under $100.
cvphoto42.jpg
 
HELLO JRSutton,

yep those part number I posted are just like that one. I don't know the price though,

Guido.
 
When you have a known good spring of the same specs put one end of spring in vise hook the known good spring to it & pull & compare. That is the quickest & easy way, Yes there are lots of spring testers like weighting a fish type, In the 50 - 70s Teletype corp provided there techs with a complete set of spring scales but they were seldom used, compare, measure is 99%.
 
If you are looking for the "automotive" type tester; there are four of the Sturtevant automotive valve spring testers (like this one) on eBay currently. These were also sold under the Kent-Moore name. Search Kent-Moore Sturtevant Valve and Clutch Spring Tester. Prices from 69.99 plus shipping to 569.99 plus shipping (NOS).
mvphoto25473.gif
 
When I do this (and it's not very often!!), I usually rig up something using a line and a fish scale. Not very accurate though.

I like the looks of what Bob posted. Will have to look for one. Thanks.
 
Company I worked at 30 years ago had a spring tester exactly like the one JRSutton posted the picture of. I was rebuilding a Kohler K301 engine and took the valve springs to work one day to test, asked the QA lab tech about testing them, He said "Sure, I've never used that thing, in fact Nobody has ever used that thing in the 30 years I've been here. And we used lots and lots of springs. My valve springs were fine.

Depending on condition and appearance I would think $100 would buy a usable spring tester like that one. Make sure you get any manuals that came with the tester when new, and any testing equipment to make sure the tester is calibrated correctly. If the company was ISO 9000 certified, they had to check calibration at regular intervals whether they used it or not.
 
If you could come up with a gauge, a press such as shooters use for reloading would make an excellent frame/press.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
8n funk 6 starter issue
Replies
15
Views
440
potato
P
Ohio88
Compression tester
Replies
15
Views
1K
J.Wondergem
J.Wondergem
Crazy Horse
Governor spring specification question .....
Replies
2
Views
236
Dieseltech
D
rusty6
Spring 1972
Replies
13
Views
556
Brown David
Brown David
R
Delco starter drive
Replies
11
Views
701
rrlund
R
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top