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Have to redo leaf spring I have that I got with my '37. Have scene springs with 2 on top and 4 on bottom of main bundle and some with 3 on top and 3 on bottom.Which way should I build spring pack.
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my '36 Chief has 2 on top of the big spring and 5 springs on the bottom. for a total of 8 springs.
my '33 leaf spring front end has 1 on top, the main spring w/loop, 6 springs below the loop, for a total of 8 springs.
my '45 Chief, plunger frame, leaf spring front end has 4 springs above the loop spring,and 6 more springs below the loop spring.
You may already be familiar with the Virtual Indian site... here's an article by Andy Donald re; leaf spring front ends.
The entire VI site is very informative. Certainly worth a look. Mentioned many times here on this site... I keep this site handy for reference and more on my desktop.
C2K
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There was a article on CAIM also that dealt with the rebuilding process of the leaf spring if I remember correctly. I may have printed it as I did some other articles on there.Jim DComment
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Thanks so far, article does have some errors as spring pack '39 and later is different length and spring thickness.Comment
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tomfiii- Yeah, I noticed the discrepancy in Andy Donald's description. I've seen alot of leaf spring front ends, and I must say the spring packs vary in the number of leaves, the width and thickness
of the springs. The leaf spring front end was used for many years, with the mid-thirties the most changes occuring. The spring packs likely fit all variations, and I assume the springs were the easiest to alter while seeking a softer or smoother ride.
Sort of makes sense that you might see a variety of different spring packs throughout the years. I've heard stories that riders in the day either loved or hated the leaf spring front end. Maybe riders swapped out the spring packs... who knows ?? Of course, by '46, Indian got rid of the leaf spring front end altogether, opting for the girder style (I hate the later '46-48 front end) and by1950 went with a hydraulic plunger similar to HD. Apparently, the design engineers found something better.
I have examples of 3 different leaf spring front ends on my bikes. They all handle very different, with the '33 chief feels the best of them all. The worst is the '45 Chief (EU). The front forks are overly robust, 11 springs in the pack. Heavy, awkward and built for some really heavy duty pounding on less than ideal roads. I just like the open fenders on the plunger frame !!
C2KComment
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