Re: [Amc-list] Spring Compressor

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Working with a loaded spring IS a bit scary, no matter what the tool used looks like. The AMC "hooks" are solid and there's not much that can go wrong with the tool itself, unlike others. Plus, the screw types require you to be right there at the spring to use. The AMC hooks are safer in that respect -- the spring is held in by the car itself when you put the hooks on, then you get out of the way (out of the line of fire!) to jack the car up and remove them. So while they sound/look scary, in reality they are as safe or safer than any other type of spring compressor. Like a loaded gun, loaded springs are inherently unsafe no matter what you use. 

A lot of Russian Bloc hand guns don't have a safety on them. Before they could be imported they had to have safetys added, which turned out to be relatively simple. So why no safety originally? The Russian philosophy is "it's a gun, it's not safe"!!! Since there were no civilian hand guns allowed, only police and military folks had them -- in other words personnel that were formally trained on safe handling and use of weapons. A safety is only good when you're carrying a round in the chamber. Any good gun training will emphasize NOT having a round in the chamber unless you're ready to fire, and removal of that round once the danger passes.  

------------
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 05:18:24 -0800 (PST)
From: Davis Martin <martin-davis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Good info still sounds scary though! 
 
--- On Thu, 1/15/09, Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Amc-list] Spring Compressor
To: amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2009, 4:50 PM

1. Remove the old springs form the car using tool.
2. Compress the spring seats and remove tool. You do this either in a hydraulic
press or set the car down on top of it. Set it under the frame area where it
level out just behind the front wheel well. This is actually safer than in a
press, because if it DOES come out it will stay low on the floor or even under
the car. 
3. Jack the car up (or let up on press) then remove spring once it has extended
full length. Leave car at this height if immediately proceeding to next steps.
4. Remove spring seats from old spring and install on new. 
5. Set spring and seats under car/in press and compress until tool can be
installed. 
6. Jack up car/let off press. CAREFULLY remove spring. 
7. CAREFULLY insert spring in proper location.
8. Let weight of car down on spring (or jack control arm up) and remove tool.
Slowly let weight of car on spring and check the spring for proper location as
you work. 
9. Proceed to the other side. I would NEVER work on both sides at once! Or
rather, I'd never leave two loaded springs lying around the shop. If I need
to do both sides, I remove the spring on one side then decompress it to take out
the other. That way a loaded spring isn't sitting there waiting to get
knocked over or something. The longer it's loaded in the tool, the more
chance it has to be a problem. You wouldn't leave a loaded gun cocked and
ready, just needing a pull of the trigger to fire lying around would you? I have
guns, and have one loaded around, but not ready to fire. The only one close is
my .22 revolver, but it has a hammer block safety (also single action, must have
the hammer pulled back first). Keeping that spring loaded is like having the
safety off and the hammer back on that revolver! 

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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