Lubrication of the Spring Leaves.—Lubrication of the spring leaves should take place once every month. This point must be kept in mind and adhered to, as a spring cannot produce the marked degree of action necessary for smooth and easy riding, when the sliding surface is dry and rusty. The leaves slide on each other when the spring opens and closes, and if the sliding surface is not well lubricated the movement will be greatly checked by the dry friction; these dry surfaces also gather dampness which soon forms into dry-rust, which, in time entirely retards action and results in a very hard riding car.
It is not necessary to disassemble the spring at the monthly greasing period, unless the spring has been neglected and rust has formed on the sliding surfaces. In this case the sliding surface of each blade must be cleaned with a piece of sand or emery paper.
When the springs receive regular attention, it is only necessary to jack up the frame until the wheels and axles are suspended, the weight of which will usually open the leaves sufficiently to insert a film of graphite grease with a thin case knife. In some cases where the leaves are highly curved, it may be found necessary to drive a small screwdriver in between them. However, great care should be exercised in doing this, as the blades are highly tempered and spring out of position very easily.
Wrapping Springs.—Car owners in some parts of the country grease their springs and wrap them with heavy cord or adhesive tape. While this serves to keep the grease in and the dust and dirt out, it also binds the leaves and prevents free action. If the car is to be driven for any length of time on sandy or muddy roads, wrapping may be found very beneficial. But use only a water-proof material (heavy oil paper or canvas) to wrap with. Cut the material into one and one-fourth inch strips, and wrap from the center toward the outer end to prevent binding.
The following shows the results of a spring care test conducted by the writer. The cars were chosen at random and only those accepted which had seen six months or more service.
Eighteen owners were interviewed. Six of this number gave their springs a thorough greasing and tightening up every two weeks, and not one of this group made a complaint of any nature regarding breakage, stiffness, or noise.
Five of the remaining twelve, gave their springs occasional attention. Their reports were not entirely unsatisfactory, but had a tendency toward such troubles as rattles, squeaks, and stiffness in action.
The remaining seven did not give their springs any attention whatever, and all made unsatisfactory reports ranging from broken leaves, to side play, jingles, squeaks and hard riding.
Therefore the results of careful and regular attention may readily be seen by the reports of the first six owners. All nuts and connections were tightened, and the sliding surfaces of the leaves greased on an average of once every two weeks. The springs gave satisfactory results, and the cars retained that easy, soft, springy action, so noticeable in a new car.
The reports of the five who gave their springs occasional attention would probably have been the same as the first six, had they given the proper attention more frequently. But they usually waited until the trouble became annoying, which caused wear on the spring eye, shackle strap, and pin, on each occurrence making a good adjustment impossible. The stiffness in action and squeaks were caused by dry fractional surfaces between the leaves which prevented free action.