road spring - checking poundage

[magpies]

hi
I have over the years collected a few coilover springs but do not know the poundage - is there anywhere in the NE that would have the equipment to check?

[andrew830]

you could use a cornerweight scale and a pillar drill if you cant find a spring tester.

[Incorrigible]

Or make a lever, hang a weight on it, measure the deflection. I like the cornerweight scale idea though

[Eric Mc]

Ask Massa how he found out the weight of Barrichello's spring.

[Marf]

Eric Mc said:

Ask Massa how he found out the weight of Barrichello's spring.

I say old boy that's in poor taste wot.

[magpies]

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Could you use a Hydraulic press.

Anyone have any values on how springs are calculated.

As would like to measure mine.

[Mr2Mike]

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

Could you use a Hydraulic press.

Anyone have any values on how springs are calculated.

As would like to measure mine.

You simply need to compress the spring a bit, measure the distance you have compressed it and the force required (which is where the cornerweight gauge comes in handy).

spring rate in lbs/in is then = force in pounds/spring deflection in inches.

e.g. if it took 300 pounds to compress the spring by 2 inches, the spring rate is simply 300/2 = 150 lbs/in.

A pair of bathroom scales could probably be used to get a rough idea of the force, though they don't tend to be very accurate.