Gator Trailer Leaf Springs

[Buccaneer]

I’m trying to get the leaf springs apart on my Gator trailer.
I have the center bolt removed on each set. There’s two
clips on each spring that appear to be pinned to the
leaf springs. The pin or rivet does not go all the way through
the spring set, therefor cannot be pounded out. The pin
has a rounded head, and can’t be grasped with a vice grip.
Thinking that perhaps the pin is only anchoring the bottom spring,
I tried to tap a center leaf out, but none seemed to move.

Anyone know the proper why to remove these clips?

There’s two piece rubber bushings in each end of the spring
eyelets that should be replaced.

Anyone ever have any luck purchasing them?

Anything wrong with sandblasting the leaf springs?

Should leaf springs be lubricated / greased when reassembled?

I thought I read once NOT to.
Thanks!

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Prepare to be boarded!

[gdcarpenter]

You would have to unbend the open ends of the clamp that hold the leaf springs together. Should you do that they might break when you try to rebend them closed, or not close tight enough without significant application of some serious heat. For what it’s worth I had my leaf springs sandblasted without disassembling them, and painted them with Tremclad Black. Over 5,000 miles of trailing later all is still well.

http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php … ord=HB-735

It took me a lot of digging but I found these bushings to fit my leaf spring shackles.
They were part # HB-735. They come in a pack of 12 I believe, for about $8.00.

Double check your sizes!!!!!

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[adam1961]

If I was going to tow a boat that I had spent time and money on, I would change the springs to ease my mind. Leaf springs are cheap, but the standard length has changed. You would have to move the bracket for one end by about 2" closer to the other. I had to do that on the last vintage trailer that I overhauled.

[Buccaneer]

GD, thanks for the link, I’ll check it out! I may up just sandblasting the
outsides of the springs and painting them. Don’t think I’ll be getting
new springs, my boat weighs a whopping
110 pounds, less an outboard, etc. As long as I don’t find any broken
springs, I’m not too worried…… don’t see it getting a lot of miles on
it….. besides, I have to buy new tires and pay for the wife’s cataract
surgery!

Prepare to be boarded!

[gdcarpenter]

Good Luck, just bear in mind the load rating for that Gator trailer is likely a lot higher than your load, so you might want to consider less than max. pressure in your tire to soften the ride a bit.

Me thinks you will need 12 bushings, mine were all the same size.

[Buccaneer]

Gd, I ordered 12 bushings. The HB735 were just the right specs!
$7 something for the 12 bushings, and $16 for shipping……
isn’t that always the way it goes. Someone on EBay had some,
and wanted $12 piece!…….. $144……. don’t think so!

Prepare to be boarded!

[Buccaneer]

Got the spring clips off today. They spread apart easier than
I would have thought. Found out that it is an actual rivet
that’s peened to the bottom leaf spring. I easily drilled
out the peened side of the rivets and punched them out.
Will make some rivets out of 3/8" bolts in the lathe.
Thanks for the help and suggestions!

Prepare to be boarded!

[johnny-infl]

where would you get good quality replacement springs ?
I am guessing from a reputable source such as Northern Tools or Tractor Supply ??
I am also redoing a 1959 Gator trailer and don’t want to scrimp
on things that could fail quickly down the road, such as Harbor Freight stuff.
(you get what you pay for).

[Author]

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