morgans
[Top] [All Lists]

RE: Leaf springs

To: "'William G. Lamb, III'" <lambroving@worldnet.att.net>,
Subject: RE: Leaf springs
From: SOLOW GREG <gregmogdoc@surfnetusa.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1998 23:31:59 -0800
Chain and cable lube does indeed work well to lubricate leaf springs =
that have no pads between the leaves, ie. Morgan and MG A, TR-3, etc.  =
But because the aerosol discharge is a little difficult to control and =
the resultant lubricant is also sort of sticky, I prefer to use 90 EP =
Gear oil.  It works just as well.=20
                                                                Regards, =
Greg Solow

a

-----Original Message-----
From:   William G. Lamb, III [SMTP:lambroving@worldnet.att.net]
Sent:   Thursday, October 29, 1998 6:59 AM
To:     SOLOW GREG
Cc:     'Malcolm Cox'; 'vintage-race@Autox.Team.Net'; =
'Morgans@Autox.Team.Net'; Peter Goundry
Subject:        RE: Leaf springs


Dear All,

 Some time ago in a private discussion with Dave Vodden of ThamesMog
I believe he suggested the use of modern motorcycle chain lube for this
application. I admit that this seems to me a brilliant solution to the =
problem
as the chain lube comes out of the spray-can in a thin, penetrating =
liquid
and, in a short time, sets up as a sticky and waterproof grease with =
high
pressure properties. The chain lube is formulated to stick to the chain =
and
sprockets so as not to be flung all over the motorcycle at high RPM and
would seem to be ideal. I also remember being told that this treatment
drastically improves the "ride".

William G. Lamb, III
Land Rover Specialist


At 12:33 AM 10/29/98 -0800, SOLOW GREG wrote:
>Malcolm,  In the owners manuals that come with Morgans,  there are
instructions to regularly "paint the leaf springs with motor oil" to =
keep
them lubricated.  That sounded a little messy to me, so we usually pry =
the
leaves apart by driving a screw driver between them as a wedge, and then
squirt in some 90 EP gear oil.  Doing a good job of lubing the springs
absolutly  and dramatically improves the ride on a street car.  It also
increases the load on the shocks ( or as they are more accurately called
dampers).   Since the friction between the leaves has a damping effect =
on
the motion or the springs, when you remove this friction you have lost =
some
damping action.  The shock's damping action is very velocity sensitive.
This means that  the greater the bump or movement the more resistance =
the
shock should offer.  This will occur if the shocks are set up and are
operating properly.  On a Morgan, when we lubricate the spring, we also
stiffen the shock.  This actually results in a smoother ride over small
road irregularities and better resistance to "bottoming" the suspension =
on
big bumps.=20
>                                                              Regards,
Greg Solow ( blue Morgan # 45)
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From:  Malcolm Cox [SMTP:malcox@napanet.net]
>Sent:  Tuesday, October 27, 1998 7:55 PM
>To:    vintage-race@Autox.Team.Net
>Subject:       Leaf springs
>
>Looking for advice on what to do about old leaf springs on my MGA
>project. =20
>They seem to be dry, with rust between leafs.  Is this bad?, should
>there be inter-leaf lubrication, if so what lubricant.  Does inter leaf
>friction have any bearing on the effectiveness of the shocks?
>Malcolm Cox, Napa
> 

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>