MF 41 mower counter balance spring removal

[Bennett French]

I’m trying to disassemble the counterbalance spring assembly on my MF 41 mower and I’m misunderstanding something about the process. Looking at my parts book, the spring has a plug at each end. The lower end plug is a clevis that attaches to another clevis to which the lift arm rod and the gag link are also attached. The upper end plug is a square member with a threaded hole in the center. I can’t tell how either of these plugs are anchored to the spring (welded I think). There’s a long, threaded rod that comes down through a swivel (clearance hole, no threads) that sits in an anchor attached to the main frame. After passing through the swivel and anchor there’s a lock nut before the rod threads into the upper plug. I have loosened and backed the lock nut off as far as it will go. When I turn the adjusting nut (hex head top of the threaded rod) clockwise, the upper plug (threaded to the rod) is drawn up the rod, increasing the tension on the spring and pulling the threaded rod harder against the swivel and anchor. When I turn the adjusting nut counterclockwise the upper plug is pushed down the threaded rod releasing tension on the spring. I expected that when all of the tension on the spring was removed, and the threaded rod continued to be turned counterclockwise, the rod would begin to be pushed up through the anchor and swivel, eventually withdrawing completely from the upper plug and freeing the spring from the assembly. Instead of that, the upper plug continues down the rod forcing the spring into compression. Given that the threaded rod passes freely through the clearance hole in the swivel, I don’t understand how a compressive load on the spring doesn’t push the rod up and away from the swivel.

All help will be very much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Not being around a Massey Mower I would think once the tension was off and just as it wants to go into compression if you took the bottom anchor pin out it would then be free to work with as you need. Other wise I would say once the jam nut reaches the top anchor point you need to run it down away from the top end so it doesn't make it go into compression. Those plugs just screw out of the spings just don't try to do it under pressure of either direction. They can be a bit dangerous if under tension.

 

[Bennett French]

Thank you.

 

[Bennett French]

Operator error on my part. This spring assembly comes apart just as the parts diagram shows it.