trailer building question

[glennster]

building a small tilt utility trailer, single axle, lightweight. when mounting the leaf springs, does the rear hangar with the shackle mount directly below the eye hole on the leaf, or forward or back of the eyehole? the center to center distance on the leaf is 26 inches. here is a pic,
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[Walt Davies]

Directly below it can only go one way when depressed.
Walt

 

[Aaron Ford]

Mine has a slipper on the rear, so I cannot directly speak from experience. But from what I recall that bracket should be leaned with the mount on the inside of the eye. 'Bout 45 degrees if I remember correctly. I have seen some at near 23 degrees.

This allows for movement in both directions without attempting to compress the shackle itself as the spring grows. This also allows the spring to shrink some when the axle moves down without getting bound up. I would reckon the 45 degree would be for a softer spring and 23 for a heavier one.

Hope someone else can lean some professional information on this as I cannot recall completely.

Aaron

 

[VADAVE]

Directly below with the trailer unloaded. Remember you don't have the rest of the trailer there yet so I would spring a little bit inside of the shackle eye. Walt is right the spring is only going to "lengthen" when weight is applied.

 

[edj856]

Here is a link with pictures on how to mount single and tandem leaf spring hangers.
Spring hangers

 

[Janicholson]

If the spring was loaded so the master leaf was flat instead of curved, the shakle would be at its greatest extension. Take the difference in length from its current (unloaded) length, to that extended length, and divide by two. Move the shakle mount away from the axle 1/2 of that difference.
A aesy way to measure the straight length is to use a tape measure on the master leaf, and form a curve in the tape to match the curve of the spring. (or do trig or mash the spring under a tractor with a hydro jack).
It should be almost where it is shown in your photo. JimN

 

[Joe(TX)]

The shackle should run a little towards the rear at the bottom. That will keep it from overcentering forwar an "locking" the spring when it bounces and unloads the spring, or you jack the trailer up on the frame.

 

[Aaron Ford]

Hope this works...

 

[Don L C]

glemaster ---

Good picture,you say your spring is 26".....

Mount your rear shackle 25 1/2"........

Center your axle 60% back under the bed.....

Thats 10% futher than half way......

You want 10% of trailer & load on the hitch.

That will make it tough with out sway...if it
does move more weight forward.....Don