Welding a leaf spring?

[2busy]

Has anyone welded a leaf spring back together?
Golf cart broke the main spring . I have new springs ordered but won't be coming till next week. I use it to run around the place.
Just wondering if it would work temporarily or would just break next to the weld.

 

[PanhandleGlocker]

I betcha it would work. Bevel the hell out of it though. I’d probably use 7018 the whole weld though.

 

[kwaynem]

Pretty tough to get a leaf spring to hold a weld like panhandleglocker said use 7018 take a torch and preheat the area pretty good and try not to let it cool off too quick and you might be able to get it to hold enough to get you by that spring takes a beating and flexing

 

[swampratt]

My 1947 dodge had a straight front axle and the main leaf was welded on the passenger side.
I drug it without an engine for probably 40 miles and it did not break.

You can drill holes in leaf springs but it is not fun.
You can bolt a plate on using those holes and hold it together .
Make a leaf spring sandwich with 2 steel plates.

After welding. or not.

 

[2busy]

I'd have to remove it to drill , but thought about it. I'd just wait for the new one if I went to the trouble of taking it off. These old ones look pretty sprung. Rides like a hard tail.
I heard something pop and the left brake locked up. Figured something brake related broke.
Couldn't get the brake hub off , couldn't turn it with a pry bar.

Ordered a universal hub puller and it finally came today. Once I got the hub off I couldn't find anything wrong with the brakes. Tried backing the adjuster off but hub still wouldn't go back on.

Finally seen spring broken and the front shackle end resting on the brake cable putting tension on it. Had to pull the pin on the cable to release the brake.

 

[swampratt]

You can also make a leaf spring clamp by taking some 1/4"" or thicker steel plate wider than the leaf springs.

Well I will try and explain it make a spring sandwich the 2 slices of bread (steel plates)
One on top of the spring and one on bottom.
7/16" or larger bolts grade 5 is fine.
Drill through the bread so as to make the bolts just about rub the leaf spring.
Basically making a heavy clamp to clamp the spring back together.

I have clamped a flat leaf on top of the front half of a main spring.

This was a leaf that i cut to just lay right on top of the main leaf.
It was then clamped in 2 spots to the spring pack.

This stiffened the main leaf and kept it from wrapping up and eliminated wheel hop.
GMC Sonoma.

Many ways to get you back rolling

 

[2busy]

You can also make a leaf spring clamp by taking some 1/4"" or thicker steel plate wider than the leaf springs.

Well I will try and explain it make a spring sandwich the 2 slices of bread (steel plates)
One on top of the spring and one on bottom.
7/16" or larger bolts grade 5 is fine.
Drill through the bread so as to make the bolts just about rub the leaf spring.
Basically making a heavy clamp to clamp the spring back together.

I have clamped a flat leaf on top of the front half of a main spring.

This was a leaf that i cut to just lay right on top of the main leaf.
It was then clamped in 2 spots to the spring pack.

This stiffened the main leaf and kept it from wrapping up and eliminated wheel hop.
GMC Sonoma.

Many ways to get you back rolling

The sandwich sounds like a plan.
I still have a atv to get around but the golf cart is just handier.

 

[2busy]

You can also make a leaf spring clamp by taking some 1/4"" or thicker steel plate wider than the leaf springs.

Well I will try and explain it make a spring sandwich the 2 slices of bread (steel plates)
One on top of the spring and one on bottom.
7/16" or larger bolts grade 5 is fine.
Drill through the bread so as to make the bolts just about rub the leaf spring.
Basically making a heavy clamp to clamp the spring back together.

I have clamped a flat leaf on top of the front half of a main spring.

This was a leaf that i cut to just lay right on top of the main leaf.
It was then clamped in 2 spots to the spring pack.

This stiffened the main leaf and kept it from wrapping up and eliminated wheel hop.
GMC Sonoma.

Many ways to get you back rolling

Will do the sandwich method. I've just been so busy I've not put a lot of thought to it.
Been gathering up stuff from a deceased relatives property before the local thieves carried it off.

 

[mr ed]

Take it to the scrapyard and tell your wife it can't be fixed and you need to buy a new one.

 

[2busy]

Take it to the scrapyard and tell your wife it can't be fixed and you need to buy a new one.

Only paid $200 for this one.
I got my springs today and it is a pain to change. Only one side done since they came late in the day.
These are heavy duty and have more leaves.
I did the sandwich repair but with the arch basically gone it threw the axle out of alignment.