The Ford Barn

40cpe · 04-11-2016, 06:15 PM

I'm looking at a harbor freight porta power to use as a spring spreader. It says it has a 4 3/4" stroke. I have the style spring that stabilizes the car from side motion and I am unsure if that is enough stroke to get inside an uninstalled spring and still have stroke to get it into position. I've searched threads on the spreaders and many seem to be using the hydraulic units. Is the short stroke on these units sufficient? If they will do the job, is a 4-ton sufficient, or is a 10 ton needed?

I know that manual spreaders can be built but I'm focusing on hydraulic right now.

Shoebox · 04-11-2016, 06:19 PM

I was about to install new rear spring in 39 Merc. Was hoping to use a Porta Power, came to find out that for an uninstalled spring that no way was there enough travel. Purchased a mechanical spring spreader.

Ball and Chain · 04-11-2016, 07:48 PM

I use one all time on early fords, i have tw0 junk extensions with a piece of angle iron welded to them on a 45 so there is a perfect place for the spring eye to sit

42merc · 04-11-2016, 08:00 PM

My Harbor Freight porta power does My early Ford springs just fine ('32-'40-'42 stuff).

ford38v8 · 04-11-2016, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 42merc

My Harbor Freight porta power does My early Ford springs just fine ('32-'40-'42 stuff).

You do a '32 with a port power? I'm not from Missouri, but show me please.

banjoQ · 04-11-2016, 09:02 PM

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I guess it's possible that all Porta power units are not created equal. I cannot speak about HF units, but the set I have has many different extensions and end pieces. I have used it for this purpose on my 36' a couple of times and once on a friend's car. Worked fine and felt very safe doing it. Maybe you could find someone who could loan one to you. It's worth a try. For me, finding or making a mechanical one was harder than picking up the Porta Power. Can't have too many tools! Good luck with your project.

okiedokie · 04-11-2016, 09:07 PM

HF does my 40 spring.

banjoQ · 04-11-2016, 09:13 PM

40cpe- to answer your original questions. A 4 ton should do fine. If you can get one with extensions, make the ram as long as you can to fit between spring eyes. Do this with car on jackstands. Pump unit until shackles become loose. I take both plates off of shackles and then gently release pressure. This should do the trick.

40cpe · 04-11-2016, 09:31 PM

Thanks all. There are several brands/sellers/prices of the hydraulic ram but they LOOK alike to me. I suspect the same Chinese maker of a lot of them. I just finished installing a slightly de-arched reversed eye main leaf in my '38. I did it by unstacking, removing and replacing the main leaf, and restacking the leafs. Not a fun job off a creeper at my age. I know I'll have to make brackets to catch the spring which-ever spreader I use in the future.

FlatheadTed · 04-11-2016, 09:44 PM

This is how I do it if the Diff head is in the way .If you feel unsafe then tie the small extension on but on a Flat head the angle is not so sever ,also the revers eye spring you use your new shackle or centre U bolts .works a treat .Ted

FlatheadTed · 04-11-2016, 10:09 PM

U bolt links ,once the tension is on every thing locks in place .Ted

36coupe · 04-12-2016, 07:22 AM

I used a porta power on the 38. One advantage is you are not near the spring.

42merc · 04-12-2016, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford38v8

You do a '32 with a port power? I'm not from Missouri, but show me please.

I have fabbed a set of bars not unlike the shackles mentioned earlier.
Use them primarily for reversed eye springs, but they also work with the curved rear springs.
I also know the push isn't exactly linear, but it works.

stangblue · 04-12-2016, 01:04 PM

I used a porta power for my 34 and it leaked (my friend lend it to me) so I'm not trying to complain. As soon as I got it within 1/16" from putting the shackle bar on spring stud it would start to relax. Pumping with one hand and trying and key the shackle bar and tread the nut with the other hand was what seemed forever! I persevered but it was a project I won't forget HA. I bought a mechanical spreader. PS You always have the feeling it going (explode) to come apart with all the extensions you have to use. I wore a face shield.

scooder · 04-12-2016, 01:21 PM

You say 4 3/4" stroke, that's fine if your taking the spring off then putting it back on, leaving the porta power in the spring. Will it be enough to spread a spring that's not mounted? As in fitting a new one? I'm not sure, as I use a screw type original one. I'm purty sure some of the springs I've mounted needed more than 4 3/4".
What job are you up to? Remove n replace or new to the axle spring?
Can anyone clarify if that's enough travel to fit a new bouncer.
Martin.

04-11-2016, 06:15 PM	#1
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,024	Portapower for spring spreader I'm looking at a harbor freight porta power to use as a spring spreader. It says it has a 4 3/4" stroke. I have the style spring that stabilizes the car from side motion and I am unsure if that is enough stroke to get inside an uninstalled spring and still have stroke to get it into position. I've searched threads on the spreaders and many seem to be using the hydraulic units. Is the short stroke on these units sufficient? If they will do the job, is a 4-ton sufficient, or is a 10 ton needed? I know that manual spreaders can be built but I'm focusing on hydraulic right now.

04-11-2016, 06:19 PM	#2
Shoebox Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Holmen,Wisconsin Posts: 787	Re: Portapower for spring spreader I was about to install new rear spring in 39 Merc. Was hoping to use a Porta Power, came to find out that for an uninstalled spring that no way was there enough travel. Purchased a mechanical spring spreader. __________________ I went, I saw, I bought the T shirt 51 Ford Deluxe Tudor 32 Ford roadster 39 Mercury Towncar

04-11-2016, 07:48 PM	#3
Ball and Chain Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 720	Re: Portapower for spring spreader I use one all time on early fords, i have tw0 junk extensions with a piece of angle iron welded to them on a 45 so there is a perfect place for the spring eye to sit __________________ Throttle Benders Est. 1949

04-11-2016, 08:00 PM	#4
42merc Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Buchanan, MI Posts: 676	Re: Portapower for spring spreader My Harbor Freight porta power does My early Ford springs just fine ('32-'40-'42 stuff).

04-11-2016, 09:02 PM	#6
banjoQ Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pacifica, Ca. Posts: 299	Re: Portapower for spring spreader Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I guess it's possible that all Porta power units are not created equal. I cannot speak about HF units, but the set I have has many different extensions and end pieces. I have used it for this purpose on my 36' a couple of times and once on a friend's car. Worked fine and felt very safe doing it. Maybe you could find someone who could loan one to you. It's worth a try. For me, finding or making a mechanical one was harder than picking up the Porta Power. Can't have too many tools! Good luck with your project.

04-11-2016, 09:07 PM	#7
okiedokie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tulsa Ok Posts: 519	Re: Portapower for spring spreader HF does my 40 spring.

04-11-2016, 09:13 PM	#8
banjoQ Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pacifica, Ca. Posts: 299	Re: Portapower for spring spreader 40cpe- to answer your original questions. A 4 ton should do fine. If you can get one with extensions, make the ram as long as you can to fit between spring eyes. Do this with car on jackstands. Pump unit until shackles become loose. I take both plates off of shackles and then gently release pressure. This should do the trick.

04-11-2016, 09:31 PM	#9
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,024	Re: Portapower for spring spreader Thanks all. There are several brands/sellers/prices of the hydraulic ram but they LOOK alike to me. I suspect the same Chinese maker of a lot of them. I just finished installing a slightly de-arched reversed eye main leaf in my '38. I did it by unstacking, removing and replacing the main leaf, and restacking the leafs. Not a fun job off a creeper at my age. I know I'll have to make brackets to catch the spring which-ever spreader I use in the future.

04-12-2016, 01:04 PM	#14
stangblue Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 370	Re: Portapower for spring spreader I used a porta power for my 34 and it leaked (my friend lend it to me) so I'm not trying to complain. As soon as I got it within 1/16" from putting the shackle bar on spring stud it would start to relax. Pumping with one hand and trying and key the shackle bar and tread the nut with the other hand was what seemed forever! I persevered but it was a project I won't forget HA. I bought a mechanical spreader. PS You always have the feeling it going (explode) to come apart with all the extensions you have to use. I wore a face shield. __________________ Assumption is the mother of all foul-ups. Last edited by stangblue; 04-12-2016 at 01:17 PM.

04-12-2016, 01:21 PM	#15
scooder Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,593	Re: Portapower for spring spreader You say 4 3/4" stroke, that's fine if your taking the spring off then putting it back on, leaving the porta power in the spring. Will it be enough to spread a spring that's not mounted? As in fitting a new one? I'm not sure, as I use a screw type original one. I'm purty sure some of the springs I've mounted needed more than 4 3/4". What job are you up to? Remove n replace or new to the axle spring? Can anyone clarify if that's enough travel to fit a new bouncer. Martin.