The tube on spring systems can be shortened by cutting the tube with a hacksaw and re-positioning the component parts on the resulting narrower tube.

Here’s how to determine the minimum possible tube length:

The springs will grow in length as they are wound so it is possible to cut a tube too short.  Here is the method to determine how much can be removed and still have enough  tube to wind the system properly.

  • For drums and end bearing assemblies allow 10 inches on each system.
  • The length of the coned spring is last number in a raw spring part number description.  In other words a RH 120# system uses the spring R19220021WO.  This part number means a right hand wound spring made of .192 wire that is 2.00 inches in diameter, and is 21 inches long.  The length you need is the 21 inches.
  • Clever cones on the spring add 1.5” to each standard spring and 2” to each oversize spring.
  • The length the spring “grows” when wound by the number of turns times the wire size for each spring.

Some examples:

160# dual spring 96” system:

10 inches for drums and end bearings + (27.5” + 1.5” (spring and cones)) x 2 since it has two springs + (0.218 wire x 10 turns (length spring grows)) x 2 since it is a dual = 72.36”

This tubecan be cut to 75” and still function properly.

50# 66” single-single system:

10 inches for drums and end bearings + 22” + 1.5” (spring and cone – do not double as this is a single-spring system) + (0.187 wire x 10 turns) (length spring grows – again do not double since this is a single) = 35.37”

This tube can be cut to  37”  and still work correctly.

250# 96” dual spring system:

10 inches for drums and end bearings + (28.5” + 2” (spring and oversize cone)) x 2 since it is a dual system + (0.250 wire x 10 turns (length spring grows)) x 2 since it is a dual system = 76”

This tube can be cut to 78” and still function properly.