Ajax springs

[BoldminerParticipant @boldminer]

Can anyone suggest suitable spring size for an Ajax and possible where I ight buy them. At present the ones being used are too soft and the loco moves like a cross between a camel and a jelly!

[BoldminerParticipant @boldminer]

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

Can't be very specific on sizes for Ajax, but Reeves web-site shows a range of springs suiable for use on loco axle-boxes. That's where mine have come from in the past. From memory, I'd guess that my Simplex springs were 3/16" bore x 1 1/4" long.

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Most of the model engineering suppliers sell loco springs, measure what you have got and get stiffer ones, failing that go to industrial spring suppliers.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Springs are rarely specified properly. 3/16 bore by 1 1/4 long is not sufficient, you need wire diameter and number of turns. Easier would be to quote the rate. For my 2 locos (5"g) I've used springs which deflect 5/32 under the locos weight, they worked reasonably, although they have done very little mileage. Lee springs have a good online catalogue, but their minimum order is a bit high. However you can use it to work out what you need then source elsewhere, even ebay.

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

My quote of spring ID and length was not meant as a spec. but to identify, ( subject to memory lapse ), which springs I'd used from Reeves' range. They're 18g wire.

They work well on my Simplex and I quoted them as an possible indication for the Ajax, but of course the Ajax has 8 springs to 12 on Simplex, so the load per spring will be higher assuming broadly similar total weight, but at about 50p each the cost of experimentation isn't too high.

[BoldminerParticipant @boldminer]

To all who replied to request for information about 'Ajax' springs, thank you for you time and assistance it is much appreciated. I shall now study form and proceed to purchase a suitable set from one of our suppliers. Many thanks and please excuse the typos in my request for help,it was done early in the morning and the old eyes weren't focusing properly.

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