I decided to chrome my steel leaf springs and need to know where I can purchase 4 sets of alignment clamps, instead of having them band clamped together. I would like to keep the chrome look, not black bands. Does anyone have any ideas? My springs are 1-1/2" in width and I need two heighths of 3/8" and 1-1/8". Thank you.
Guess I'm not getting the question. Why don't you get the old bands chromed along with the leaves?
A longshot would be Bill'S Custom Cycles ...they have a website. Another option would be to maybe make some out of stinless steel and polish them?
Most spring shops have them . When I got my car leafs rearced they had them foe all sizes
Ron in Co
The process they use to crimp the band clamp on would wreck the chrome. I was told that they sell bolt on clamps, but I'm having difficulty finding my 1-1/2 size.
Good idea, might have to do the stainless, but was hoping to find a bolt on clamp. I guess beggars can't be choosers. Emailing Bill now. Thanks for the info.
If you really want chrome and are concerned about bending it either before or after chroming you could use two seperate flat chrome bars and chrome bolts going up the sides. If you did this and was concerned about it moving wround two set screws into the upper or lowe bar would probably secure it...or wrap the springs with rubber or better yet teflon prior to installing it. They do make teflon strips to put in between the spring leaves and a piece of that material would work well in this application. Also take a look at your springs when they are apart. Are they chromes all over or just where they can be seen? .
Another option would be to convert to single leaf springs which would reqwuire no clamps. i have heard these do not work as well but the new Harleys all have then I think.
If you can't find them, why don't you call pete at libery sidecars.
He could probably make them for you. The worse that can happen is he says no, and you move on from there.
Good luck.
Not to be a noodge, but I think black (for a nice contrast) or colour-matched clamps would look good...
Chrome vs. color? Hmmm. I guess I could paint them the color of my bike (candy red). That might be orginal looking. I decided to make my own C clamps with a bolt to hold them in. Summit sells them, but not in my width. More work, but it will add a nice touch. Thanks again for the advice.
I’m curious if you’ve already plated the springs or not, also curious as to how many springs per side you will be stacking and if you have talked to your plater about a chrome to chrome contact and the possible problems you might have with the chrome holding up.
If you have 2 or 3 per side stacked I think they will plate the springs individually and then you’ll have to clamp them together, right? If that’s the case then would you need to have a buffer between each spring so not to have a friction problem and the chrome peal on the edges? Another way might be to have your plater nickel the springs then put them together it seems to me any time leaf springs are chromed and actually used they look yellow in the seems and that aint chrome that’s nickel showing through because the bending and friction has made the chrome peal or wear off, a compromise to this might be using Hard chrome, may not be as shiny but will hold up better [hard chrome is what is used on hydraulic rams and stuff like that] decorative chrome is hexavalent , trivalent or even the new environmental cobalt materials and none of them seemto hold up in an abrasive environment-good for show but not for an aggressive application. Take a look at somebody’s rig and see if you like the way they look before spending the big bucks.
Just my dollar two thirty five or 2cents worth
Very good point. Excellent. Claude, is that why you were recommending the teflon strips in between?
Actually, I will be just plating the top spring. I assume that the chrome will hold up on the top. I made custom alignment clamps that came out pretty nice. Do you think the top chrome will hold up with all the flexing? Thanks
Hey Cando, I like the bling bling as much as anybody but flexing chrome just aint a good idea. I can get really really windy on this subject but I will spare you the pain.
How bout this,, clean your springs and put a good primer on them, get a cheap can of spray Rust Oly mat black, later when u r up and running and after washing your rig squirt a little of the mat black on the springs to keep them looking factory fresh, I do this to my truck wheel wells [sometimes over the dirt too] and it looks like new.
