1.75" leaf springs

Turnofftheradio

I need to replace leaf springs on my 77 citicar. It used many golf cart parts. I'm wondering if anyone knows of some carts that used a double eye 1.75" (1-3/4") leaf springs. Physically, the all look a lot like old marathon rear springs. I could have them custom made, or go shopping at the trailer axle store, but if there is a replacement golf cart spring I'd prefer that. It appears almost all carts use a 2" spring. Is that like dimensional lumber where 2" is actually 1.75? It would help me narrow down some options if you can help. Thanks!

BGW

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Rooster59

EZGO TXT springs are actually closer to 1.75" wide with double eyes. If you have an old time spring shop near you they can make the precise length, arch, leaf count, etc. you want. I just had some springs from a 1979 EZGO electric rebuilt with added arch for lift. It cost $80. New springs would have been about $100/pair. Since you may need an arch height not provided by current offerings a custom set of springs might be best.

This company has been in business since 1943 and will make anything you want. They make springs from little trailers and golf carts to monster trucks.

http://www.saintlouisspring.com/

Turnofftheradio

Based on how this car was built, it would not have had custom springs. They would have used something both common and cheap at the time. I can measure the distance between my shackles if that helps. How close to 1.75 are the ezgo 2"?

Rooster59

They probably used off the shelf parts, but who's shelf is the question. They could have been Club Car, HD, EZGO, etc. In that era if they were EZGO they would have been for a gas Marathon.

The Marathon and TXT springs are 27.5-28.0" long measured center of eye to center of eye. Marathons have slightly more arch than the TXT version. Roughly 3" from the top of the top leaf to the top of the eyes. Measured with the spring upside down on a bench. Some places list the springs as 1.8" wide. I measured 1.75" and that sounds accurate. The spring seats I welded to a trailer axle were made from 2" square tubing. The leaf springs are noticeably narrower than the spring seats.

Rooster59

Correction, electric Marathon.

Turnofftheradio

Well, in the back I have one spring that is a single leaf and thicker. It's bent, but also appears to be a little shorter. The other matches the fronts as a double leaf. Mounted, with weight on it it is about 24-24.5" long whereas the weird spring is measuring 23" with weight and sagging badly. Obviously that's not how to measure a spring so I'll get some accurate measurement. It would appear that the marathon spring would be too long though.

Rooster59

Here is a partial list of Citicar parts and potential interchanges that might be helpful. But springs don't appear to be listed.

http://citicar.org/PARTS/PARTS.TXT

CodyG2

To properly measure the spring.Measure from Center of eye,to Center-Hole where center-pin sits in spring,then repeat measurement for other end.Some trailer places measure straight across the eyes,but that doesnt always come out correctly,due to arch differences,and if the center-pin is offset.There are alot of 1-3/4" Trailer springs,in all different leaf-counts and leaf thickness,so finding something that will work shouldnt be too hard.You could have say 4-thin leafs,and replace it with a thicker 2-leaf for example.You can usually be within 1/4" +/- of the length of the original,and still work out ok.Having new springs custom-built is an option,but usually not a cheap one,especially since its a dying art,and alot of shops dont do it anymore.

Turnofftheradio

I've got a great shop close to me. Detroit eating spring. I'd be glad to give them my business, they do a good job, but they are about 120 a spring to have made. In the spirit of the creation of the citicar I feel like $25 per spring is appropriate.

Turnofftheradio

What I can say is that they are all old and sagging, but from

Center of eye to center of bolt bolt about 12" equal

Unloaded 24" eye to eye but varies per spring

Eyes to top of springs might be 2.5-3 but some are 1-2

Citicar is about 1350 lbs unloaded and fits 2 adults

Sound familiar to anything? I've found some trailer springs at about 23.5" in a variety of weights.