Is this rear spring sagging?

[gilitos]

55 years after I replaced the rear shackles for the first time, one of them is no longer taking grease. So I decided this was a great time to pull the rear axle and take the opportunity to spruce up the undercarriage. However, the spring spreader doesn't seat well on the rolled spring eyes because the spreader is interfering with the spring itself. This looks to me like the spring has sagged. Anyone else seen this? Maybe it's time for a new spring......

 

[JayJay]

Jack up the frame to take some weight off the center, that may help. Once you get it off and apart you may well find some broken spring leaves. Don’t forget to contain the spring using c-clamps and/or a chain as you loosen the center bolt.

I’ve also found that the problem you show can sometimes be due to the two sides of the spreader being unequally extended, that is, the triangle of the spreader isn’t centered under the arch of the spring.

 

[Y-Blockhead]

What John said. Looks like you have a jack and block of wood under the torque tube.

 

[JayJay]

What John said. Looks like you have a jack and block of wood under the torque tube.

Thanks, D, I missed that. Lower that jack and I’ll bet your problem goes away, or at least gets a lot more manageable.

 

[gilitos]

Got it. It's currently a bare frame so I didn't think the small amount of weight would cause significant spring compression, but I will try completely unloading it.