Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar

[jerseyboy]

Ok, here goes my first tech post. NealinCal inspired me with the work he did on his rpu and how he rebuilt a lot of the parts. I am on a budget, so I have to make due with what I have.

The front spreader bar on my wagon was bent and dented up. I looked around for an original replacement, but they are too pricey. Looked at repros, too thin. Some suggested welding in a new tube, but I don’t weld and would have to pay to get it done.

Well after some procrastination and some thought, I used our shops recently purchased 2-ton press and straightened it out. I put a wood block with holes drilled in them to bolt on the spreader tube, on each end. That allowed me to unbend the spreader evenly.

Next I had to figure out how to pop out the dents. I need to fit whatever I used in past the inside welds. I decided to use 1-inch diameter pipe cut diagonally to form wedges. I got the pipe from Lowes; they sell it in different lengths. I was now able to put the two pipe wedges in and wedge them under the dents.

I used a section of pipe to drive the wedges together to pop out most of the dent. I then went back and used the wedges as a dolly to hammer the dents out.

I am pretty happy with the results.

Keep V-8ing and 4-banging!

 

[Dennis/Arkansas]

Nicely done! Good ol' fashioned Yankee ingenuity. Dennis/Arkansas

 

[John R]

That's a neat solution. I've been thinking about how to take out a couple of minor dents in my 2 spreader bars for some time. I'm going to apply your method. Thanks!

 

[jerry grayson]

Very smart and good thinking!!

 

[Andy]

I have a bent rear bar. This is really good stuff!. I need to try it on the rear bar!!!

 

[flatheadernie]

Thats what makes this site and the people so special, sharing a really solid repair of a difficult part , and making it look easy. thanks jerseyboy, hey dont sell your skills short you done good!!! fletheadernie n tx (46 the chicken coupe )

 

[jerseyboy]

Thanks guys for all the kind words. I still have a lot to learn, but this site sure helps!

 

[NealinCA]

That looks like a great save! Even I don't think I woulda gone to that much effort. But that was indeed a great idea...and I may have to borrow it.

Anyway, glad I inspired someone to save some old Ford parts.

Neal

 

[Pat/Ohio]

Thanks for the tip! I have three '32s...you never know when you might have to repair a spreader bar. I was thinking when I first saw your heading that you could possibly take it to a muffler shop that specializes in working with mandrals (spelling?). If they had a mandral that would fit the inside diameter....just thinking! Thanks again, Pat.

 

[Frank Cowan]

Nice and simple. Great job. Thanks for sharing

 

[Al NJ]

Great idea!
The rear spreader bar on my wagon is slightly tweaked, so thanks for sharing.

 

[jerseyboy]

Great idea!
The rear spreader bar on my wagon is slightly tweaked, so thanks for sharing.

Hey Al, I did not realize the wagons had rear spreaders. Mine doesn't have one.

 

[Al NJ]

The spreader bar on mine has a tabs on the ends that attach to the floor through a wooden block thing that is the full width of the floor. The wood piece also houses the rear clips for the third seat.
Do you think yours is supposed to have one?

 

[itslow]

Nice work! Pretty clever tools you came up with to fix the dings.

 

[jerseyboy]

The spreader bar on mine has a tabs on the ends that attach to the floor through a wooden block thing that is the full width of the floor. The wood piece also houses the rear clips for the third seat.
Do you think yours is supposed to have one?

Al,

I forgot yours is a 34. No, I double checked and the wagon doesn't come with a rear spreader bar.

Nice work! Pretty clever tools you came up with to fix the dings.

Mike, Thanks. I guess necessity is the mother of invention.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

As a related topic, here is Vince's method of knocking the dents out of the steering column: http://idisk.mac.com/forever4/Public/pages/steeringtubedent.htm

Could conceivably be used on the spreaders if you did a bit of grinding on the end welds.
I recently managed to find the requisite ball size for this...I believe all '32-48 and later pickups share the size there.

 

[jerseyboy]

As a related topic, here is Vince's method of knocking the dents out of the steering column: http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/steeringtubedent.htm

Could conceivably be used on the spreaders if you did a bit of grinding on the end welds.
I recently managed to find the requisite ball size for this...I believe all '32-48 and later pickups share the size there.

Bruce,

I had looked for a metal ball larger than an inch in diameter. I even checked with my neighbor who had worked at Torrington Bearing. But finding those proved difficult, so I opted for this route.

Thanks for the heads up though.

Keep V-ing and 4-banging!

 

[BCCHOPIT]

Bruce,

I had looked for a metal ball larger than an inch in diameter. I even checked with my neighbor who had worked at Torrington Bearing. But finding those proved difficult, so I opted for this route.

Thanks for the heads up though.

Keep V-ing and 4-banging!

Nice job Jerseyboy.... Hershey will not be safe for any spreader bars this year
and sorry you could not find some big balls
later Bill

 

[FlatheadTed]

well done ,Nice job

 

[jerseyboy]

Nice job Jerseyboy.... Hershey will not be safe for any spreader bars this year
and sorry you could not find some big balls
later Bill

Thanks Bill, one less thing to look for!

well done ,Nice job

Thanks Ted, one of these days I'm gonna be picking up some floaters.