welding leaf springs

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i have inherited a small trailer and i have put my smoker.  this is a home made trailer and the leaf springs are kind of soft know.  the cooker dosent really need a suspension on it so i was wondering if i could weld all the leafs together and make the springs to were they were alot stronger. like i said it dosent really need any suspension and the leaf springs are 36 inches in length so even if i welded all the leafs together it would still provide a little spring any way.  need some advice.  thanks.
Reply:I don't believe you'll have much luck welding on tempered steel, such as your springs aremade from. If it was me I'd throw a heavier spring in the bottom of the pack and give that a shout. You could find one from another leaf spring pack or buy an Add a Leaf kit.
Reply:They are pretty soft now. I am 200 lbs and I can bounce on it and all most bottom it out. Will an add a leaf kit fit any spring. If I weld them would the welds just be cold and crack.
Reply:Forget the weldability for a minute. Even with a good weld you're just going to turn the stack into a brick. Everything except the top leaf that is, and it is already too soft. What little of that top leaf that is left to flex is going to fail in short order if there is much road time on it. Probably fail right about where you stopped with your bead.
Reply:Originally Posted by fastcati have inherited a small trailer and i have put my smoker.  this is a home made trailer and the leaf springs are kind of soft know.  the cooker dosent really need a suspension on it so i was wondering if i could weld all the leafs together and make the springs to were they were alot stronger. like i said it dosent really need any suspension and the leaf springs are 36 inches in length so even if i welded all the leafs together it would still provide a little spring any way.  need some advice.  thanks.
Reply:It seems to me, soft springs would be desirable,  just add some helper springs. Most short, over the counter springs for trailers are as hard as rocks!!An add-a-leaf might work if you find a good fit. Air bags would work, but are probably not practical. Leaf springs can be re-arched or re-enforced by a spring shop. Otherwise, they should be replaced! Welded leaves break real easy, it messes up the steel quality something aweful.  Quenched and tempered steel welding, I don't need to go there! City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Thanks for the advise. Guess I need to find some springs.
Reply:The cheapest solution would be some junkyard leaf spring replacements(pickup truck?) or the simplest solution would be some aftermarket coil overload springs...most auto parts places(or JC Whitney) did stock such an overload coil spring,they clamp to the axle housing.I've seen homemade ones made from pickup truck front coil springs to do what you want,you have to clamp them into place---welding on them causes them to break.I'm guessing it's a front axle from an old vehicle that the trailer was made from? I'm with everyone else--suspension would be better than solid mounted....all the welds on a solid mounted trailer would start to crack from the loading if it travels much.
Reply:Adding short gas shocks can make a big difference in the bounce of a trailer too and settel it down on rough roads. Want stiffer, like said, add a leaf or two or make a full wrap leaf, done this kind of stuff on jacked up 4x4s and it worked well.I have welded spring steel into custom axe heads and with the right treatment it has worked well keeping the desired temper and hardness with no cracking, however on a trailer, if you weld the springs together you are likely just going to have them break at the ends due to the stress riser with the flex no longer being distributed along the full length of the spring.
Reply:How large is the smoker, do you intend to just move it occasionally or rather keep it in the trailer, and will it be moved on the road often? Will the trailor be used for anything else?Do you have the ability to post a picture of your current setup? If you can, we can better see what is needed to replace it.
Reply:Do not weld the springs!They are tempered steel and the weld would just break off.put your trailer on blocks and remove the springs.Take the springs to a shop that re ARCS the springs. It is done all the time.It is common to re-arc the springs.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:here are some pics.
Reply:How does it tow?Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Looks like an old van/truck front axle...the springs on them are usually pretty flat anyways...I think you are trying to fix something that ain't broke. The trailer looks loaded and you still have more room between the frame and axle. Think about it--Those springs supported the engine,passengers & took the force of potholes/speedbumps to boot.Unless you plan on cross country trips or adding way more weight those spring packs should handle a cooker easily,but that's just my opinion---Does it bounce a lot? or sway?. A trip to the spring shop will cost you what a new trailer would..those guys don't sweat for nothing anymore..The coil overload springs might set you back $35-50 try ebay maybe $15 used.
Reply:I just went to auto zone and found some helper springs that I think will be perfect.
Reply:And they are what type (leaf/coil) and how much? Please post some after pictures when you get finished.
Reply:Anyone notice the grease fittings on the shackle pins? Or that the shackles are nearly vertical, far from being fully extended?Helper springs (Coil) between the axle and frame should be fairly easy to add.What was the smoker tank originally? I assume you built the smoker. Should be able to fit a couple squirrels in it at one time!
Reply:if you look in my profile you should be able to find the smoker build.  it was a propane tank. talk about a blast to cut open.
Reply:I wouldn't recommend welding springs BUT I have welded springs with good results.  The leaf springs on a friends truck were broke in several places on both sides.  I welded those up and that was 2 years ago.  He demolished the truck when he wrecked it a while back but the springs made it through intact.I wouldn't weld all those springs together though.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Looks like a lotta weight behind the wheels.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediverIt seems to me, soft springs would be desirable,  just add some helper springs. Most short, over the counter springs for trailers are as hard as rocks!!An add-a-leaf might work if you find a good fit. Air bags would work, but are probably not practical. Leaf springs can be re-arched or re-enforced by a spring shop. Otherwise, they should be replaced! Welded leaves break real easy, it messes up the steel quality something aweful.  Quenched and tempered steel welding, I don't need to go there!
Reply:I could also say, do not weld it... You cannot achieve flexibility and strength of the base material.But, only from welding side, here is a procedure how some people did it:- make X groove (double V),-you must take care of distortion.- remove rust etc in the vicinity of the weld,- preheat at 250C,- use E-312-16 electrode, could be bought from any good supplier,- make root pass from one side,- remove the slag and use a hammer to peen the hot weld,- take an angle grinder and grind from opposite side to get sound metal,- apply the pass from that side- then weld from the 1st side and so... until the end,- enable as slow as possible cooling.People who do it told me they had pretty much success with this approach. But take care, if you go on public road and some chrash happens, you would be responsible at low because illegal operation.
Reply:As Ed said, looks like alot of wt!!!!!! Depending on what you think your labor is worth per hour,Id Put a set od air bags on and 2 hrs your done!!!!!!!!!!!,,Then you can put what oversized pig.amd gear,and yout all set!!!!!!!! Just my 2 cents!!!!!!
Reply:Originally Posted by StortsAs Ed said, looks like alot of wt!!!!!! Depending on what you think your labor is worth per hour,Id Put a set od air bags on and 2 hrs your done!!!!!!!!!!!,,Then you can put what oversized pig.amd gear,and yout all set!!!!!!!! Just my 2 cents!!!!!!
Reply:Eddie,,I agree,I thought it had been test drivin,and his concern was the weight,,As we all know,,that NO toung wt is not good!,Thats why i Well might as well use it Assumed,it had been on a maiden voyage!!!!!! ,JackLast edited by Storts; 08-10-2008 at 12:32 PM.Reason: OPPSRight know it is heavy on the rear but when I fill the basket up with wood on the front it will be perfect.
Reply:So Hopefully the air bags will be your safest and cheapestway out!!!!! Goood Luck!!!!!!
Reply:air bags or new springs dont even think about trying to repair springs its not worth the head ache when they break again on the hwy