Replacing HWH Spring

[Beowulf2]

Just finished replacing all eight springs on four HWH AP29964, 12000 lbs x 13" straight down leveling jacks on a 2005 KSDP with the new style part # R92642.

As a side note: The jacks were ordered from HWH on Monday and they arrived on Thursday. “Great Service“

The first step was to determine the easiest ans safest way to remove the old springs and install the new springs.
The two anchor holes for the springs on the HWH jacks were measured. The holes were about 17” apart. The replacement springs measured about 14 ½” between the spring ends. This meant that the new springs had to be stretched about 2 ½“ for installation.

The best and safest option was to make a spring stretcher.

If the spring was stretched there would be less fighting, prying and it would also be safer for installation of the springs.

Spring Stretcher Parts
2 - 3/8 all thread
4 - 3/8 nuts
2 - 1 ½ x 1 ½ x 1/16 angle iron with 3/8 round holes 3” apart
Cut the all thread rods 14 ½” long
Cut the angle iron 4” long

Note: Do not cut the all thread rods no longer the spring coils excluding the spring hooks. If the rods are too long they will interfere with the connecting the springs to the holes on the jacks.



Step 1
Stretching the spring
Spread the spring about two coils below the tapered part of the spring and install the two angles one at each end.
Positing the clips on the opposite side of the spring anchor opening particularly the top anchor point.
Now stretch the spring - this takes the longest time but after it is done and the first spring is installed it will be well worth the time spent.






Step 2
Motor Home and HWH Levelers
Keep the motor home air bags full and at the normal driving height
The jacks were left in the stored position. There is not need to operate the jacks until all the springs are replaced.

Step 3
Removing the first old spring on one leveler.
Position a small hydraulic bottle jack under the leveler foot pad on the side of the spring to be removed. Extend the bottle jack which will tilt the foot pad and loosen the old spring. The old spring can then be remove will minimal effort which will save a lot of knuckles a frustration.



Install the stretched spring to the top of the jack be sure the angle iron at the top is to the opposite side of the spring anchor opening.
The stretched spring is now longer than the tilted foot pad. Slowly lower the bottle jack and slide the new spring into the foot pad anchor hole.

DO NOT REMOVE THE SPRING STRETCHER AT THIS POINT



Slide the bottle jack to the old spring side which is tilted up. Raise the bottle jack putting a slight pressure on the foot pad under to old existing spring and the new spring.



Now the spring stretcher can easily and safely be remove. It can be removed either by backing the 3/8 nuts off or just by knocking the stretcher out.



The new spring will try to contract but the bottle jack will keep the foot pad at an angle and prevent things from flying all over the place.
Slowly lower the bottle jack and the foot pad will return to a semi level position.








Step 4
Removing the Second old spring
Repeat step 3
Be sure to move the bottle jack as necessary.

[Mr_D]

On ours I just levered the pad off to the side, replaced the springs and levered it back on. I was surprised how easy it was to do.

[USMCRET]

Quite interesting! Thanks.

[Kathryn]

Very good and very clearly explained! Thx!

Question - in your first picture with the bottle jack, you raise up the one side so there is no tension on the old spring and it can be removed. Since it is in that position with no tension, could you not just put the new spring on there without having to go through all the stretching stuff?

Just sayin ... ???

Kathryn

[EngineerMike]

More on replacing HWH jack springs on this thread.

[ChasA]

I just put on my leather work gloves, use one hand to hold the spring and the other hand to hold the pad.

[doc]

Or, just take several clothes pins and take them apart. Extend the jacks and place the pin halves in the spaces between the coils. Retract jacks and the springs come loose on there own. Replace by flexing springs and adding the pin halves. Put in place, extend jacks and remove pins. lazy folks can usually find an easy way.

[Beowulf2]

Originally Posted by Kathryn

Very good and very clearly explained! Thx!

Question - in your first picture with the bottle jack, you raise up the one side so there is no tension on the old spring and it can be removed. Since it is in that position with no tension, could you not just put the new spring on there without having to go through all the stretching stuff?

Just sayin ... ???

Kathryn

The spring could possible by installed the way you discribed. I never tried'

Dwight

[Beowulf2]

Originally Posted by ChasA

I just put on my leather work gloves, use one hand to hold the spring and the other hand to hold the pad.

Think these springs are a lot stronger.

The pad had to be twisted to remove the old springs.

I did not want to fight the installation.

Safety was my biggest concern. I value my digits.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Kathryn

Very good and very clearly explained! Thx!

Question - in your first picture with the bottle jack, you raise up the one side so there is no tension on the old spring and it can be removed. Since it is in that position with no tension, could you not just put the new spring on there without having to go through all the stretching stuff?

Just sayin ... ???

Kathryn

I guess no one read my post (#2) in this thread.

[alhardy48]

I have read most or all the post’s I could find on this forum to help with installation of HWH springs after one of my rear springs broke. I tried bending the springs to install shims. Trying to install springs with all this wood hanging out was difficult to a point of frustration. Finally this light bulb went on above my head (not really…no light bulb). This procedure is similar to the cargo hold down strap but I didn’t have one. What I finally did is as follows. Items used: Come Along (Harbor Freight Item #30329), Rope. First I attached the inner spring to base hole of the jack, attached spring connector (wire with eyelets on both ends), attached outer spring to other end of eyelet wire. Attached rope to rear bumper, attached Come along to this rope. On the other end of Come Along I attached another piece of rope (about 10 inches of rope, this allows enough slack to push spring toward jack) and attached it to the end of outer spring hook. Jacked the Come Along until the outer spring hook is at the proper location to slip into the jack base hole. The Come along is very easy to fine tune the position of the hook. Suppose you could remove springs with the same device.

[tyka]

Beowulf2: Terrific post and so well detailed with very good pics. I just got my new HWH springs and was wondering how to do it without loosing parts of my body. Thanks for sharing this.

[Beowulf2]

Originally Posted by tyka

Beowulf2: Terrific post and so well detailed with very good pics. I just got my new HWH springs and was wondering how to do it without loosing parts of my body. Thanks for sharing this.

When I got my new springs safety and ease of intallation was my biggest concern. There were many suggestion on how to replace and install the springs. I apply two old qoutes, "Work smarter & not harder", "Keep it smiple stupid".

Best of Luck
Dwight
Steam Pipefitter (Ret)
LTC USA (Ret)

[JohnInAz]

Nice solution. I'm not sure I could muscle the springs on/off as some have done, and if something gets loose there isn't much room to duck down there!