TheSamba.com :: View topic - Best method for installing torsion leaves into front beam??

Sat Feb 09, 2013 3:02 pm

I'm at this step in the process of rebuilding the front beam, but can't seem to get all the leaves started. I can get about half of them in, but then after that i just can't get past the center piece which forces the leaves into their "shape". Is it all about patience and just trying again and again? I tried them as one unit and then as separate pieces but so far can't get them all through.

Any tips would be great!

thanks,
nick

Sat Feb 09, 2013 3:16 pm

I've heard of people using a zip-tie to hold them together while installing, also leaving a middle leaf out until started, then sliding the middle leaf back in place.
Good luck
Mike

Sat Feb 09, 2013 3:18 pm

It takes patience. Make sure they are greased a little so they sort of stick to each other but will still slide against each other. I find it is easy to put 2 of the large ones in, so I do the 2 large outer ones first, then the 2 large inner ones get placed between the others and go right in. The small ones, I put in one at a time. I've tried putting them in as a pack and never could do it.

Sat Feb 09, 2013 3:21 pm

used mechanics wire. very small but tuff
got them threw center bout 3-4 inchs
then started the center one
the wire just fell off after the install.just pulled it out
after install with a 3lbs hammer
the last one went in
with some extra grease and ummmph
good luck

Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:13 pm

Lots Of Patience!!! I just did that recently, like 2 weeks ago. I did mine in 2 sections by splitting them apart, got the bottom half started and half way through, then slid the other half on top and just kept working it in until it slipped through. It sucked.

Sun Feb 10, 2013 2:26 pm

Thanks for the tips. I agree that it sucks, at first I was like, I can knock this out pretty quickly, but after a hour of trying to get the upper ones in with no luck I got pretty frustrated. Oh well, I'm going to try again and see if I can slip the middle ones in last.

Thanks!
nick

Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:51 pm

I have always kept them together and stretched electrical tape around them about 2" in from the ends. A bright light and long thin metal rod like a headliner bow helps too.

Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:53 pm

Just finished this task yesterday but I kid you not I left it sticking half way out over night because I got so frustrated with it. I put in the bottom 3 (small ones in a triangle) then the two big ones, skipped one then the next big one and the last three. Afterward, pull them back to the middle, not out of the center die but just to it. stick the middle big one in and slide it to the middle, kinda move it back and forth while pushing it forward until it finally goes through (wear gloves, the ends will cut you and get you covered in grease. If that doesn't work I tried pushing the bottom half till it was sticking out the opposite side and the top half sticking out the other then trying to put the middle one in but that didnt work as well because it caused the one your putting in to be pinched. just try keeping them all together and have some beers ready for when it's done... It will be well deserved!

Fri Feb 15, 2013 7:28 am

Hey guys,

So I had a quick minute yesterday to mess with this again. I tried the trick of installing the outer leaves first, then the inner one. I was surprised that after only a minute or two with messing with it I got it in! I probably got lucky, but doesn't matter - 50% finished! I didn't have time to try the bottom set (kids interrupted) but I will try this weekend and report back on whether my luck with the top was exactly that or if this technique is the way to go.

Thanks again for the advice!!!

nick

Wed Feb 20, 2013 7:51 pm

Guys, I gotta say I was able to slide the bottom leaf in within 10 mins of trying this trick! Thanks again!

Tue May 28, 2013 2:11 am

if you install them leaf by leaf what do you do next? I'm going to be building a new front end soon and i have no idea how the torsion leaf thing is going to work. don't mean to interrupt your thread here Ive just been going through the different topics and this is the most relate-able ive found.

Tue May 28, 2013 2:13 am

like how do you put them together?

Tue May 28, 2013 6:12 am

I'm surprised nobody mentioned;

Ya gotta learn to cuss! or at least have your wife cuss for you!

I have taped them, (masking works good), tried leaving one out and such, and nearly every thing else I could think of.

What worked best for me was.......nice clean degreased leaves, and .........Super Glue!

Tue May 28, 2013 9:52 am

Zip ties always work good for me. Use a decent quality zip tie that you can pull tight without it snapping.

Get the leaves stacked right and put them in a vice. Then wrap the ties around them about 2" from each end, and pull it tight. Trim the extra tail off the tie with a razor blade.

Feed the zip tied pack through the center block, and the zip tie will stay at the block, and the leaves will slide right through. Some times it takes a little persuasion with a rubber mallet.

I suppose you could fish the zip tie back out, but I don't even bother. It wont harm anything, and cant go anywhere.

After I get the leaves through the center block, I usually add another zip tie back to the end to replace the one left at the center block. This seems to help getting the arms on also.

Hope this helps,
Brian

Mon Jul 02, 2018 6:45 am

This is probably why one of my tubes is missing a leaf. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it. I don't think I can buy just one leaf.

Mon Feb 07, 2022 2:25 am

Going through the same frustrations and let my bug sit for three weeks I was so angry. Now I’ve found this thread and am happy it’s not jut MY amateur mechanical skills. And, yes, you can buy one leaf. I spent 5 bucks on one that my local shop had pulled from a parts bug.

Mon Feb 07, 2022 5:49 pm

I did this while I was replacing ball joints since I found some broken leaves. It was a total PITA, but after dealing with the ball joints, it felt very easy... I think I just used zip ties on it and that worked after a lot of fighting with it.

Mon Feb 07, 2022 9:15 pm

Wed Mar 09, 2022 2:51 pm

Chamfer the face edges on the top and bottom leaves and outside edged on the remaining leaves.

Wed Mar 09, 2022 4:02 pm

I’ve always used rubber bands on greased leaves.
As mentioned, make sure you don’t have any hard edges.