CRADLE HOLDER FOR SPRINGS

Russell,

There is a plate with a lug welded onto it that slips in between the spring and the spring hanger bracket to prevent the spring from moving too far forward or back and jumping out of the cradle. There is also another device that bolts between the wheels and secures the centre pin from moving too far, and I believe that they both achieve the same thing.

In your case it appears that the bolts holding the spring hanger came loose and this allowed the spring to drop down.

The repair would be relatively simple after getting new springs and spring hangers from the Manufacturer, Simplicity and bolting them on. This could be done in the field with a jack and a few spanners.

Simplicity are an easy company to deal with.

Brian

Hi Russell

Sounds like you had the 'rare event' that has happened to us twice in two years, and once to another BT owner last year. First time we were lucky as it was the rear bolts that broke. After being unaware we were dragging the spring for some distance, when discovered we back tracked and found the brackets. As we were 90 kms west of Warburton on the Great Central Road, it was very lucky that we found suitable bolts in our bag of spares. Last year we were in the Davenport Ranges in NT and the front bolts broke on the other spring, rolling the spring under the caravan and wrecking it. We got two new springs and all new bolts and brackets sent from Simplicity (NP Hauffe & Co) in Melbourne before leaving our 'camp on the road'. I can't envisage anything that will hold the spring if the bolts break.

Motherhen