Fixing Spring End

Broke the end off of the return spring for the bucket on front end loader (jd 36a loader ). The spring is apprx 3/8 dia. Was told to heat the end loop and bend it as needed and then put it in a bucket of oil before it cools so the spring will retain its tension when stretched. SO before I do this, is this the right thing to do? Or what is the proper thing to do. Checked with the local dealer and the spring is no longer available.
Thanks for any help in this matter
Brian

I"ve done that with smaller springs many times. I have never attempted to "retemper" the end as it seems there is no real need for it as the spring action is further on down. JMHO

Oil tempering the end of the spring (as brian points out) may not be needed. If hardened to its full extent it can break (as it did to begin with. I would let it air cool and see if it will hold the strain. If it does all is well. If it looks like it is streching out, tempering it is probably good practice. Heat it to low dull red, then quench in used oil with a direct plunge below the surface. (prevents a fire). JimN

One time I did that successfully. Used a propane or MAPP gas torch and just heated it to a dark red glow, just so that when I pushed on the half loop with a pry bar it bent. Then I let it air cool. I heated only a spot to bend.

I tried another with an acetylene torch and tried to heat treat it. It broke as soon as loaded.

There may several other solutions. Many a hardware or farm store has a collection of universal springs. Pick by size of wire, coil and length. Also look at McMaster-carr (www dot mcmaster dot com) on line.

Some equipment uses a casting that screws into the end of the spring, those pieces might work for repair too.

Gerald J.

Just heat the last turn and bend it out to form a new hook.The hook can be soft, doesnt affect the rest of the spring.I heat them with my carbon arc torch.

DON"T attempt to reharden or retemper the end of the spring, unless you have a lot of experience in metalurgy. You will most likely end up with a hardened, untempered section of wire that will break easily. Most oil tempered spring wires are hardened and tempered to approx. Rockwell c 45-48. Unless you can carefully control both hardening and tempering temperatures, and have a means of controlling the surrounding atmosphere to prevent decarburization you are wasting your time anyway. I assume that you are speaking of a 3/8 diameter wire spring, so it won't bend easily to form a new hook. You may have some success by heating the area to be bent to form a new hook to a very dull red, bend it to shape while hot, then letting it air cool. The spring likely broke in the first place because it was highly stressed or had a rust pit that created a stress riser. Either way it may break again fairly soon. If it was mine and it broke on Sunday afternoon I'd give it a try to get going again. Replacement is the best alternative. I know this is kind of long, but I spent 45 years designing and making springs and spring machinery so I've had a little experience. Good luck with it.
Paul

Thanks for the input. Much appreciated. Will just heat the end and bend it and let it air cool. I"m going to try and put cylinders and lines on the bucket over the winter sometime.
Again, Thanks for help.
Brian