MTH TRUCK SPRINGS

Giant pain, but there are dimples or pockets in the casting that engage the spring.  Tweezers, loose screws and lots of patients in a rubber walled room to reassemble. G

An old trick is to run a long piece of thread through the length of the spring. This keeps the spring close by if it fall out.

This is a learned technique. Hope this helps.

I like the thread idea, I may use that next time I wrestle with these springs.

Already lost one spring disassembling

Will use thread on assembly

thanks

  I generally use a small slotted Whia screwdriver or a similar one. Wedge the blade between the spring coils so it grabs it. Go in at an angle and get the spring over the nub on the bottom of the side frame. Your next motion. You want to put a bit of downward pressure to compress the spring and push it inward with your finger. With any luck it will rest on the 2 dimples. When your in. Just slide the screwdriver back and move on to the next one. The other 2 should go easier seeing the one spring will hold everything else in position.

Ditto on the thread or even dental floss so you don’t lose any of the springs. For disassembly. I do  it inside a clear plastic bag to catch flying springs. If you do lose a spring. They are available from MTH Parts.

Fine wire (as in jewelry making) gives me more control than thread.

I have a truck that is disassembled, should I assemble the truck first then try to re-install the springs using the wire/thread and squeezing the springs onto the nubs on the bottom and into the indents on the top?

I can’t reply on this one - I gave up after losing 3 of 6 springs - I found it very difficult to see what I was doing - I hope you succeed!!

Coach Joe, after you thread the fine wire through the spring end to end use the wire ends together as a handle to place the springs in position then assemble the truck.  Slip the fine wire out before tightening.