Notices
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

Barn Door Spring Help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 12:31 PM
  #1  
bjmayberry2's Avatar
bjmayberry2
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Veteran: National Guard
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 9,735
Likes: 823
From: Wentzville, MO
Club FTE Gold Member
Barn Door Spring Help

I know this is a long shot but I figured if anyone knew it would be this site. I took the door mechanisms out of my 56 Barn doors. They cleaned up pretty well but I noticed they had no spring pressure to return them to the closed position. It's a pretty simple mechanism but it was spot welded together. After drilling out the spot welds I found the springs were all broken. Now for the Sixty Four dollar question. Does anyone know the specs on these springs? I can probably get an accurate diameter but length and pressure are elusive. The reason I'm asking is it's kinda hard to experiment since you need to spot weld the assembly back together to test spring pressure & lenght.


As assembled on the door


Exploded view without Spring
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 01:30 PM
  #2  
abe's Avatar
abe
Fleet Owner
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,407
Likes: 5,416
From: Central PA
Club FTE Silver Member

Can you piece the broken spring together to get an idea on the length?

And couldn't you use 4 strong clamps to hold the cover in place to test the spring rather than spot welding it?
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 01:38 PM
  #3  
bjmayberry2's Avatar
bjmayberry2
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Veteran: National Guard
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 9,735
Likes: 823
From: Wentzville, MO
Club FTE Gold Member
Abe the springs were crushed. They looked like rings stacked on top of the latch. I should have taken a picture.

In order to really test it, it needs to be reassembled back in the door and that would prevent the use of clamps. If you thought the springs were close you could probably spot weld it once or twice but I'm thinking it's gonna take a few assembles and disassembles to fine tune it if I can't get the correct spring lenght and pressure per inch.

Gotta love working on these old trucks.
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 02:19 PM
  #4  
ALBUQ F-1's Avatar
ALBUQ F-1
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,299
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
I would think 4 flat-head screws in the spot-weld holes would hold it together well enough for testing, yet allow the assembly to be mounted.

Almost all hardware stores have spring assortments you can paw thru. I'd look for one that is compressed 1/4 of its free length when the latch is closed, but doesn't bind up when the latch is opened. Will take some experimenting for sure!
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 02:24 PM
  #5  
abe's Avatar
abe
Fleet Owner
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,407
Likes: 5,416
From: Central PA
Club FTE Silver Member

Have you checked ebay for a complete working latch.

And an exploded diagram in a parts book probably would not have the latch exploded.
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 02:57 PM
  #6  
bjmayberry2's Avatar
bjmayberry2
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Veteran: National Guard
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 9,735
Likes: 823
From: Wentzville, MO
Club FTE Gold Member
Yeah Ross I thought of that after I sent it to Abe. I actually took another one apart and tried to make sure I didn't lose any coils. I've got a pretty decent hardware store close buy but either someone took their spring assortment or they no longer have one.


About 2" give or take Looks like 10 coils

Not sure how to measure the wire gauge?

About 1/2" OD
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 03:44 PM
  #7  
ALBUQ F-1's Avatar
ALBUQ F-1
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,299
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
Homeless Depot and Lowe's have spring assortments. Both True Value and Ace Hardware do near me.
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 04:24 PM
  #8  
crazy wheel's Avatar
crazy wheel
Tuned
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 362
Likes: 71
https://www.thespringstore.com/spring-calculator.html

Maybe this can help.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 04:57 PM
  #9  
bjmayberry2's Avatar
bjmayberry2
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Veteran: National Guard
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 9,735
Likes: 823
From: Wentzville, MO
Club FTE Gold Member
CrazyWheel I was looking there but they have a minimum $40 order restriction.
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 05:00 PM
  #10  
bjmayberry2's Avatar
bjmayberry2
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Veteran: National Guard
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 9,735
Likes: 823
From: Wentzville, MO
Club FTE Gold Member
Ross our Hardware store, true value I believe, (sells bolts by the pound) Is my go to place for that kinda stuff. I had my dog in the truck and it was close to 90° so I didn't roam around looking. I probably should go back without the dog.
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 07:29 PM
  #11  
avf100's Avatar
avf100
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 599
From: Lancaster, CA.
Try Mcmaster-Carr online. I found the glove box spring I needed from them. I had to buy a pack of six, but they do have a good selection of hardware & reasonable prices.
You will need to know the length, diameter & wire size.
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 07:33 PM
  #12  
56panelford's Avatar
56panelford
FTE Legend
20 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,895
Likes: 8,359
From: northwestern Ontario
Originally Posted by bjmayberry2
Ross our Hardware store, true value I believe, (sells bolts by the pound) Is my go to place for that kinda stuff. I had my dog in the truck and it was close to 90° so I didn't roam around looking. I probably should go back without the dog.
Wear sunglasses , and put a leash on the dog and bump into a few things if anyone says anything..
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 08:31 PM
  #13  
bjmayberry2's Avatar
bjmayberry2
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Veteran: National Guard
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 9,735
Likes: 823
From: Wentzville, MO
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by 56panelford
Wear sunglasses , and put a leash on the dog and bump into a few things if anyone says anything..
I have thought about it at times.
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 08:40 PM
  #14  
56panelford's Avatar
56panelford
FTE Legend
20 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,895
Likes: 8,359
From: northwestern Ontario
Up here in some of the hardware stores people walk in with their dogs, I guess if you're prepared to clean up after them it's an okay..
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2021 | 09:10 PM
  #15  
bjmayberry2's Avatar
bjmayberry2
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Veteran: National Guard
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 9,735
Likes: 823
From: Wentzville, MO
Club FTE Gold Member
Home Depot and some of the farm stores allow dogs here. I don't think my dog would have an accident inside a store but I have doggie poop bags when she's with me.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:21 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE