For an internal combustion engine to work it needs to receive a perfect mixture of fuel and air, which when ignited will cause the force to initiate motion. To ensure that this mixture is correct, the carburetor helps to perfect the blend.
INSTALL LEVEL OF DIFFICULTYDifficult
What Is a Carburetor?
The carburetor has often been referred to as the “heart” of any vehicle and while it has largely been replaced these days by fuel injection systems, it is still to be found in older cars and in simpler mechanical devices, such as a chainsaw or a lawnmower. Briefly, this device helps to carefully gauge the amount of fuel and air to be introduced into the engine according to the specific needs of the motor at that time. If the carburetor is not correctly “set,” then the engine will run inefficiently, if at all, and this could also cause damage to the engine over the long term.
How Does a Compression Spring Work?
Without the compression spring, the driver and passengers would have a very uncomfortable ride. Each spring is designed to accept a load and to push back on it, so that the spring returns to its original shape and completes the appropriate action. In suspension terms, they are meant to counterbalance the “shock absorber,” which is an oil filled cylindrical device that is absorbs the impact when a vehicle hits a pothole, or other situations are encountered. These springs are carefully made so that they can absorb a tremendous amount of vibration and each coil of the spring offers a relative amount of resistance according to the force applied.
A far smaller version of these springs is also found within the engine, where they help to close exhaust valves that have been opened to allow the explosive mixture to enter the combustion chamber.
How Is a Compression Spring Made?
Typically, a special “spring coiling” machine is used and the steel to be used is fed into the machine on a set of rollers, before the material encounters a set of guides that form the coils themselves. Once they’ve formed to a certain size, the spring is heat treated to relieve stress, as otherwise it would not retain its shape and have the elastic capacities crucial for its operation. For this to work effectively, the spring must be heated to a very high temperature for a set amount of time, often in a special type of oven. When they exit the oven, they cool down naturally to completion.
How Does a Compression Spring Fail?
- Corrodes due to constant exposure to moisture
- Cracks due to general wear and tear
What Are the Symptoms of Failure?
- Noisy suspension components
What Are the Consequences of Failure?
- Poor quality ride
Compression springs must be compressed to a certain extent first, before being fitted into suspension systems. Therefore, care must be taken when removing them and usually a special spring compression tool is required for safety purposes.
If you have questions or concerns about Compression Springs or any of your vehicle’s components, come into your local Pep Boys where we can answer any question, help you find any part, or perform any vehicle service you might need.