Anyone know what these springs go to?

[Baz]

Going through my hall closet - re-organizing - and found these wrapped in paper towels.

The yellow plastic thing was wrapped with them.

I must have a bad memory....anyone have an idea what they are for if the yellow plastic thing goes with them in some way?

Thanks!

[Scott Douglas]

I can see the yellow thing being inserted inside the spring to help keep it straight when being installed. But what it is for I haven't the slightest idea.

[pwd72s]

Motorcycle fork springs?

[herr_oberst]

There are two entirely different springs, so there is a progression taking place. The plastic might be a bushing or something to separate the two springs....
Articulating lever linkage of some sort? Maybe a hide-a-bed mechanism?

[Nickshu]

Window sash springs?

[stevej37]

Older oven door springs?
Prob not...but my only guess.
Also...what is that grayish stuff on the end of the springs?

[stomachmonkey]

Recoil spring for a very large spoon.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

These look like springs used in mountain bike forks from about 20 years ago. They would come in different thicknesses just like you have. You would use two thick ones (one in each stanchion) for heavy, two thin for soft, and a thick and thin one for medium... something like that. I have not seen that type of rubber placed in them though. Sometimes they were just one spring in one stanchion and dampers in the other... Lots of different brands.

edit- I'm going to even bet the yellow thing is a fork tab that you'd put in the dropouts to protect the fork during shipping. Final answer!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Older oven door springs?
Prob not...but my only guess.
Also...what is that grayish stuff on the end of the springs?

It's just a flexible plastic covering over just part of the springs.

Thanks for all the guesses so far but don't think any are correct.

I'm a little disappointed I can't remember what they are for. I wouldn't have saved them if they didn't go to something significant.

[herr_oberst]

Well, if you pitch them into the recycling bin, you'll remember exactly what they're for on a future day somewhere down the road!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

These look like springs used in mountain bike forks from about 20 years ago. They would come in different thicknesses just like you have. You would use two thick ones (one in each stanchion) for heavy, two thin for soft, and a thick and thin one for medium... something like that. I have not seen that type of rubber placed in them though. Sometimes they were just one spring in one stanchion and dampers in the other... Lots of different brands.

edit- I'm going to even bet the yellow thing is a fork tab that you'd put in the dropouts to protect the fork during shipping. Final answer!

This is a pretty good guess. I just don't remember getting them for my mountain bike though.

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Well, if you pitch them into the recycling bin, you'll remember exactly what they're for on a future day somewhere down the road!

So true! I'll hang onto them for now.

[LWJ]

Air rifle main spring? Wag.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I'm staying Bullish on this one!

The yellow thing, look at the "wear/smudge" marks on each side. I swear that's where the fork tabs inserted around it. The flat tabs are to protect the fork ends. Are they approximately 4 1/2 inches apart? That would be the approximate fork width.

The replacement springs, especially if they were titanium, were uber expensive. Even if they were steel, they would fall under the "let's zip tie these together and not throw them out." I think I spent about $100 for some back in the day.

edit- Ebay is your friend. I had never seen the rubber linings before, but on ebay they show up under a search for "mountain bike fork coil spring":
Rockshocks, Foxx, etc...all used them to some degree

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fox-Shox-Coil-Spring-31-4-lb-In-Black-2011-36-180mm/372745361207?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SI M%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D57921%26meid%3D71d28cc2f4a64f10 a50132604c7bc653%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D1 2%26mehot%3Dlo%26sd%3D372515544334%26itm%3D3727453 61207%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[Baz]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

I'm staying Bullish on this one!

The yellow thing, look at the "wear/smudge" marks on each side. I swear that's where the fork tabs inserted around it. The flat tabs are to protect the fork ends. Are they approximately 4 1/2 inches apart? That would be the approximate fork width.

The replacement springs, especially if they were titanium, were uber expensive. Even if they were steel, they would fall under the "let's zip tie these together and not throw them out." I think I spent about $100 for some back in the day.

edit- Ebay is your friend. I had never seen the rubber linings before, but on ebay they show up under a search for "mountain bike fork coil spring":
Rockshocks, Foxx, etc...all used them to some degree

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fox-Shox-Coil-Spring-31-4-lb-In-Black-2011-36-180mm/372745361207?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SI M%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D57921%26meid%3D71d28cc2f4a64f10 a50132604c7bc653%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D1 2%26mehot%3Dlo%26sd%3D372515544334%26itm%3D3727453 61207%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Yeah....saw that on eBay myself when I was searching for MB springs so we're probably on the right path.

The plastic thing is 5" long.

These are high quality steel - remind me of valve springs in fact.

I just have no idea how I obtained them.

I did keep some cycling stuff in the closet in the same area of these so that even makes it more likely these are for bike springs.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

It is all clear to me now- An ALIEN BROKE INTO YOUR HOUSE, ERASED YOUR MEMORY, AND PLACED MTB SPRINGS IN YOUR CLOSET!

I'm trying to ring a bell....A lot of forks from this time period had elastomers, which pretty much sucked. Some companies sold these springs as retrofits. Also, I think some companies even had air cartridges inserts to replace the springs to reduce weight. Everyone was switching back and forth, but I think the big one was getting rid of elastomer/spring stacked combos and converting to full springs for plushness. The only other one would be either a weight weenie converting from steel to titanium, or someone wanting a different stiffness than what they already had.

I could even see a situation where you got a set of springs from a friend for free or something after the fact, and stored them, knowing they might come in handy one day. If the bike was used, or the fork was an aftermarket install, perhaps they came with it.

I'm all about forks tonight, because I just got a new set of SURLY forks, which I installed about 30 minutes ago.....replacing an older set of springed forks from the era.

[pete3799]

Is it possible you fell off your bike and bumped your head?

[A930Rocket]

I’m pretty sure those go to a whatchamacallit. Or was it a thingamajig...

[pavulon]

It's not uncommon for people to "forget" their extraterrestrial experiences...

[Baz]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

It is all clear to me now- An ALIEN BROKE INTO YOUR HOUSE, ERASED YOUR MEMORY, AND PLACED MTB SPRINGS IN YOUR CLOSET!

I'm trying to ring a bell....A lot of forks from this time period had elastomers, which pretty much sucked. Some companies sold these springs as retrofits. Also, I think some companies even had air cartridges inserts to replace the springs to reduce weight. Everyone was switching back and forth, but I think the big one was getting rid of elastomer/spring stacked combos and converting to full springs for plushness. The only other one would be either a weight weenie converting from steel to titanium, or someone wanting a different stiffness than what they already had.

I could even see a situation where you got a set of springs from a friend for free or something after the fact, and stored them, knowing they might come in handy one day. If the bike was used, or the fork was an aftermarket install, perhaps they came with it.

I'm all about forks tonight, because I just got a new set of SURLY forks, which I installed about 30 minutes ago.....replacing an older set of springed forks from the era.

I bought this bike used on eBay about 10 years ago - I wonder if the springs came with it?

[Sooner or later]

Like Herr stated. The two appear to have different spring rates. About 22 vs 29 coils.