CJ-3B

[garage gnome]

Looks good Bob!

[Trenton]

Appreciate the pics and info. Cheers!

[Bob W]

I started to gather tooling and supplies for the next project....

[athawk11]

That looks familiar.  I might know what you're up to.

Tim

[jpet]

That will never work :-?

[Bob W]

It has to work, I saw photos of it on the internet!!

[oldtime]

Looks like the ultimate hand me down/ pass around tool to me ..... Obviously more time involved making the tool than using it.
What O.D. of tube maybe 1-1/2" ?
And what wall thickness are you all bending ?

[Bob W]

1-1/2" x 0.120" DOM tube.

[Bob W]

I bent my C type spring shackles so I picked up some NOS parts to make up M-170 spring shackles and installed them on the rear of X98. I'm not sure I like them.

[garage gnome]

I think "H" shackles would be better.

[oldtime]

So what exactly caused the "U" type shackles to bend ?

In my opinion certain failures are a good thing.
According to the "Intentional Weak Link Theory"...
The inexpensive and easy to replace parts should fail just prior to all expensive or relatively inaccessible  components.

[Bob W]

Running into rocks bent the C shackles. I prefer C shackles over H shackles because with just occasional greasing the Cs last forever. The military obviously wanted something stronger than the open C so they went with these "M-170" or "C with a bar" type. They are just really wide and the grease fittings are asking to be sheared off by a rock. We shall see, if they perform well I have another pair for the front.

[jpet]

I'm no expert but in recent weeks, I think I have switched over to thinking "H" shackles (with urethane bushings) would be better.

"C" shackles don't last forever because they get bent.  I bent 3 last year.  The extra brace, like the M170 has, solves that problem but then where is the give?  Kinda like the point oldtime is making,  better a broken shackle than a broken spring eye.

I'm not a big fan of "H shackles with the stock bushings because, IMO they are not flexible enough and that is a lot of twist on a 7/16" bolt, but the urethane replacement bushings are quite flexible so you get the strength of the "H" but yet flexibility from the soft bushings.  I image they will not last as long as the M170 shackle but then isn't the flexibility worth it?  It looks to me like an M170 shackle is unforgiving and transfers all the work to the spring eye.  Am I mistaken?

[Bob W]

I am thinking about the H shackles with urethane bushings. As usual there is no perfect solution.

[oldtime]

I myself prefer the Willys "U" type shackles especially concerning durability.
Don't mind me I simply call them "U" type because that's what Willys called them.
Regardless of the proper term....The "U" type shackles are one and the same with the "C" designation..

The rubber "Silent Blok" bushings  actually provide  greater flexibility than the modern urethane bushing.
But the Silent Bloks will more readily be destroyed as compared to urethane bushings when used under adverse conditions.

Flexed hard and often the "Silent Bloks" could certainly wear out (delaminate) within a years time.