D7D 17A Equalizer Spring Group

dunno mate my old 3T was and still is the same I rang around this wide brown land no luck so I put the call out and Garlic Pete has one for me on the way one day I have been told dosnt matter but I feel its gotta be important otherwise why would they put it there
with out the pan on there is nothing to stop you do a big wheelie that I can see but I could be wrong

Paul

That spring is important. It keeps the engine from lifting up and flipping backwards.

Yes , I agree this warning ! The complete main frame can turn over and this movement can be made very fast !!!!!!
The Netherlands , johan7

I think I'm right about this. The little springs keep the main spring centered. The brackets that the little spring are mounted on will keep the engine from flipping over backwards.....as long as the main spring isn't broken all to kingdom come.

Check your s/n and parts book. There are two distinctly different spring saddle and shackle arrangements and yes, it is critical.
Usually brings up this image...

thanks for the advice.

I agree with the flipping over risk wrt eg., D2 and D4 7U's but think the 7 is safer becasue it has the cable attached from the hard nose to the blade. So at least there is some sort of safety fuse there. The main spring is also encapsulated by the belly pan and the end of the main spring fits under the recoil spring guide frame. So there's another level of safety there. A third level is that I am far too timid to ever put this machine into any scarey situations - I like life far too much for that😊

I noticed a few threads on replacing the equaliser spring with a solid bar and might give some thought to that as a solution. In the meantime I will see if I can get one locally.

PS the main spring centering theory sounds right too as I notice clumps of steel have been welded on the end of the main spring leaf which is about 7" x 3/4" thick to stop is sliding sideways.

Thanks again for the advice.

It's the auxiliary spring and shackles that keep the main spring snugged up to the support bracket. I've seen them flop around to the point of cutting through the main spring U-bolts. Even at best that spring seat takes a beating.