OK - What is going wrong here?

[FrankF3]

On my 1772, the spring that holds the side panels together near the radiator keeps breaking. I am on my second or third spring right now and that just broke today after doing the first mowing on the lawn. Something is not right here. I have a 1572 and that has never had one of these springs break. Unless I am doing something wrong...? Has anyone had a problem with their 1772? Can some of the guys posts some pictures showing how the springs are routed? After the second one broke, I tried routing it in different paths to see if it helps. It seems to have an abnormally high tension when connecting the one panel to the other. Could it be another part number is required for the 1772? Also the spring always tries to rest between the screen and the radiator. I'm afraid that if it breaks again it could take out and puncture a tube on the radiator.

IMG_4686.jpg

IMG_4687.jpg

[aagitch]

Is that the correct spring? It looks a little big unless it's the pic. A spring that doesn't have enough give, may break. Never seen one break before

[gdheck]

If you bought it from CC, I think they are designed to do that. It seems like the ones I bought were too brittle. I put a new one on my 1450 and it broke after a couple hours. A hardware store spring with about the same amount of pull has been on the 1450 and 2072 for quite a while now with no problems. You can buy a few of them for the $13 that CC charges too.

[twoton]

Might be a burr or a sharp edge on the panel hole that's cutting through the spring.

[john hall]

I think those things are bread and butter for Cadet, they break too often. I've been known to make an extension out of fence wire to replace the broke end. Too small of wire diameter on the spring design is my guess.

[FrankF3]

I agree on them being too tight and brittle. They have never broken at the loop that goes through the hole on the side panel but seem to always break where the spring transitions from the coiled part of the spring to the straight wire. Like I said the hook at the end has never broken.

[DoubleO7]

breaking right where the coil begins might be due to work hardening of the spring when it was made along with the wrong variety of steel.
Maybe.

[bocephus1991]

Crappy Chinese steel. My 1200 has the original panel spring on it.

[Sam Mac]

I always hated the spring. I replaced it on a 1210 that I repowered with a LONG hose clamp that I cut and bolted to the side panels. It was still on the tractor when I sold it. Helped in reducing the rattles.

[FrankF3]

Thanks Sam, I like your idea. I'll see if I can rig up something similar to what you have there. With the radiator in the way on the 1772, if the clamp won't work, I was wondering if I could use the center brace at the top of the radiator as a mounting point for one end of the springs, one spring for one side and one spring for the other. This way I only need to disturb the side I need to take the panel off.