Lurked for a while, first time posting...

Wanted to give props to Marlin and his man James for the HUGE help they gave me out at the 2008 Rubithon.

I snapped 3 of 4 leafs in my spring pack by the time I got to Rubicon Springs, which put me in a bad situation.  I broke the lowest leaf in the pack on day 1 getting to Buck Island (not sure when) and being careful I got all the way to just before the mud hole coming into camp at Rubicon Springs.  I mean doing Gas Can Hill, Big Sluice, etc. by being super gentle and careful is tough!  But the main leaf and the one below the second leaf snapped on pretty much the last climb.  I was left with only the military wrap spring.  Talk about flex!

So I limped into Rubicon Springs and was stuck, no luck by Toyoda Man Larry or Mog Crew Phil or any of the other super helpful guys cruising around finding any sort of third gen springs (mine's a '91 XtraCab).  But they did come up with lots of second gen stuff.  But 2nd gen rear leafs being 4" shorter and having the center pin in the wrong place was a problem, I needed at least a 3rd gen main spring to locate the axle right.  So James' welding and all of Marlin's advice and help, well they saved my bacon!  THANK YOU! 

Now some photos.

Assembled Frankenspring.  It was my welded main, still OK second (military wrap) spring, then below was a 2nd gen third spring and overload.  On top of the pack was a cut up second gen main spring (I cut the bushing eyes cut off).  Put a new center pin through the whole thing, closed the clamps and added a couple of additional clamps at the welded area.




Yes, the center pin is upside-down.  I didn't notice until AFTER I'd peened the nut down.     So I filed the nut shoulder down a little and it dropped right into the spring perch.







James' welded section.  Lasted from Rubicon Springs up Cadillac and off the Rubicon.  Then it made back to Denver.  Then it lasted another month of me commuting to work and stuff.  Heck yeah, awesome job guys!

X2 

now thats a hybrid pack if i have ever seen or heard of one


hahahahahahaha... but glad to hear your good and okay   

I sometimes wonder if Marlin's type of relaxation is rebuilding junk on the trail, you'd think he'd get sick of it and not want to be the 1st one to jump up to fix something. 

Dave, thanks for the kind words....

I have lent a hand to many broken rigs through the years, but it is always great to get a thank you in return.
Glad you made it home in one piece.

Just a side note
Like me, he enjoys helping others on the trail,

Yup that's what I thought.