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H shackles or not?

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by evanjm, Oct 6, 2006.

  1. evanjm

    evanjm Yeah, it's got an F-head.

    Just wondering what everyone's opinion of this is:

    The original 'U' shaped shackle on the old flatties and early 5s looks pretty scary by today's standards. How well do those things hold up? I'm guessing they're better than they look if they made it through WWII on the MB.

    I mean it's obvious that the later style 'H' shackle is stronger, but is it really worth it to change it over? I've never had any problems with my original shackles.

    Also when did they switch over to the H's?

    - Evan
     
    evanjm, Oct 6, 2006
    #1
  2. NoFlyZone

    NoFlyZone Member

    It would all depend on what you use your jeep for. Have you seen how pictures there of soldiers working on Jeeps? I made my own shackles when I installed the aftermarket springs. If my original springs weren't broken I would have kept them.
     
    NoFlyZone, Oct 6, 2006
    #2
  3. speedbuggy

    speedbuggy Looking for a Jeep now

    If you use the jeep for recreational off road use, I wouldn't worry too much. If you really want a trail rig, replace them with the M.O.R.E. greasable shackles. Just my .02 ;)
     
    speedbuggy, Oct 6, 2006
    #3
  4. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    The threaded part is actually stronger since it's thicker than the 7/16 bolts.
     
    Glenn, Oct 6, 2006
    #4
  5. Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    I broke a threaded shackle on my '54 Utility Wagon. I'd say they're great when they are new. But with time they'll fatigue and break as they only have support on one side. If they were truly better that the typical shackle of today, you'd see them being used everywhere.
     
    Posimoto, Oct 7, 2006
    #5
  6. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    X2. :agree:

    IMHO, it isn't the diameter of the bolts, it is the combined strength of the two uprights that minimize the stresses. When was the last time anyone had a shackle BOLT fail?
     
    w3srl, Oct 7, 2006
    #6
  7. jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    I've seen that several times Steve (I still carry 1 kit for field repairs)
    not with H shackles though.....
    I actually ran the U's for many,many years, never broke one
    then I changed to the ECJ5 type shackles, probably went 10 years on those....
    then I went with what I have now..H shackles, with a slight lift
     
    jpflat2a, Oct 7, 2006
    #7
  8. evanjm

    evanjm Yeah, it's got an F-head.

    wait a second.... what's the difference between the U shackles and ECJ5 shackles? My '48 2A and my '57 CJ5 both seem to have the U shackles... are you talking about something else?
     
    evanjm, Oct 8, 2006
    #8
  9. mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    The early early 5s had U shackles. I am not sure when but the factor changed over to the H shackle by 1960 since mine had H shackles.
     
    mb82, Oct 8, 2006
    #9
  10. Dummy

    Dummy I kick hippies

    Last weekend there was a 3A on the trail with C-shackles. He had taken a pair of stock H shackles, drilled them out for the C-shackle bolts, and installed them on the inside in conjunction with the C-shackles to make sort of a "H-C" shackle. Thought it was interesting.
     
    Dummy, Oct 8, 2006
    #10
  11. evanjm

    evanjm Yeah, it's got an F-head.

    that's pretty cool. if you see that guy again you should snap some photos! It'd be cool to see what that's like.

    - Evan
     
    evanjm, Oct 9, 2006
    #11