Spitfire spring struts. I ran a set. There's a teeny bit of cushion... but I also weigh in at 275. They pretty much ride like shit, and because the ones I have seen are 10" from eye-to-eye, there's not a lot of clearance...

I've never seen the covered ones before. Google "spitfire struts" to find them. I have a nice chrome used set I'd part with if you can't find anything.

 

If your looking for a set check out Speedball Cycle Works they are making some very high quality parts

 

Thanks guys. I wasn't sure what even to call them. Spring Struts, who would of thought.

 

Do those things have a cushion spring only, or is there a rebound spring concealed inside the housing?

 

Compression spring only. There's no need to damp the rebound, really, because there's no actual pogo action; they're like friggin' valve springs.

 

Those look like Smith Bros & Fetrow springer struts, I ran them back in the early 80s on my 88" shovel, used to break the springs all the time, Happy Smith told me they were die springs.

 

That sounds right. You can get those die springs in an amazing range of physical sizes and weight ratings. They are usually pretty durable; I wonder if the breakage problem wasn't related to embrittlement from the chrome plating process?

Geo.

 

HE is possible.

Die springs come in different colors,
to identify the maximum % deflection.

Sustained, excessive, deflection will kill a die spring.