LD 150 mark 3 Front Fork Spring rods

[Fairburn]

Started second LD build and when replacing springs damaged one of the rods. Other one has crease in it so may also need replacing. Bought a number of general spares some time ago and when I looked through them I found three old springs with rods. However the ones being replaced were 20cms long plus a 1 cm rod end. Of the three spare rods two are 12cms long plus 1 and the third is 6cms long plus 1?
Anyone able to explain why identical springs have different length rods. They are not broken as they have machined ends.
Anyone who has the longer rods or would like to swop please let me know. I also found that after sandblasting the petrol tank looks like a pincushion. I have several months to find one but would like to hear from anyone with one for sale.

[Steve J]

To quote from Page 132 of The Lambretta Serviceman's Book, First Edition:- "To prevent rattle of the springs and deflection against the sides of the fork legs, the cup ended guides in the springs were increased in length after Engine 163127 and again after Engine 224365 to a maximum of over 8 inches. These latest type can be fitted to earlier models."
(Engine 163127 would have been part way through Mk2 Ld150 production, and engine 224365 would have been fairly early on in Mk3 Ld150 production.)

All I can say is that anyone who could possibly have heard the springs rattling in the front forks above the other rattles of an Ld on the move must have had either very acute hearing or advanced paranoia......

[Fairburn]

Thank you. Moved the old rods to the Museum section of the shelf. Any longer rods out there looking for an active future?