Re: Michigan T-24 project
Fuel tubing is do-able as a spring, but it's a lot stiffer lengthwise than you might think. When I built the rotary valve for my dust collector I was using springs 3-4mm in diameter to keep the vanes pressed against the valve body as the vanes rotate, wasn't stiff enough. Then I also got the bright idea of using silicone fuel tubing. I found out that if you don't support it properly that crap will just fold sideways. Took a couple of redesigns of the vanes and rotor to get it right.
Once you get the tubing restricted so that it has to compress lengthwise that stuff is remarkably stiff. I had to limit it to about 2mm of compression lengthwise. Any more than that and my motor couldn't turn the valve anymore. A couple of pieces of telescoping tubing the right size and you might be able to make a "shock" that's actually the helper spring.
Don
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