A snubber for use with a dipper to retard movement of the dipper door toward and away from an opening formed in the dipper. The snubber includes an elastic member and an actuator link. When the door is at a first angle with respect to the dipper, the elastic member is in tension to retard movement of the door toward the dipper. When the door is at a second angle with respect to the dipper, the elastic member is in bending to retard movement of the door away from the dipper. The snubber is inactive when the door is at an angle between the first and second angles.

Two support assemblies for respectively supporting the tapered end and the cylindrical end of an elongated tubular elastomeric spring between two opposed spring seats are disclosed. The support assembly for the tapered end is made up of an elongated retaining member which is positionable generally transverse to and entirely inside the tapered end. This retaining member includes two inclined portions which bear down upon the inside of the tapered end when pulled in an outward direction by a bolt threadably secured to a conventional spring seat. The support assembly for the cylindrical end is made up of a second retaining member which is positionable generally transverse to and entirely inside the cylindrical end. The second retaining member includes a plurality of expandable flange portions which engage the inside of the cylindrical portion as the retaining member is pulled in an outward direction by a bolt threadably secured to the second spring seat. The spring is reinforced to resist bulging in response to the outwardly directed forces applied by the support assemblies.

Two support assemblies for respectively supporting the tapered end and the cylindrical end of an elongated tubular elastomeric spring between two opposed spring seats are disclosed. The support assembly for the tapered end is made up of an elongated retaining member which is positionable generally transverse to and entirely inside the tapered end. This retaining member includes two inclined portions which bear down upon the inside of the tapered end when pulled in an outward direction by a bolt thredably secured to a convetional spring seat. The support assembly for the cylindrical end is made up of a second retaining member which is positionable generally transverse to and entirely inside the cylindrical end. The second retaining member includes a plurality of expandable flange portions which engage the inside of the cylindrical portion as the retaining member is pulled in an outward direction by a second bolt threadably secured to the second spring seat. The spring is reinforced to resist bulging in response to the outwardly directed forces applied by the support assemblies.

A unitary urethane snubber is provided to snub opening and closing movements of a dipper door. The snubber has an elongated working section that is stretched to snub door closing and bent to snub door opening. A pair of integral end lugs pivotally attach the snubber to the dipper and to the door. The snubber is unstressed in an intermediate position to facilitate installation.