Click Wire

[Vint]

I need to replace a click spring wire (see attached photo) and wanted to get input as I’ve yet to make one of these.
If someone has fabricated such a spring please advise. Thank you.

 

[POWERSTROKE]

I' don't know the answer to your question, but id love for someone to show the tools involved and how to dismantle and fix a chainwheel form start to finish.

 

[Arthur Cagle]

Why can't you re-bend the wire to the correct configuration?

 

[Tbucket]

I need to replace a click spring wire (see attached photo) and wanted to get input as I’ve yet to make one of these.
If someone has fabricated such a spring please advise. Thank you.

View attachment 716397

Here's a photo of Ansonia that was missing it's click spring on the time side. The wheel on the left has an original spring on it. The wheel on the right / time side shows the one that I made. I used click spring wire from Timesavers 10 pack No. 16979. I shaped the wire by hand using the existing wire as a guide. Then cut it to length & crushed the end in a vise until it fit into the slot in the click. I'm sure there are other ways, but this is how I did it.

 

[Willie X]

That old spring can probably be reused. Just bend it back around to the left.

It would be much better to take it off first. You can do a much better job with it off, flatten it out, put an even curl back on it using a mandrel and small brass hammer, etc. Willie X

 

[shutterbug]

But to answer your question, for an "exact match" you'll need some steel wire, a hammer, an anvil, some motor oil, a file and a little enginuity. Hammer the end of the wire flat and shape it like the old one with a file. Bend the wire to a little tighter bend than it needs.
Now you have to temper the steel. Bring it to a bright red color and quench it in the oil. Then temper it back by submerging it in a bit of oil and setting it on fire. Let it burn out and cool naturally. You can polish it up if needed, and insert it like the old one. It should only take 30 minutes or so start to finish. You might need a propane torch or similar to ignite the oil. It takes a bit of heat to get it started, but it burns at just the temperature needed to anneal the spring back to where it needs to be.

 

[Willie X]

Very few American clocks used hardened steel for click springs. Unless you know your methods and materials very well, the finished product will probably be brittle.

Piano wire makes a very good spring but you will have to flatten the odd shaped tip while at a dull red heat and finish it using a stone, or abrasive wheels in a Dremel. The flattened part that rides in the click must have a face that is curved and very smooth, just go by the old one. Better still just the old one, if possible.

Willie X

 

[Vint]

Why can't you re-bend the wire to the correct configuration?

It broke in two pieces and I don’t think I have enough left short of drilling another hole to compensate for shortage.

 

[Vint]

Thanks to everyone who replied as this gives me sufficient info.