How to remove broken spring?

[RickNB]

I just acquired a tambour clock with a broken strike spring. In the pic below you can see that the free end of the broken spring is jammed up against the bottom of the case. The coil has expanded to it is also jammed up against the side of the case (at the green arrow).

Any advice about how to safely remove the movement from the case. My guess is that if I just remove the movement mounting screws the spring will just expand and could do so dangerously. I assume I need to find a way to hold the spring from further unwinding. Cable tie around the spring ? Will that be safe? Someone must have experience with this kind of thing who can advise how to do it safely.

 

[Uhralt]

You could use tin snips to cut the outer layer of the spring piece by piece until the spring is small enough to get the movement out of the case.

Uhralt

 

[Kevin W.]

Another thread, on how to remove this. https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/removing-a-broken-spring-from-case.151245/

 

[RickNB]

Another thread, on how to remove this. https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/removing-a-broken-spring-from-case.151245/

Thanks Kevin - didn't see that thread.

 

[Willie X]

The spring has little power at this point. Just take the movement out using reasonable care. Willie X

 

[disciple_dan]

Clamp a vise grip on the free end very tight. Wind it up a little until free. Take another vise grip and clamp it on the outer bands of the partially wound spring and it should be safe to remove.

 

[TEACLOCKS]

Couple clamps here & there

 

[wow]

These work great.

 

[Mike Mall]

Couple clamps here & there

View attachment 733366

Would you be asking for a scalpel next?

 

[Bernhard J.]

Well, dentist tools are very helpful for clocks, and for car components just as well.

 

[Willie X]

More like a large hemostat ... Willie X

 

[RickNB]

Between a large hemostat and some locking pliers, I got it out without incident. Thanks all.

 

[Kevin W.]

Well done Rick.

 

[RickNB]

Well done Rick.

Thanks. She's now been cleaned, reassembled, oiled and adjusted. Running like a jack rabbit on the bench now.

Interestingly, when I bought the clock the seller said he thought it had a broken spring, but was in good running order otherwise.. With the best spring in the world this little beast was not going to run. I could hardly get the movement apart - it felt like the pivots were glued in! Here's a pic of the escape wheel after I removed it (with a struggle):

That junk you see on the wheel was like hardened molasses. The whole movement was coated with it - clearly a "lubrication by dunk" attempt in something that dried hard. I believe the owner broke the strike side mainspring by trying to wind it tighter to gain more power to make it run. The time side spring was wound so tight I had trouble releasing the click. But now she's all shiny like new and running well.

 

[wow]

Looks like a WD-40 case to me.