Suspension spring reattachment

[Beverly]

I am a new NAWCC member and this is my first post. I am also working on my first clock repair project. I am reassembling my clock after cleaning and can't figure out how to reattach the suspension spring. The slit in the post is visible at the bottom but not at the top. I am stumped. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Uhralt]

It looks like the slot has been pressed shut to prevent the suspension spring from sliding out. You can re-open the slot with a slim flat screwdriver or an utility knife. The spring looks rather mangled, try to straighten it before re-assembly.

Uhralt

 

[Willie X]

Get some medium size round nose pliers to straighten that spring. They are available in any hobby store, in the jewelry making department. Remove that stop wire and pull the spring briskly through the tightly closed jaws of the round nose pliers. The action is like curling a ribbon when decorating a gift package. A little tilt angle will curl the spring in one direction and then do the opposite direction, back and fourth until it's straight.

A single edge razor blade is good for spreading the post slit, don't open it but a minimum amount. It may take 10 or 15 pulls, this won't hurt the spring.

Willie X

 

[Beverly]

It looks like the slot has been pressed shut to prevent the suspension spring from sliding out. You can re-open the slot with a slim flat screwdriver or an utility knife. The spring looks rather mangled, try to straighten it before re-assembly.

Uhralt

Thanks for response. None of my screwdrivers have thin enough tip to work but a tiny eyeglass screwdriver did the trick. Thanks for pointing out the problem with the spring. I appreciate your help.

 

[Beverly]

Get some medium size round nose pliers to straighten that spring. They are available in any hobby store, in the jewelry making department. Remove that stop wire and pull the spring briskly through the tightly closed jaws of the round nose pliers. The action is like curling a ribbon when decorating a gift package. A little tilt angle will curl the spring in one direction and then do the opposite direction, back and fourth until it's straight.

A single edge razor blade is good for spreading the post slit, don't open it but a minimum amount. It may take 10 or 15 pulls, this won't hurt the spring.

Willie X

 

[Beverly]

Thanks also for the information on how to straighten the spring.

 

[kinsler33]

Yep. I buy razor blades at Harbor Freight Tools (purveyors of Oriental equipment) for this and other purposes. The tiny slit in the post is hard to find. I wonder how they made those in 1840.

Mark Kinsler

 

[gvasale]

Yep. I buy razor blades at Harbor Freight Tools (purveyors of Oriental equipment) for this and other purposes. The tiny slit in the post is hard to find. I wonder how they made those in 1840.

Mark Kinsler

If you have ever seen filagree work, all it takes is a fine jeweler's saw they probably used one to make that slit. But at some time in the past they had a good process. We, on the other hand, or at least me, scratch out heads wondering " how did they do that?"