What causes this?

[Steve Neul]

I had the mainspring break on the strike side so I ordered a new one. Then the other one shown I loosened so I could clean and oil it and discovered it has a kink in it which is beginning to tear. I would like to know why it did this plus I would like to know when you guys replace a mainspring do you automatically change both of them out.

 

[bwclock]

I had the mainspring break on the strike side so I ordered a new one. Then the other one shown I loosened so I could clean and oil it and discovered it has a kink in it which is beginning to tear. I would like to know why it did this plus I would like to know when you guys replace a mainspring do you automatically change both of them out.

View attachment 764936

Re:.. I would like to know when you guys replace a mainspring do you automatically change both of them out. ..... No.

 

[wow]

Steve, many of the new mainsprings we buy today are poor quality. I would stay away from those made in India. You should return it and get a refund.

 

[JTD]

Steve, many of the new mainsprings we buy today are poor quality. I would stay away from those made in India. You should return it and get a refund.

I don't think he is complaining about the new strike spring he ordered, he is wondering why he has discovered that the other spring (the time side) is beginning to crack and if it common practice to replace both if one breaks.

Or have I misunderstood?

JTD

 

[Steve Neul]

I don't think he is complaining about the new strike spring he ordered, he is wondering why he has discovered that the other spring (the time side) is beginning to crack and if it common practice to replace both if one breaks.

Or have I misunderstood?

JTD

Yes, that is exactly that. It's the old one I'm wondering about. I'm sure the one on the strike side got like that before it broke. It broke in three pieces. I was wonder if it's just from age or whether there was some sort of abuse.

I bought the movement off ebay so I don't know the history of the movement. Maybe at some time someone put springs in it from India or they may be the originals from Waterbury, I don't know.

 

[Willie X]

It's defective. Don't wind it back up, just replace it. Unfortunately, replacing a spring in today's world has become a real crap shoot ...

I don't automatically replace one spring because the other is bad. I do check all springs carefully and replace when a defect is found.

The only good way to check a spring is to stretch it out flat. Cracks, rust, uneven coils, will show up.

Willie X

 

[Steve Neul]

It's defective. Don't wind it back up, just replace it. Unfortunately, replacing a spring in today's world has become a real crap shoot ...

I don't automatically replace one spring because the other is bad. I do check all springs carefully and replace when a defect is found.

The only good way to check a spring is to stretch it out flat. Cracks, rust, uneven coils, will show up.

Willie X

Thankyou, I just wondered if I should have ordered two springs automatically. I guess it would have helped if I had unwounded that spring before ordering. I waited until I was close to putting the clock back together before I attempted any maintenance on the spring. Never thought about cleaning and oiling them so my thought was to put it back in the clock as is. Another lesson learned.

I didn't plan on keeping the spring. It did have some unevenness in the way it was wound toward the center.

 

[R. Croswell]

If the spring was properly maintained, it wouldn't be rusty like that. It could have cracked from defective original material, or the result of corrosion, or someone attempting to pull it out flat for inspection. The inner coils cannot be pulled out "flat" without actually bending (reshaping) the spring and that puts a big strain on the spring.

I do not automatically replace both springs, but in a case like this where both springs are rusted, and are not marked with the original maker's stamp, and nothing else is known I probably would replace both. If both springs are original and have the maker's stamp and one is broken, I would encourage you to replace both. Otherwise, if the spring is reasonably smooth with no visible defects I would keep it.

Avoid the junk springs from India, otherwise most of the springs from reputable dealers will be OK most of the time. You will know the first time you fully wind it. That's why it is a good idea to fully wind a new spring several times in a spring winder before installation. Or you could have Timewise make your spring here in the US.

RC

 

[Steve Neul]

If the spring was properly maintained, it wouldn't be rusty like that. It could have cracked from defective original material, or the result of corrosion, or someone attempting to pull it out flat for inspection. The inner coils cannot be pulled out "flat" without actually bending (reshaping) the spring and that puts a big strain on the spring.

I do not automatically replace both springs, but in a case like this where both springs are rusted, and are not marked with the original maker's stamp, and nothing else is known I probably would replace both. If both springs are original and have the maker's stamp and one is broken, I would encourage you to replace both. Otherwise, if the spring is reasonably smooth with no visible defects I would keep it.

Avoid the junk springs from India, otherwise most of the springs from reputable dealers will be OK most of the time. You will know the first time you fully wind it. That's why it is a good idea to fully wind a new spring several times in a spring winder before installation. Or you could have Timewise make your spring here in the US.

RC

The spring didn't have a makers mark on it so I guess it's not a Waterbury.

I had one spring which broke which I bought another one for. This one I had planned to reuse but when I unwound it to clean and oil it I found the defect. I will have to order another new one now. I will be sure not to get one from India.

I looked up the springs I've been buying and one of them for the Waterbury was said to be made in Germany. I just ordered another one of the same. The other two springs, one was from India and there was no information on the other.

 

[R. Croswell]

The spring didn't have a makers mark on it so I guess it's not a Waterbury.

I had one spring which broke which I bought another one for. This one I had planned to reuse but when I unwound it to clean and oil it I found the defect. I will have to order another new one now. I will be sure not to get one from India.

I looked up the springs I've been buying and one of them for the Waterbury was said to be made in Germany. I just ordered another one of the same. The other two springs, one was from India and there was no information on the other.

I would put the one from India in the trash bin. Wind the. Others a few times to make sure, as sure as possible, before installing.

 

[Keith Doster]

The mainspring in your picture looks like it has that telltale rib running down the middle of the length of it. That would indicate it is probably a 30-day Asian clock. Definitely not American/Waterbury. Am I seeing that correctly? If so, as others have said, I would avoid mainsprings from India. But I also wouldn't put the best/priciest spring I could find into a really low value clock either. What I'm wondering is if anyone ever replaces 30-day Asian mainsprings with 8-day "American" springs? I assume they would work just fine, but only for 8 days.

 

[JTD]

The mainspring in your picture looks like it has that telltale rib running down the middle of the length of it.

I thought the same at first, but on looking again, I think it's maybe just a mark that has developed as the spring wound and unwound. The spring is very dry and there is no lube to be seen, so I think that may be the cause of the line-line mark.

JTD

 

[Steve Neul]

The mainspring in your picture looks like it has that telltale rib running down the middle of the length of it. That would indicate it is probably a 30-day Asian clock. Definitely not American/Waterbury. Am I seeing that correctly? If so, as others have said, I would avoid mainsprings from India. But I also wouldn't put the best/priciest spring I could find into a really low value clock either. What I'm wondering is if anyone ever replaces 30-day Asian mainsprings with 8-day "American" springs? I assume they would work just fine, but only for 8 days.

The line you are seeing is rust or whatever corrosion is on the spring. Cleaned off there is no line.
If I were repairing the movement for someone else or to a customer I wouldn't use the India spring. Since the clock is for myself I will probably use it. I expect to have to take the clock back apart someday for bushings and will consider getting better springs then. Right now I would just like to find out if I can get it running. Someone before me has taken the movement apart and removed the mainsprings. I don't know if all of the parts are even there.

 

[R. Croswell]

……..Since the clock is for myself I will probably use it [spring from India]. I expect to have to take the clock back apart someday for bushings and will consider getting better springs then. Right now I would just like to find out if I can get it running.

I urge you to reconsider your Decision. When that spring brakes or explodes it could cause personal injury to you and collateral damage to the clock. Ain’t worth the risk of losing an eye or having your face disfigured.
RC

 

[Steve Neul]

I urge you to reconsider your Decision. When that spring brakes or explodes it could cause personal injury to you and collateral damage to the clock. Ain’t worth the risk of losing an eye or having your face disfigured.
RC

I wasn't worried about myself removing a broken spring, I had just done that with no issue. Damage to the movement is another issue, I will get another spring. How do you tell if a spring is from India anyway. This one came in a box with a brand name. It's a Roshan brand. The other one was unbranded which came from Krieger Time in Princeton, IL.

 

[R. Croswell]

I wasn't worried about myself removing a broken spring, I had just done that with no issue. Damage to the movement is another issue, I will get another spring. How do you tell if a spring is from India anyway. This one came in a box with a brand name. It's a Roshan brand. The other one was unbranded which came from Krieger Time in Princeton, IL.

Unless the seller lists the spring as made in India I know of no way to be positive. If it is listed as “commercial grade” and/or is priced below $10 or below most of the listed springs, or is a ”special purchase”, or you have a gut feeling, it is likely from India or China.

These have been known to shatter into many pieces. If that happens when you are winding the spring prior to installation……we’ll, you really don’t want to be around,

RC

 

[Willie X]

Looks like a crack to me. Just attempt a 90° bend on that area and see what happens.

This is called destructive testing. It's the very best kind of testing ... Willie X

 

[Simon Holt]

Unless the seller lists the spring as made in India I know of no way to be positive.

Can you get Trifix springs in America? They are available from Cousins in the UK and are listed as High Quality and Made in Germany. I've bought 3 or 4 of those over my short time as a hobbyist, and they do seem to be good.

Simon