Since I Was 10 I Knew to be Careful With Stuff With Springs

railfan44 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2013 6:49 pm

But the springs always won and getting it back together working was usually impossible. Take apart a 1950s windup alarm clock. Oil it up. And see if you can get it back together working. When I had a camera I took pictures as I took the thing apart. Yet the spring always seemed to win. SPRONG!

So on the North Carolina Piedmont I'm now working on a 1922 Southern Rwy Coach that was full of mahogany. The only mahogany left are the two end doors between the passenger compartment and the vestibules. I removed the multiple layers of paint. Found the original color of the varnish. Stained them that color and put on three layers of top-of-the-line spar varnish. They look 90-years-old-beat-up wonderful.

About the spring. The spring shown by the red arrows in the photo below disappeared when I took the mechanism apart. Don't lecture me about being careful. I've done that to myself enough.

How do I replace it? Make a new one? Get you to find or make a one?

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Marty -

Been there. Done that. Feel your pain!

Good luck!

Les

John Deck · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:04 pm

Marty your not the only one that has that problem. The spring you are trying to replace is not that hard to locate. The lock you are working on is not uncommon on the inside. I would start looking for box locks at old junk and antique shops also find an old established locksmith you would be amazed what they have for parts. Your last resort is to purchase some spring steel from McMaster & Carr and bend one.

Mike Tillger · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:12 pm

Adams & Westlake, nothing like getting the genuine part. I believe it is still available from them.
http://www.adlake.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=5

Mike Tillger

Wowak · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2013 8:20 am

Ever change the shoes on a set of drum brakes? Not enough swear words in the english language.

J.David · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2013 12:28 pm

Greetings:
These are called torsion springs and can be found on pages 1226 & 1227 of the McMaster-Carr catalog No. 119. We keep several sizes in stock as all door latches are not the same. Trap latches use these as well.
Also found on p. 1227 is a Spring Winding tool. We have one and use it to make odd-ball, one-off springs.
Good luck!
J.David

railfan44 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:04 pm

Thank you guys so much. Maybe this 240 lb. old guy can beat that older 1/2 oz. spring yet.

wilkinsd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:28 pm

Marty,

Just consider the fact that you are using "authentic railroad shop curse words" as a way to enliven the experience.

David