Pillar Drill - bit of a disaster....

[GrahamGKD]

Hi Folks,
I was drilling a couple of holes last night with my trusty old Progress No. 2 GS pillar drill when there was a crack and the drill head dropped down. The upshot is that the 'power spring' (at least that's what I think you call them - like a clock spring?) has broken. I can bodge it by annealing and re-bending the broken end of the spring to fit in the slot in the drill return shaft but it looks like this has already been done once and the spring is getting shorter every time! I need to source a new spring. I've tried some web searches but so far I've only managed to turn up places which do not seem to be suitable - e.g. with a minimum order of 10. Any ideas please?

Graham.

 

[astro_al]

Try calling Startrite, they're always helpful and I'm pretty sure they do them for their own drills.

I have seen them somewhere... I'll have a think...

Al.

 

[astro_al]

These guys list fobco quill return springs, might fit: http://www.quillstar.co.uk/

Relevant thread: http://www.woodworkuk.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=960

These guys seem to make them: http://www.testedspring.co.uk/oursprings.asp

Al.

 

[GrahamGKD]

Cheers Al,
By a roundabout route from the Startrite lead I found Gate Machinery who do the original part for my very drill! Costs £44.50 including delivery - seems a lot for a spring but I guess I'll have to bite the bullet!
Graham.

 

[GrahamGKD]

Al,
.... just seen your later post - will check that out before comitting the £45.
G.

 

[GrahamGKD]

Checked out Tested Spring (as suggested by Al) - they were very helpful and would make one but that would be £45 or £50 as well, since it would be specially made as a one off. Will take the low risk option and go for the off the shelf product for £45.
Graham.

 

[JimM]

Would this be any good

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fobco-Return-...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c0fecfe15

 

[wyn]

If you were up for a bit of bodging you might be able to fit a lawnmower recoil starter spring for around £5

 

[GrahamGKD]

Thanks for the suggestions guys - I think I'm just going to pay for the proper thing. It's a great drill and it didn't cost me anything in the first place (it was given to me years ago by a company I used to work for). I can't afford to be without it for long and I keep thinking about the potential to spoil work if the thing fails again and drops down unexpectedly. I must learn not to be so stingy!!
Graham.

 

[GrahamGKD]

....bit of shock chord up to the rafters seems to work quite well as a temporary measure ;-)
G.

 

[graffian]

bungeee would work as temporary measure, stick it on the handle, wind it round the hub once and attach to something a few feet away[as many feet as neccessary]
Shouldn't be hard to find a replacement.