So I put a drill quill spring in the wrong way round….

[skippy75]

Another day, another balls up.

On my calamitous learning experience that is my fobco star restoration I’ve managed to put the quill spring in the wrong way round. At least I assume that’s what I’ve done as the quill locks up and won’t extend more than a couple of cm.

Im wondering how to safely remove the spring, flip it over and put it back in. With the outer cover removed about half the depth of the spring is accessible so am I right in thinking I can get some wire around it tightly and then just pop it out, flip and reinstall?

I will put my dunce cap on and sit in the corner for a bit now.

 

[julianthegypsy]

That's definitely the wrong way round! You should be able to flip it easily enough, with a bit of swearing of course!

 

[Ali]

Wire sounds like a good idea to hold it, watch yourself those things are lethal

 

[skippy75]

Wire sounds like a good idea to hold it, watch yourself those things are lethal

Removing the original game me a nice bruise and small cut. Tensioning the replacement actually sent me to A&E with a lovely deep gash on my palm. I’m nicely terrified of this thing at this point.

 

[MetalMonkey]

some strong cable ties might work.

 

[6ply]

Wear thick gloves and eye protection. I once had a finger nail almost ripped off with a similar spring. There was blood everywhere.

Cable ties usually work ok but be prepared for a sudden release.

 

[chunkolini]

Sounds like fun.
Can we have video footage please

 

[Migmac]

If you put your hand round the chrome nut and hold the spring in place. With your hand there when you slacken the nut it can’t fly out can it ? Putting it back in should be very similar to putting a spring back in a chainsaw starter side. When I do this I use my thumbs and I don’t have any issues.

 

[6ply]

If you can get the spring out (by whatever means you like) then it's quite easy to re-tension the spring at your workbench.

Get a short length of round bar and add a slot at the end to hold the inner part of the coil captive.
Hold the bar vertically in a vice. Position the slot just above the jaws as the spring may try to wander when being rewound.
Fit the spring to the slot.
Get a length of timber or metal bar to which you can add a hook or loop of wire to engage with the outermost hook of the spring.
Now start winding.
Make sure you have some wire or cable ties to make the spring captive when fully wound. Be aware that however "captive" you think you have made it, the spring will always release slightly. If you get it wrong, the release will be explosive.

 

[skippy75]

It was all going well until it snapped in the centre. I’m going to be glad to never touch this thing again once it’s done

 

[fizzy]

I hate these things with a passion as well - and yes I have also put one on the wrong way around! I use able ties to keep them under control. I also found a large socket that was a perfect fit. My drill was missing the cap and nut so I had to make up[ a nice aluminium cap as well. Not much tension on mine but I am scared to touch it in case the damn thing lets go again when I tighten it. It is an old drill and couldn't find the proper spring to had to get something generic

 

[julianthegypsy]

It was all going well until it snapped in the centre. I’m going to be glad to never touch this thing again once it’s done

View attachment 461042 View attachment 461043 View attachment 461044

Heat it with a torch and bend the end back. Easier than you'd think.

 

[Migmac]

You guys might find one of these useful

 

[frank horton]

how about a hose clamp....better thsn twisted wire with more support for the spring....
cant remember how many chainsaw springs I've done....odd times I dream about em.....
perhaps to give u an idea on the Bridgeport website / u tube they made a simple tool to rewind and mount their quill spring....

 

[skippy75]

That's definitely the wrong way round! You should be able to flip it easily enough, with a bit of swearing of course!

There was certainly swearing!

some strong cable ties might work.

I did try but I couldn’t get any compression unfortunately.

Wear thick gloves and eye protection. I once had a finger nail almost ripped off with a similar spring. There was blood everywhere.

Cable ties usually work ok but be prepared for a sudden release.

It’s scary how much power is stored in these things, I’m staying as safe as I can this time.

Sounds like fun.
Can we have video footage please

I just couldn’t get a camera set up on it sorry, my failure in photo form will have to do for now.

If you put your hand round the chrome nut and hold the spring in place. With your hand there when you slacken the nut it can’t fly out can it ? Putting it back in should be very similar to putting a spring back in a chainsaw starter side. When I do this I use my thumbs and I don’t have any issues.

The nut is on for added safety but it has to come off along with the washer to get the spring out. It’s all pretty firmly stuck in there even without those though. It took two pairs of pliers to wrangle it out.

If you can get the spring out (by whatever means you like) then it's quite easy to re-tension the spring at your workbench.

Get a short length of round bar and add a slot at the end to hold the inner part of the coil captive.
Hold the bar vertically in a vice. Position the slot just above the jaws as the spring may try to wander when being rewound.
Fit the spring to the slot.
Get a length of timber or metal bar to which you can add a hook or loop of wire to engage with the outermost hook of the spring.
Now start winding.
Make sure you have some wire or cable ties to make the spring captive when fully wound. Be aware that however "captive" you think you have made it, the spring will always release slightly. If you get it wrong, the release will be explosive.

I have the original spring and this is something I’d considered. Given my history with these things I’m just very wary.

I hate these things with a passion as well - and yes I have also put one on the wrong way around! I use able ties to keep them under control. I also found a large socket that was a perfect fit. My drill was missing the cap and nut so I had to make up[ a nice aluminium cap as well. Not much tension on mine but I am scared to touch it in case the damn thing lets go again when I tighten it. It is an old drill and couldn't find the proper spring to had to get something generic

Unfortunately I couldn’t find anything the right size to fit over the end. The wire worked ok but it would have been nice to get more compression. Luckily I can still get the correct spring which should make things easier despite the evidence I’m creating.

Heat it with a torch and bend the end back. Easier than you'd think.

I will keep this one as plan B for now, it was a relatively short piece that came off though.

You guys might find one of these useful

View attachment 461049

I did wonder where the tools for rewinding these things were, would be interesting if it fitted and it was robust enough

how about a hose clamp....better thsn twisted wire with more support for the spring....
cant remember how many chainsaw springs I've done....odd times I dream about em.....
perhaps to give u an idea on the Bridgeport website / u tube they made a simple tool to rewind and mount their quill spring....

I did consider a hose clamp and it actually would have been good to compress the spring before securing it with wire. I’d have had to order some larger ones and I got impatient though. I will go look at Bridgeport thank you