Powder Measure Missing Spring

[Todd M]

Smokey can you view the pictures in post #1?

 

[smokeywolf]

I'll check my collection of springs today. Counting the coils and spaces and comparing to length. I'm guessing that wire gauge is closer to 12 or 14 gauge.

 

[Todd M]

I'll check my collection of springs today. Counting the coils and spaces and comparing to length. I'm guessing that wire gauge is closer to 12 or 14 gauge.

https://www.google.com/search?q=spr...AUICCgB&biw=320&bih=460#imgrc=5DnGqjgQC_YQdM:
This chart is where I got the gauge size. Coils measure 30-31 thousandths thick with calipers.

 

[JWFilips]

1989toddm,
Is that spring rather strong for it's size?
Jim

 

[Todd M]

Yes Jim it's a mighty little bugger. I cannot compress it enough to assemble the measure without a screwdriver. Definitely can't compress it with just my thumb.
Todd

 

[smokeywolf]

On your spring, closest I could get was .410 length, .094 dia. and .017 wire dia.
Next size up I found was the correct dia. wire, but coils too close together, spring was a remnant of a longer spring, so no closed coil at each end and overall spring dia. was .138.

 

[Todd M]

The length would be fine but overall diameter is too big i believe. Thanks for looking!!

 

[Todd M]

On your spring, closest I could get was .410 length, .094 dia. and .017 wire dia.
Next size up I found was the correct dia. wire, but coils too close together, spring was a remnant of a longer spring, so no closed coil at each end and overall spring dia. was .138.

Do you have 2 of the .410/.094/.017?

 

[Wasalmonslayer]

Hello Todd

If you can find a local automatic transmission shop that will let you rummage thru old rebuild kits you could find one that way.
An automatic has more spring than you can shake a stick at.
And they are every shape and dimension you can dream of

Wasalmonslayer

 

[smokeywolf]

Do you have 2 of the .410/.094/.017?

Just found the one.

My free time is being pretty much consumed right now, between taxiing one of the boys to a distant community college for a CAD class and working on the house. But, at some point I'm going to have to set up the lathe and run off a batch of springs, as I have no spares for either the OP rod nor the OP rod catch on the Garand.

 

[Pistolero]

Shouldn't be too hard to wind one if you know the wire size and can get
a piece of piano wire in that size. Drill thru a rod a bit smaller than the thru
hole, then bend a 90 deg angle near the end of the piano wire, push the short
end through the hole, clamp in a vise - trapping the piano wire tail - and start
winding, using pliers to grip and pull tension on the piano wire.

Easiest to do in a metal lathe, but I have made reasonably good ones with a vise
by hand. Biggest trick is finding the right diam piano wire.

Bill

 

[Todd M]

Shouldn't be too hard to wind one if you know the wire size and can get
a piece of piano wire in that size. Drill thru a rod a bit smaller than the thru
hole, then bend a 90 deg angle near the end of the piano wire, push the short
end through the hole, clamp in a vise - trapping the piano wire tail - and start
winding, using pliers to grip and pull tension on the piano wire.

Easiest to do in a metal lathe, but I have made reasonably good ones with a vise
by hand. Biggest trick is finding the right diam piano wire.

Bill

Thank ya, Bill. I may try that to get this thing up and running.

 

[JWFilips]

1989toddm,
Sorry I had to go out of town for awhile; but I have been looking the past two days. I've got close in size but not in tension A bit lighter gauge then you need.
I still have another box in my shed & I will pull that out today to check
Jim

 

[Todd M]

1989toddm,
Sorry I had to go out of town for awhile; but I have been looking the past two days. I've got close in size but not in tension A bit lighter gauge then you need.
I still have another box in my shed & I will pull that out today to check
Jim

If you have 2 identical springs that are close in size, let me know dimensions. I can replace both springs and I don't think a lighter spring would hurt anything.
Todd

 

[Ian]

Smallest I have is a Select-a-Spring #1 which is .025" wire and .150" coil diameter. Very stiff, but won't go in the hole you have.

 

[Pistolero]

Yeah, the difference between stiffness of a 0.025 wire and 0.017 wire is A LOT.

How about this?

https://www.thespringstore.com/pc018-125-11-80-mw-0-440-c-z-in.html

Shipping may be the big problem, didn't look at it, but they only want $1.45 for this one. Spring rate
calc shows 13.34 lb/inch rate on yours, this one is 13. The only issue is .125 OD. Will the hole take
an 1/8" drill bit? Or is there any harm opening it up a few thousandths if needed?

Bill

 

[Todd M]

Bill, I don't see why I couldn't carefully open the hole to .128 or so and make that work. I may have to make my UHMW pins larger to match.

 

[Todd M]

BUT! There is a minimum order amount of $89. Still looking...

 

[Ian]

Welcome to sourcing from industrial suppliers. $89 is actually fairly low for a minimum order. A good Ace Hardware store or any place that has a well-stocked Hillman hardware section should be able to supply your needs. Sounds like you really need to just get some piano wire from a hardware store and wind one up, it isn't that difficult to do.

 

[Pistolero]

OOPS! Sorry, missed the min order. Crud.

See if you can get some .017 or very close piano wire and wind one. Need to wind
it "too small" because they pop out larger after winding. Do if the center hole is 0.10,
us a 0.090 center pin to wind on, may even need a bit smaller. Takes a bit of trial
and error.

Bill