Easy mainspring compression

[Fabian23]

I was busy yesterday giving my shooter a spring refurbishing using the Wolff assortment, all was well until I finally got to fitting the new mainspring.

The old one came out easily, and I turned to the tutorial on this site to put the new one back in. Using the drift pin and pliers technique to compress the spring such that the end was hooked by the guide pin hook was tough, even when shouting PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRAAAAAAABELLUUUUUUM, as recommended by the tutorial This was a new standard spring, who knows what it would be like for the extra strength one

There must be an easier way says I.....need more mechanical advantage..... Then I lay eyes on my turret reloading press, aye, that big lever and ram there give a nice mechanical advantage, could it work?

So I put the head of the spring guide and spring up into the seating die (45ACP) that happened to be on the press and rested the other end of the spring on the ram, with the edges just around the primer chute, which is incidently wider than the guide pin stem. Levering up the ram slowly with one hand, and keeping the spring in line with the other hand compresses the spring up just beyond the hook of the guide pin with no sweat and no bad words Then keeping everything compressed you just angle the guide pin so its hook catches the end of the spring, and there you have it.

[shadow]

Fabien,

Glad to hear that you found an easier method to install a Luger mainspring.

I fought with my first mainspring a few months ago. I made an inquiry on this website about the tool that they used at the factory. Someone posted a photo of the factory tool and I made a copy.

I started with a $4 awl from Loweâ??s. I cut the tip off and ground about �¼ inch of the taper into a diameter that fit into the guide rod hole. Then I heated and bent it.
When I tried it I could not believe how much better it worked than the method that is recommended on this website. I literally had the spring out and back in within a minute or so with little to no struggle.

Here is a picture of the tool that I made.

Chris

[zinfull]

I did the tutorial also and worked great the first time. The second tine it was a little different. I then remembered a post about putting the hook as high as easily done then holding the spring and screw the part the rest of the way to hook over the end of the spring. Nice and quit, no yelling and the wife did not know I was playing.

Jerry

[Fabian23]

Yup, the rest of the tutorial steps was easy, I was just determined to find an easier way of getting the guide-mainspring assembly together, since I don't have the machinery to make that tool.

[Lugerdoc]

I like the reloading press idea, if I had one, but I usually just wind the recoil spring on its guide, by turning the guide with a rod thru the hole in the bottom. TH

[LugerVern]

I like the idea of the modified awl; I am going to make one and test it outâ??thanks for the picture.
I came up with a simple method years ago that works great also. The problem is getting the mainspring compressed and then that hook through the center of the frame, that hook tends to hang up because itâ??s under so much tension.

I run a small diameter wire loop through the top of the frame, latch the hook to it and simply pull the hook into position and in the process compress the springâ??the entire assemble slides into place with easeâ??cut the wire loop and then latch the hook.

If you donâ??t want to make a tool, I highly recommend this method.



Vern

[shadow]

Vern

Here are photos of the original tools that I copied.
Let me know how your tool works when you try it.

Chris

[shadow]

I was bored tonight so I decided to make a video of the installation tool in action. Enjoy.

Here is the link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjIXIielj8Q



Chris

[John Sabato]

Chris, what is the filetype for the video... it is slightly out of focus, but very well illustrates the use of such a tool for mainspring replacement and I am sure it will be helpful to all members who wish to do so... If you post a direct link to the video or email it to me, I will post it permanently on the forum for all to use... the location where you posted it will eventually delete the file...

[shadow]

John,

The file was recorded on my cell phone and is in 3GPP2 format. I copied the file to my computer and can view it with Quicktime.

I tried to email the file to you but your profile does not allow e-mail from this forum.


If you send me a PM with your e-mail address I will send the file to you.
The file is 1.2MB.

If you are willing to wait a week I will redo this with a better camera and a real tripod.

I am on vacation until next Tuesday (Gettysburg PA then College Park, MD)

Thanks,

Chris

[Luke]

Chris,

Good start . . . . and could be very helpful to others. Hope you are able to make a better video for the Forum reference area. Would be helpful if you could add audio.

Thanks for your help.

Luke

[Alx]

Here is a method of mainspring installation that might be novel. With the usual methods, the hardest part is the spring compression, and maybe not getting hurt.
This method is SAFE, easy, and takes no special tools.
Before installing the spring or guide in the frame, I assembled them to a compressed state by this method.
I placed the guide inside the mainspring, and by hand, hooked the end over the nearest coil inside the spring. Then using a jeweler's file handle, screwdriver shaft, or similar thin rod to turn or hold the guide rod's plug end, and gripping the spring with my hand, (for tender hands, you could use gloves or a piece of leather,) I worked the guide hook up the spring coils, rotating the spring and working the hook up the coils as it were threading a screw. It became difficult near the top, but by making sure the spring and guide were rotating at the bottom where the plug is, and alternating with moving the hook slowly at the top until it had come to the top of the spring and the entire spring was compressed under the guide rod's hook. The hook keeps the spring comressed by degrees this way, and avoids the potential damage to skin or eyes of a sudden release of compressed tension from an untrapped spring.


> > > > > > turn the screwdriver / guide rod, while holding the spring



> > > > > > a few more turns....


Then it was easy to place the spring and guide assembly inside the frame without fighting the spring, positioning the hook to nearly contact its home on the lever. Turn the gun upside down on its ears, on a smooth hard surface that will not mar the frame finish. Now with a stiff metal rod, ( that jewelers screwdriver shaft works well ) inserted into the guide rod's plug end hole, push the guide rod a bit more comressed, and manouver the hook onto the lever. Making sure the hook stays hooked on the lever slowly release pressure on the guide rod until everything settles into place correctly.