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HOW I DO………
CLOCK MAINSPRING REPLACEMENT & SERVICE
By Lindsay Bramall, Jan. 2011
Open and enclosed mainsprings.
TOOLS.
Let-down keys
Open mainspring clamps
English style mainspring winders.
Barrels below 30mm ID
Barrels 30mm to 60 mm ID
Mainspring winders offer safe, controlled manipulation of mainsprings and do not induce “coning” as does winding in/out of barrels by hand.
Lock
Winding arbor
Spring outer end clamp
Clamp bar
Winder locked to hold the wound up
mainspring whilst a barrel is removed or
replaced.
Unlocked and free to rotate for winding and de-winding
springs
Lathe as a mainspring winder.
( Another method for open springs )
Well used heavy leather
glove.
Spring cleaning
board
Hole punchGas torch
Step 1.
“LETTING DOWN” THE MAINSPRING
Remove the click spring and fit the let-down key
Hold the movement, take the spring force with the key and
let the power down.
Fit the let-down key and wind up the spring until….
….the clamp drops on.
With the spring tension under the control of the hand held let-down key,
release the click spring and click and….
….let the spring down into the clamp.
Springs secured and removed from
the movement
Springs ready to remove for cleaning or replacement.
Step 2.
REMOVING THE MAINSPRING( DE-WINDING )
a. Enclosedb. Open
Firmly lock the winder in a bench
vice.
Mainspring inner hook
Clamp for spring outer end.
“Safe mode” lock
a. Enclosed mainsprings ( de-winding )
Present the mainspring and engage the inner hole on the winder arbor hook
Grip the barrel tightly and wind up the
mainspring until the outer coil can be seen on
the barrel hook.
Drop the clamp bar into the top of the winder and insert the open clamp tongue into the outer coil about 20mm from the hook. Tighten the clamp to grip the spring.
All spring force is now being taken by the winder and the barrel may be removed.
The winding arbor is locked safely here
Clamp bar is locked securely by the two forks.
Barrel off and spring now ready to be de-wound.
Controlled unlocking of the winder and de-winding of the
mainspring.
Note the “coning” induced when this spring
was previously hand wound into the barrel !
b. Open mainsprings ( de-winding )
Engage the winder clamp adjacent to the
loop and insert the winding arbor and
hook the centre hole.
Spring now ready to be wound up to
release the mainspring clamp.
Winding arbor locked and the mainspring clamp removed.
All spring force now taken by the winder ready to de-wind.
Spring de-wound for servicing or discarding
Step 3.
SERVICING THE EXISTING, OR NEW, MAINSPRING BEFORE FITTING
Only use the old mainspring if it has not lost its strength or shape.
Thoroughly clean all mainsprings with solvent and for reuse of existing springs clean with fine steel wool or 2000 grit “wet & dry” paper, then clean with solvent.
Repair the end hole if required.
Punch a new hole and shape to suit the barrel hook
Punch & die
New end shaped to fit
the barrel hook
Step 4. SIZING THE MAINSPRING
• You cannot assume that the old spring was correct for the barrel.
• Measure the depth of the barrel from the cap lip to the bottom of the barrel. Subtract 0.5 to 1.0 mm to give the correct spring height.
• Use the “hundredth rule” to estimate the spring gauge.
ie. a barrel ID of 30 mm will use a 0.3 mm thick spring.
A 45mm ID barrel will need a 0.45mm thick spring.
• Measure the barrel ID. and the arbor OD. Using these measurements and the spring gauge calculate the spring length using :
(0.393 x ((bID x bID) - (aOD x aOD))) / sGauge
Mainspring calculatorI.xls
• Compare these measurements to the old spring.
• Order a new spring by:
Height x guage x length ( or barrel ID)
ie. 22 mm x 0.45mm x 1680mm ( 45mm ID )
Step 5.
REPLACING THE MAINSPRING
Smear the full length of the spring, the cleaned barrel interior and the barrel arbor
pivots with oil, then…simply reverse the removal processes.
WINDING OPEN SPRINGS DIRECTLY ONTO
( OR OFF ) THEIR ARBOR IN A LATHE.
Grip the arbor up against the wheel.
Engage the spring centre hole on the arbor hook and the outer loop on a
long rod in the tool holder.
Loop engaged on the rod in the tool post
Rotate the chuck by hand to wind the spring onto the
arbor.
Continue to rotate the chuck until the clamp
will fit over the spring, then let go of the chuck and the spring will run back into the clamp.
Withdraw the rod and the spring is now ready
to refit to the movement.
SIMPLE ISN’T IT ?
These are my methods, however, there are many others, equally as good.
This is the most dangerous operation in clock repair so have good tools, safe methods and keep the eyes and
mind focused on the job.
Things can go awfully wrong in a split second !!!