Mainspring

Brutus

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I have a broken mainspring for a smaller sized revolver single action. Is it advisable to get this back into action by having the two broken pieces welded together?
It was made possibly 1888 so this spring is unattainable in the modern market as it never was replicated since date of manufacture.
 
I have a broken mainspring for a smaller sized revolver single action. Is it advisable to get this back into action by having the two broken pieces welded together?
It was made possibly 1888 so this spring is unattainable in the modern market as it never was replicated since date of manufacture.
Anything is possible but it would also requie proper tempering to avoid breaking again. What make/model of gun is it? Dixie Gun Works in the U.S. has lots of parts for obsolete guns.
 
I have a broken mainspring for a smaller sized revolver single action. Is it advisable to get this back into action by having the two broken pieces welded together?
It was made possibly 1888 so this spring is unattainable in the modern market as it never was replicated since date of manufacture.

CGN member Gunhog specializes in flat spring fabrication for problems like this.
PM sent with his contact information.
 
I have never welded a main spring but have owned a couple or 3 guns that had welded springs in them and none of them were any good . I currently have a lifter from a 97 shotgun that has a "brazed" spring in it...it wont even bring the hammer up to the firing pin let alone fire a primer.

Haveing a new spring made is the only remedy I would recommend for your gun.
 
They must be properly heat treated afterwards. Heat to red hot with propane flame and restore the shape of spring. Once your happy with the shape hang it from a wire and heat to red hot on the entire spring. Quench in canola oil. Raise the spring out of the oil and with a lighter get it burning the oil at the bottom and allow it to burn off completely. On very large springs allow them to cool as slow as possible or at the very least keep it out of the wind. With smaller springs, dip again in the oil and burn it off with a lighter and cool slowly. Once cool u can buff it clean and reassemble the gun. I’ve done this enough times that I am confident this method will work for anyone.
 
You got a digital Caliper and are able to measure the width and thickness?

I have a stack of already tempered Spring Material here and can shove a couple pieces in the mail.

It's a little chewy to work with, but will file OK.

Another option (and likely a better one) is to hit up the Rabbi (he still around?)for a coil spring, and make a guide for it to substitute it for the flat mainspring, if at all possible. Worth looking at a single shot Cooey Shotgun or similar to pick up the gist of it.

Hmmm... A quick look around the interwebs and it looks like a pretty basic flat spring. About any spring that is the same (more or less) length width, and thickness, can be modified to work. For the bends, screw a stack of washers on to a board, place another screw to hook the spring around, and then push it around until it takes a bend you like. Won't hurt the spring. This is exactly how almost every spring out there is made these days, the material comes already hardened and tempered, and the springs are formed accounting for the spring back when they are shaped.

Rounding over the end to fit the notch in the butt is a piece of cake.
 
I have a broken mainspring for a smaller sized revolver single action. Is it advisable to get this back into action by having the two broken pieces welded together?
It was made possibly 1888 so this spring is unattainable in the modern market as it never was replicated since date of manufacture.

Maybe yes and maybe no and probably no,
depending on where the break is. The welded spring would have to be retempered by heating red hot and quenching in water then the temper drawn in molten lead to 720 F to 740 F using a high temperature thermometer. I would be far better to have one built as a previous poster has suggested

cheers mooncoon
 
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