Source for itsy-bitsy-teenie plunger spring

yorgi

yorgi

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Screwed-up and lost a mini plunger coil spring off an Italian O/U, a Sabatti to be exact.

The bottom ejector was not working, so I tried disassembling the ejector to see if the ejector spring was broken and needed replacing. Turns out that the whole ejector mechanism was never cleaned, so significant gorilla-like pressure was needed to remove the ejector trip part. In the process, the tiny spring sprung and will never be found in amongst my workplace clutter...

Tried sourcing the mini spring from a couple of pens, wrong size, it's way too small. Can anyone suggest a source (gunsmithing or not) where I can pick one up? Thanks in advance.

Relative size of plunger and missing spring (obtained from second barrel)
Hg7mrR3.jpg


Plunger in position, ejector trip laying next to it
duh2k7t.jpg




Only found this video AFTER the screwup... Me at the 0.55 minute mark...

[youtube]nP2EAwVDBkE[/youtube]
 
Princess Auto. spring assortment pack. many many sizes you'll never use but a great variety and cheap!! maybe 150 springs for $3.00
 
Finding a spring comparable in physical size probably not to difficult, I can think of two that are easily ordered from the good side of the border, one being the "coil hand spring" used in Uberti SAA pistols (VTI) or the lever latch spring for a Marlin 1894 (Brownells) . The problem is going to be finding an "equal compression force" spring to the original.
 
In thousands of an inch - measure the diameter of the spring material, measure the diameter of coil (or the inside hole diameter in the plunger), measure the length of the spring... those measurements will help us help you.
 
guntech said:
In thousands of an inch - measure the diameter of the spring material, measure the diameter of coil (or the inside hole diameter in the plunger), measure the length of the spring... those measurements will help us help you.
Click to expand...

Diameter of spring material: 15/1000 "
Diameter of coil: 92/1000 "
Length of spring: 0.35 "

diopter said:
A commericial supplier I have used for work and home.
https://www.asraymond.com/products.html

Minimum qty.
Click to expand...

Thank you, will enquire.
 
yorgi said:
Diameter of spring material: 15/1000 "
Diameter of coil: 92/1000 "
Length of spring: 0.35 "
Click to expand...

Is the .092" the outside diameter of the coil? If that be the case, the ID must be .062 (about 1/16)".
How many equally spaced coils would there be per inch of length?
With that information, a person with some music wire, a lathe and some time could likely wind a replacement for you. It also might allow someone to match something up for you.
 
yorgi said:
Diameter of spring material: 15/1000 "
Diameter of coil: 92/1000 "
Length of spring: 0.35 "



Thank you, will enquire.
Click to expand...

They will likely ask how many coils.

Another option would be to wind your own.
Dig around online, and you can find the info you will need, it amounts to a smaller than the core diameter mandrel, something on the order of 50-55 thou, off the top of my head, and a means to wind it, as well as to hold friction and tension on the wire while you do, typically a wooden or wood and leather friction clamp that you run the mandrel in, and either squeeze or tighten with a screw.

Can use a crank (bent into the mandrel itself, commonly), or a drill press or metal lathe (powered, with the advantage of being able to reduce the speed).

Machine tool supply houses will have spring wire, but likely way more than you need. Check the hobby shops for what they call Music Wire, which is hard drawn, high carbon steel wire. May be able to buy in as little as 12 inch lengths.

This Old Tony video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAawhg6JtyY
 
I have two that might work, but are likely a smidge (highly technical term) too large. That BIC spring appears closer to what you need.
The first
OD 0.112"
ID 0.080"
Wire diameter 0.016" (calculated)
24 coils per inch

The second
OD 0.1136"
ID 0.086"
wire diameter 0.014" (calculated)
20 coils per inch

Send a PM with your address if one of them will work.
 
Thanks for all the help folks, three members have volunteered to help me out by mailing me the missing spring! Wow! Appreciate everyone's advice and time spent.
 
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