Clockwork spring repair

It seems like it needs a new spring.    These are antiques now.    I have an off the wall thought.   Take it to a clock repair guy and see if he first find a matching spring and then repair it.    I know there are guys around here that rebuild antique clocks with mechanisms that big.

Sounds like a good idea @prrjim. I’ll look into some clockwork repairmen around me. I only know of a few so I might have to send it off for repair.

                                                    Trainfam

It would be nice to find one you could go to and talk to.    That  you could explain what you need and what it supposed to do directly rather than through the mail.

There is an Ives Facebook page. Maybe someone there can help you.

It would be easy for a clock maker to fix or replace the spring as they came in many sizes for antique spring driven clocks which i own a few.

Clockmaker should be able to replace that spring that you circled what the cost would be is anyones guess. You may be able to replace that spring yourself but please make sure that the mainspring has all tension released as they hold a tremendous amount of tension.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I’ll have to do some digging as there are not too many clockwork repair workers (that I know of, at least) that I live around. I’m sure I’ll find one eventually. I’ll also do some talking with people in the Ives community. Surely they will have some light too shed.

Might also want to post in the tinplate section - several clockwork guys there.

Are you saying you assist the spring a little and then it holds the switch the way it is supposed to?  If so, shorten the spring just a little and see if that works or works a little better.  If a little better but still not there, shorten it a little more.  It can't hurt at this point.  I am certain someone has been playing with that spring as there is no way it is original with all the little bends in it.    Jp

Failing to find this spring on the Tinplate forum, you can get an assortment of extension springs on Amazon for $10-$15.  Measure the compressed length and diameter of the spring.  If it is one of these dimensions, it is in the assortment: 9/32’’ x 1/2’’, 13/64’’ x 13/16’’, 3/8’’ x 5/8’’, 5/16’’ x 1-1/8’’, 1/4’’ x 13/32’’, 7/32’’ x 1’’, 3/8’’ x 3/4’’, 7/32’’ x 11/16’’, 1/4’’ x 7/8’’, 5/16’’ x 1-27/32’, 11/32’’ x 1-27/32’’, 5/16’’ x 1-3/4’’, 9/32’’ x 2’’, 5/32’’ x 3-1/8’’, 23/64’’ x 1-3/8’’, 3/16’’ x 1-3/4’, 7/32’’ x 1- 1/2’’, 9/32’’ x 1- 1/2’’, 9/32’’ x 3/4’’, 11/32’’ x 1- 7/16’.

A clockmaker, if you can find one, wouldn’t have this type of spring.

James @WindupGuy should be able to get you going.  There's a couple windup groups on facebook also.

I agree with JP. Try cutting 1/8 “ off or each end and forming a new bend on each end.

Hey everyone,

@Bill Sherry here’s a more in depth description. The only way I can get the spring to work is if I pull the switch up way high. If I let go of it, the spring will not work at all. The spring has most likely been tempered with so I’m not too afraid to mess with the spring. If the spring doesn’t work after I mess with it I’ll bring it to a clock guy or @WindupGuy here on the forum.

                                               Trainfam