Expert: William J Perkins - 12/13/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi I have purchased a 1880's clock that has the mainsprings in a barrel. I have never attempted to remove large springs from a barrel before. I see items described as spring retainers can be purchased. If this is what I need, can they be used with any clock mainspring winder?  Thank you for your assistance.  Jeff

ANSWER: A spring winder is needed to remove/replace springs contained in barrels.  Jerking a defective mainspring from a barrel is not to bad, but, feeding a spring into a barrel by hand is time consuming and dangerous.  As far as spring retainers are concerned, they are nice, but not essential.  A piece of bailing wire will serve admirably and will fit into smaller places than will a retainer.  Hope this helps you.  Regards WJP

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your response. Would not the wire used to keep the mainsp. get in the way once you tried to put the mainsp. back in to the barrel?  Thanks  Jeff

Answer
You use the wire to contain the power of the spring.  Once you have the spring in its correct position, one end hooked to the winding arbor and the other to the clock, you wind the spring until the wire is loose, then simply cut it away.  By this procedure the force of the spring is always under your control.  Regards WJP