Best tool to remove this spring?

[tommydog35]

I need to replace a spring the same as the one in the photo. It's inside a welded door panel, so will need something quite long to reach it. If I can do it in situ, it means I won't have to disassemble / remove all the lock mechanism, and it will save me time. I thought about using a pick, but I think I would like more control than a pick offers, plus if the spring fall's it will be a pain to recover. The spring is only about 20mm long, so I need something quite intricate, but long at the same time. Are there special pliers for small springs? Does anyone have any links for tools that may be useful?

 

[The Cobbler]

no tips on tooling but wrap a pc of wire thru the spring loosley so if it does pop, you done lose it

 

[LXCam]

Just yesterday I made a tool that would work perfect for that. Pro tool has a set of picks that are about 9" long and not too small in diameter or too big. I took the one that had the 90 degree end and heated it red hot then bent in over. Then I went over to the belt grinder and ground down the tip so I was left with only about 3/16" return with a 1/8" inside diameter of the bend. I used it to reach thru a spark plug boot to pull the crimp assembly in, worked like a champ.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Can you reach in and grab it with a pair of long nose vise grips?

 

[tommydog35]

Can you reach in and grab it with a pair of long nose vise grips?

I think they are too large for this job. I would have though surgeons / vets must have some nice tools for intricate work?

 

[firworks]

Just yesterday I made a tool that would work perfect for that. Pro tool has a set of picks that are about 9" long and not too small in diameter or too big. I took the one that had the 90 degree end and heated it red hot then bent in over. Then I went over to the belt grinder and ground down the tip so I was left with only about 3/16" return with a 1/8" inside diameter of the bend. I used it to reach thru a spark plug boot to pull the crimp assembly in, worked like a champ.

This is probably the best bet. Picks are sort of a tool blank that you can shape into whatever you need! You'd need longer ones but I've bought the little orange handle sets of picks from HF to modify and make specialty re-pinning tools for automotive connectors. They're strong and work great and save literally hundreds of dollars. Find some long ones and get to work shaping exactly what you need.

 

[LXCam]

Do you need to pull or push it off. If pushing it off I have a couple flat blade screwdrivers I ground a grove into the tip for just such occasions. Just make sure the shank is strong enough not to flex on you.

OP, if you want PM your number and I'll text you a picture of what I made yesterday.

 

[snyder]

Tie a loop in a piece of weed trimmer line and feed it down through the window slot.
Hook it over the spring and lift up and off.

 

[dfiler2]

I just used a tool 20 min ago that might work. I was flipping a steak, I use the one that's bent at a 90 at the end.

http://www.simplygoodstuff.com/pigt...wG5hMSBCSj1nKEnER8bxc6AhdtxV-29IaAgv0EALw_wcB

 

[PassnThru]

To reduce tension on the spring extend it as much as you can and slide coins in between the windings.

 

[Bighead38]

What about the extra long double hinge needle nose?

 

[LXCam]

To reduce tension on the spring extend it as much as you can and slide coins in between the windings.

I gotta say I'm not a young fugger and I've never heard or ever thought about doing that, but that's a damn good idea for certain types of springs

 

[dfiler2]

To reduce tension on the spring extend it as much as you can and slide coins in between the windings.

I like that idea, that will probably come in handy some day.

 

[Greeny]

To reduce tension on the spring extend it as much as you can and slide coins in between the windings.

Genius and so simple. Love it!

I was thinking 12" locking hemostats.

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-locking-clamp-94952.html

 

[PassnThru]

It's handy for return springs. Open fully and insert coins - close in a controlled fashion and many springs will just fall off for you no matter how tight they were to start with.

 

[holdover]

if the PIC shows access I think a brake spring tool would work. The one with the hooks at both ends, one of them looking like a pig tail

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ind...941039?hash=item4d586bcaaf:g:~ZcAAOSwSypZAJmS

 

[slip knot]

One trick I learned many years ago is that 1/8 in 7018 welding rods make great picks. beat the flux off with a hammer and heat/bend/grind/shape it however you want. its tough and stout. I've got some that are 20+ yrs old and not even rusty.

If you want to get fancy get some 3m weatherstrip adhesive and glue a strip of vac tubing for a handle.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

I took a really long screwdriver and ground a notch in it for the exauhst springs on my sled and it worked great the notch really helped when you need to reinstall the spring.

 

[thebreeze2012]

A shoe lace, or small piece of rope works great if you have room.


I like the idea of the coins, never heard of that.

 

[ricleh]

I used to use these tools when working on teletypes in the '70's. Very good for removing and installing small springs in confined spaces.
Spring Hook

 

[fredtech]

I think this tool may work.
https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/731/3028/Tusk-Exhaust-Spring-Tool

 

[firworks]

I used to use these tools when working on teletypes in the '70's. Very good for removing and installing small springs in confined spaces.
Spring Hook

Those are very cool and look really handy. I think I'll order a couple for the future. Never know when they'll save the day.

 

[ricleh]

This might work for you too.

Snapon long mini hook

 

[gungatim]

LGR!

 

[wssix99]

I was thinking 12" locking hemostats.

I've tried hemostats for this type of thing and the jaws break. (The pulling force is just too much for a spring.)

I like the idea of having a pull wire to grab the spring if it falls. I use extra long needle nose pliers for things like this.

 

[tommydog35]

To reduce tension on the spring extend it as much as you can and slide coins in between the windings.

That's a really great tip. I could put a few coins in there and then just fit the spring in place with some medical pliers. This would save having to mess about gripping the spring to tension it in a limited space. It would also remove the tension from delicate surgical pliers, which may not be heavy duty enough to overcome the power of the spring.

 

[Pathfinders]

I used to use these tools when working on teletypes in the '70's. Very good for removing and installing small springs in confined spaces.
Spring Hook

Used them on the UGC 74 more than once. Do you still have a set of tuning forks?

 

[B.Boru]

''''

 

[B.Boru]

''''

 

[619DioFan]

If you have the room the tool used to remove drum brake shoe extension springs would work well.

 

[ryan20021982]

Use an old large head flat blade screwdriver and cut a slit in the middle and use it to push the bottom of the spring off, I have 2 different lengths of these that I use just for springs. They come in handy if you have recessed lights to put the spring covers back on after cleaning or changing bulbs.

 

[rburke65]

I was also thinking of the brake shoe spring tool.

 

[ricleh]

Used them on the UGC 74 more than once. Do you still have a set of tuning forks?

Never worked on a UGC 74. I believe they came along after I left the military in 1975. I worked primarily on Teletype Corporation Model 28 and Model 33 units (ASR, KSR and RO models). I also worked on some Nixdorf ****. Never used a tuning fork. The Model 28 machines had hundreds of springs and a couple thousand moving parts. They were built like tanks. They ran continuously until parts broke or wore out and then we would fix them and put them back in service. The Model 33 was a much less robust machine than the Model 28, but still much better than the Nixdorf portable machines I worked on.

 

[gungatim]

interesting someone else knows what a teletype is (was). we had one in our basement forever, it was a green WU model 15 I believe. had a big RF box underneath for the receiving, I think it was an add on (modem?). the tuning forks were for speeding the motors up due to British ones being a different baud rate during wwII (what I have read).

interesting tidbit of trivia, development of reusing these machines for the deaf is what led to the invention of closed-captioning we now have on televisions...

sorry to go off topic!

 

[torqueman2002]

My friend, an IBM tech, gave me one of these (G, in pic) that works v well on springs.

Crawford Tool 25006 Spring Hook "IBM Style" Push/Pull 8"
Crawford Tool 25006 Spring Hook has Pull Hook on one end and Push Fork on the other.

http://www.crawfordtool.com/springhooks2.html

 

[blacksporty]

Motorcycle exhaust spring tool.

 

[engineer2]

Google "hood hinge spring tool"

 

[Abeo]

I think this tool may work.
https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/731/3028/Tusk-Exhaust-Spring-Tool

I have something like that, made from metal coat hanger. Hooks at each end, one to grab onto the spring, one to clamp with vice grips. Works great for my motorcycle exhaust springs.

I'd make one that was really long, so that you wouldn't have to fit a bulky tool in the door... as long as you can reach the spring end-on

 

[rayra]

automotive drum brake spring removal tool is built SPECIFICALLY for that sort of spring handling.

 

[tommydog35]

I made a little pick from some old scrap which clamped round the body of the spring. I then put washers in the spring to extend it. Using this method it was really easy to line it up on the vehicle and once lined up I just used another pick to pull the washers out. Thanks for the tips guys, as it made the job really easy.

Here is a picture of the pick with the washers in the spring:

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