How do I rewind a drill press quill spring?

[larryq]

I purchased a quill spring for my vintage Canedy Otto drill press, and the dimensions were right on there-- 19mm wide and 0.7mm thick. The spring duly arrived, its outer diameter held with some twist wire to keep it compressed.

The problem was, the diameter of the spring as shipped was 62mm, and my case is more like 59-60 mm. No way to fit it in as-is. The shipper didn't wind the inner portion as much as they could have, or else it would have worked.

I was completely unable to externally compress the spring any further --it wasn't going to budge-- so I had no choice but to cut the wire around it and let it expand.

Now I need to wind it to 57-58mm instead of the 62mm it arrived at. Even with gloves I can't do it by hand, so is there an at-home way I can wind it tight and get it into the case? I'm not the first person to have this trouble I'm sure?

 

[930dreamer]

I had to do this an my Atlas DP, I want to say I hooked the spring tang on the rod going to the quill handle and turned the handle to wind the spring. Not 100% on this.

 

[larryq]

I had to do this an my Atlas DP, I want to say I hooked the spring tang on the rod going to the quill handle and turned the handle to wind the spring. Not 100% on this.

I thought about this, hooking the spring on the handle in the normal way then turning the handle to compress / wind it, but some thoughts came to mind:

How do I hold the other end of the spring, in order to compress it while turning the handle, and:

How do I then fit it into the case when it's compressed?

 

[txvwnut]

Get piece tube or round stock as close to the diameter quill shaft cut a slot in it and figure a way to hold the outside and twist away. Once to the OD you need wrap it in electrical tape, safety wire or a tie wrap(zip-ty) and fit it in the case.

 

[jgrainger]

If you know a local clock repairer they will probably have a mainspring winding tool which hooks into the center of the spring. With the outside of the spring also held, a handle is used to turn the center of the spring so that it becomes coiled up.
A lathe could be used for the same purpose, with a mandrel for the inside of the spring (in the chuck) and a way of clamping the outside of the spring to the toolpost.
Watch springs (and I'm guessing clock springs) come pre-wound in a metal washer allowing them to be contained until part way in place, if the standard size is fine etc.

It can sometimes also be possible to wind a spring into place, starting with the outside. I'd not recommend it though, partly because a drill spring will be difficult to work with by hand, and because the spring will probably get twisted a bit in the process.