Made spring for mid 30's/40's New Britain

[ganymede]

I was cleaning an old 3/8 drive Craftsman, and broke the spring when I went to reassemble.
It measured .024 with my mic so I grabbed the closest size piano wire I had (.025) , some needle nose pliers and I made a new one.
It actually worked but felt too soft so I made another one that looked better and it didn't work at all.
Got some .027 dia wire and made another and it works. It's got a little more ridgidity too.
Funny thing is I have no idea what makes one work and not the other.

From left to right..
The original spring now broken.
The first one I made that worked but felt soft.
The next one that I wanted to have a little more tension but didn't work at all.
The heavier wire version.

 

[ganymede]

Here's the inside . There's an older version that has a different kind of spring. It's got the same number of angles but two of them are coiled.
Not sure how I'd make one of those if I had too.

 

[ganymede]

The whole thing ..

 

[nickelTwin]

That turned out nice. I'll have to remember that.

 

[ganymede]

Thanks.
If it doesn't work make sure you try it with the bottom screw ( the one that goes through the shift lever) in place.