When Triumph Turns to Tragedy

[Bull]

Ok ok, the thread title is a bit dramatic. But this feels tragic to me.

Some of you might remember the old Fleet ratchet I won earlier in the week. Well, it arrived today from CA, must have been shipped on the back of a lightning bolt.

I was so excited to play with it, I took it apart to clean and lube. A design I'm not familiar with, with two metal "paddles" and two small springs for the selector assembly. Well, I am moments away from finishing the reassembly, about to put the top cover on, when one springs just silently pops out of the head and rockets over my left shoulder. I have spent about 40 minutes carefully surveying the area, looking on, in and under everything in the general direction of its flight. No dice.

I'm so bummed right now. Unless I can find a substitute spring, then my ***** move will sideline this cool old ratchet that is otherwise ready to work and play!

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

Sorry to hear that. On the plus side you have an excuse to buy a new tool.

-BWP

 

[davestlouis]

That's a pisser. I haven't done that yet, but I'm sure the time will come when a part disappears.

 

[Bull]

I have a cheaper version of a magnet sweeper...no wheels, you just drag it along. I was using a small telescoping magnet tonight. I'm not even sure if the spring is magnetic, though!

 

[Junkman]

Have faith that it will show up, and it will be in the last place that you look. I dropped a part once, and it was more than 12 years later that I found the missing part. I had given up, and thrown out the tool just a couple of years before. It is not lost, it is temporally missing...

 

[Bull]

Don't say it, Junk! I can't wait that long. This thing felt so nice...I guess I have to totally rip apart the part of the basement where this happened (more than I already did) and go through it with a fine toothed comb. Ugh.

 

[Junkman]

I'd suggest a magnet, rather than a comb. It is a steel spring, not a hair......

 

[nordstar]

I know how you feel Bull, I have sent many steel balls, springs, e clips and the like flying across the room before. I hate little things that are so small but have so much stored energy.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Well, I am moments away from finishing the reassembly, about to put the top cover on, when one springs just silently pops out of the head and rockets over my left shoulder. I have spent about 40 minutes carefully surveying the area, looking on, in and under everything in the general direction of its flight. No dice.

Why weren't you doing this in a "clean room?!"

 

[Bull]

Why weren't you doing this in a "clean room?!"

I'm still new to this...was not familiar with the fact that this spring might take off...I thought it was wedged in place pretty good.

 

[Paladin]

Oh Bull! I wish I'd have thought to warn you! I had fun with my Penen's twin of that ratchet. I had one of the springs launch as well but fortunately it was like slow-motion and I saw where it landed. Once you take it apart and put it together a couple time it's a breeze. Take the other spring to a hardware store and start your search. You'll find a suitable substitute. Good luck!

 

[Bull]

Based on the pic, is this the kind of spring that be found at a hardware store or something?

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1AH62

-BWP

 

[Bull]

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1AM20

-BWP

The springs in that kit sure look the same...some of the other parts look similar, too.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

The springs in that kit sure look the same...some of the other parts look similar, too. What type of ratchets do those model numbers on the page correspond to?

I goofed, I re-edited my post. This one should work for you.

These are for PROTOs

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1AH62

-BWP

 

[Bull]

The more recent one you list is for 3/8 drive, and this is a 1/2 inch ratchet. Not sure if that matters for the pawl springs, though.

Now, one thing is that that kit costs more than the whole ratchet, shipped. Maybe I can see if I can find a spring separate....

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I'm still new to this...was not familiar with the fact that this spring might take off...I thought it was wedged in place pretty good.

I'm just messin' with you. I'm sure I would've made the same mistake.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

Hmmm... Get out your micrometer and try this....

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ww...nementSearch&originalValue=spring&L1=Springs,

-BWP

 

[Paladin]

Based on the pic, is this the kind of spring that be found at a hardware store or something?

Great artwork Bull! Find an old hardware store that has a good spring selection. There has to be something similar to that spring.

Edited to say: Good idea Blacknwhitepit! I didn't even think of Grainger.

 

[Nuit Damnant]

looks like a spring you would find in a cheapie plastic flashlight to ground the batteries....just a thought.

 

[700PSS]

Long time lurker, first time poster here.
I'm a avid cyclist and the spring looks identical to the ones found on bicycle wheel quick releases (Skewers)
I'm not sure if they are the same tension but you may want to take a look at something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/6-Conical-Quick...or-Silver_W0QQitemZ160312211606QQcmdZViewItem

If the link doesn't work, its ebay item number 160312211606

Good luck

 

[Bull]

Thanks for the help, guys, I'll keep you posted!

Paladin, on a much more important note than my dumb spring issue, who are the men listed in your signature?

 

[rsanter]

empty the shop vac and clean it out well.
start vacuming and see what you come up with

bob

 

[Bull]

Thanks for coming out of the shadows and posting! They do look the same. Cheap enough to try, and if they work, then I'll have extras. I can't tell from the pic...they are quite small, right?

Long time lurker, first time poster here.
I'm a avid cyclist and the spring looks identical to the ones found on bicycle wheel quick releases (Skewers)
I'm not sure if they are the same tension but you may want to take a look at something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/6-Conical-Quick...or-Silver_W0QQitemZ160312211606QQcmdZViewItem

If the link doesn't work, its ebay item number 160312211606

Good luck

 

[Paladin]

Thanks for the help, guys, I'll keep you posted!

Paladin, on a much more important note than my dumb spring issue, who are the men listed in your signature?

Two of my friends from my last unit. We lost them to an IED north of Taji, Iraq. I promised their wives I would never forget them. Two of the best guys you could have ever met. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about them or that night.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jlnorton.htm
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/brian-mcelroy.htm

 

[700PSS]

Thanks for coming out of the shadows and posting! They do look the same. Cheap enough to try, and if they work, then I'll have extras. I can't tell from the pic...they are quite small, right?

I actually have an old skewer laying on my desk...the spring base is about 10mm in diameter and its about 10mm long. The small end is approx. 7.5mm

Stop by any bicycle shop and tell them you need a couple of skewer springs, they will probably give you a handful for free.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

While i was looking, I noticed Grainger had this set designed for a 1/2 drive on clearance for $3.95.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1AM26

-BWP

 

[jerryW]

Same spring is used in proto and similar style ratchets. Fins a chinese copy at a swap and use the spring until you can finsd a USA replacement.


jerry

 

[Bull]

Ah, man. That hurt to read the link and look at the pics. Thanks for sharing them with me.

My brother was a career AF guy.

Two of my friends from my last unit. We lost them to an IED north of Taji, Iraq. I promised their wives I would never forget them. Two of the best guys you could have ever met. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about them or that night.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jlnorton.htm
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/brian-mcelroy.htm

 

[Paladin]

Ah, man. That hurt to read the link and look at the pics. Thanks for sharing them with me.

My brother was a career AF guy.

I'm glad to share the memory of Brian and Jason with any one that will listen. That's really the only way I know to honor their sacrifice. To be sure we don't forget them. Thank you for your interest!

 

[Bull]

I'm glad to share the memory of Brian and Jason with any one that will listen. That's really the only way I know to honor their sacrifice. To be sure we don't forget them. Thank you for your interest!

You're welcome. I am keenly interested in the lives of people who gave all for their country or their ideals.

 

[billymade]

Bull, go to bed and in the morning, look for it again! I have found time and time again; I will find something like that spring or a small ball bearing the next day! Many times through being tired, frustrated and burned out; you lose your ability to "see" or look objectively! Good luck... I couldn't find a ball bearing or spring and the next morning, I found it right away!

 

[mbatarga]

You don't mention where you were rebuilding the ratchet - and what type of floor the room has. I've had great success shining a flashlight at floor level and kneeling down looking for shadows/highlights of items dropped or lost. You might want to try that if the floor is a hard surface.

 

[fatfillup]

Bull, I am a man of faith and bumbling fingers. When I drop a part and don't see it right away, I ask God to help me and He always does, so pray man, pray.

To everyone else, I am so impressed at the help extended to Bull by this forum for a spring, (enjoy the ribbing too) that I'm just very happy to have found you guys. What a great bunch folks to be associated with in spite of our addictions.

 

[Kevin54]

One way to make it easier to find what you dropped is to take the spring that you have left and set it where you think the other one may have went. It may sound ridiculous, but it will implant the image in your mind what you are exactly looking for. I work in a toolroom that has many shavings, etc on the floor. Sometimes we lose springs, small ball bearings and such. I've taught a couple of guys to do this and they can find the part everytime. Also if the floor is clean enough, get down and look across the floor instead of standing looking down.

 

[old salvage]

There are some good suggestions here and it is for threads like this that this board is perhaps my favorite on the entire internets.
Anyway I've lost a few tiny parts in my filthy, super cluttered, dark, basement.
I had good success going to ground level and carefully sweeping with a dustpan and brush. Sweep very slowly and every few feet check inside the pan. I've found tiny springs and dull steel balls this way. A couple were almost 10 feet from my workbench.
Good luck.

 

[beelsr]

internets? How many other ones are out there????

what i've found works best is getting down to ground level and looking across the floor, rather than straight down at it. Looking across the floor lets you see things sitting proud on the surface...

There are some good suggestions here and it is for threads like this that this board is perhaps my favorite on the entire internets.
Anyway I've lost a few tiny parts in my filthy, super cluttered, dark, basement.
I had good success going to ground level and carefully sweeping with a dustpan and brush. Sweep very slowly and every few feet check inside the pan. I've found tiny springs and dull steel balls this way. A couple were almost 10 feet from my workbench.
Good luck.

 

[ahaidet]

Not sure of the scale of that spring these might all be too big.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#compression-and-die-springs/=dz63a

McMaster is one of the best for finding hardware. They show all kinds of dimensions to help you get the right one.

Another great resource for small parts.. aptly named too www.smallparts.com

link of compression springs below, not sure if they have conical ones though but if you put in the dimensions you know it might narrow it down they have 48 pages of springs.

http://www.smallparts.com/b/1641383...lass,availability,review-rating,date,is_prime

Good luck

 

[Frank Elson]

Hope you find it.

For jobs like that in the future, try taking them apart inside a washing up bowl or clean bucket. Amazing how often they stay inside.

 

[caper]

If you have an industrial supply place who deals in proto nearby I'd stop in and see if they have any kits hanging around.Lots of times they'll rebuild a ratchet and the old parts get thrown in a box to wait for the rep to come in and give them credit for the used kits.If there's a half decent guy behind the counter he might give you one of the old springs.Sure looks like a proto copy ratchet,springs are probly the same.