How NOT to use a Loop End Mainspring Winder

[@tonyturner7007]

I'm so pleased to have seen this. I'm off to the workshop now to make a proper one, I like my hands and eyes and prefer not to get scared.

[@hawkdl2]

I bought one off Ebay a few months ago and have been looking at it sitting on my work bench wondering how it worked and why everyone doesn't use one. I'm just a hobbyist like many others trying to avoid spending $300 on a winder I'll use maybe a half dozen times. This demonstration thoroughly convinced me to throw this weapon-of-self-destruction away and buy or build a better winder.

[@DavoShed]

That looked really difficult to use. I was peeking through my fingers at some points 🤠 Glad you didn’t get hit by it. I built my own winding tool. The frame was out of wood. I made a crank handle out of a piece of bar with another rod to hold it in place so I could let go of the crank. I had to fashion adapters and stuff to suit the springs I was working on but it wasn’t that hard. I had to unwind a loop end barrel spring but I should be able to adapt it to hole end springs as well. I didn’t want to buy a tool that cost more than the clock I was trying to fix. I didn’t make a video on it because I didn’t really know what I was doing 🤠 Maybe I will when I’m working on my next clock.

[@thebaron44]

Good to show others, as some have already replied, scrap metal. I also have an Ollie Baker I got some 40 + years ago...best ever but have made some changes to mine.

[@TF856]

Wow, I always wondered how to use a mainspring winder. I rebuilt clocks for many years and never used one.

[@samogilvie3922]

The best use of that tool is as a piece of scrap iron. I agree that all suppliers should discontinue this item. I have 2 of them and refuse to pass them on to the new folk. please avoid this things at all costs. All of the supplies offer various forms of mainspring winders and on the NAWCC forms Joe Collins offers free plans on how to make your own spring winder. Stay Safe! Sam

[@tomschulte2138]

I too own/use this mass-produced 'what'cha-ma-call it'. The price is right...but.... use it slowly with gloves & I protection. While we all want to save money, I strongly advise that you look into alternatives! Other: he did not secure the brass plate properly, and is also holding the mainspring without gloves....

[@BradfordNeedham]

Thanks for the tips. It's interesting to see the continuum from 'revivers' who just swish the whole movement in ammonia to get it running so they can sell it, all the way to conservators like Matthew Read (kzbin.info/door/LfoFiMrKYJHJZYIhE4t-9A), who preserve as much of the clock's history as possible.

[@StephenHutchison]

AAAAH you had your bare hand holding that spring whilst fussing with the click there.

[@BradfordNeedham]

I now have an "Ollie Baker Style Mainspring Winder". Soooooo much safer.

[@blenny47]

Line of destruction classic

[@markkinsler4333]

So, first: do not use a bogus Indian spring winder on a 31-day clock. Matter of fact, don't use that thing again, for anything. I know: everyone has purchased one of the fool things (I did, and I wish Timesavers would discontinue them) and they're universally reviled as dangerous. If you have open springs on the clock you can just use your let-down tool and let the springs down while they're still in the clock. You can re-wind them the same way. But in this case, you already had the springs in the clamps and needed to service the great wheels and the ratchets (clicks.) It would have been a lot easier to detach the clamped mainsprings from their arbors (you rotate the arbor in the direction that the spring unwinds until the arbor hook pops off) and leave the mainsprings in their clamps until you're done rebuilding the ratchets and staking everything properly. They'll go right back on and you're done. You might wish to visit the clock repair forum at nawcc.org. You can get your own account there and post any questions you might have (membership in nawcc is not required, and many people there don't have one.) You'll also find plans for building your own spring winder, which I recommend that you consider. It's a good group: nobody ever scorns beginners and everyone has something to contribute. Mark Kinsler [e-mail]

[@BradfordNeedham]

Thanks for all the helpful tips. I have joined NAWCC and their forums, which is vital for anyone learning clock repair. I've also ditched my Loop-end winder and bought an Ollie Baker Style one (which works sooooo much better!). I agree that the Nawcc forums are fantastically helpful. I've also managed to gently re-bend/re-shape the tension washer and securely snap it back onto its arbor, and the clock has been running on a test stand with no visible problems for 17 days so far - I'm happy with how this clock repair is going. needhamia.com/clock-repair-101-how-the-great-wheel-works/ I've also sworn off 31-day spring-driven clocks (after this one). I found plenty of warnings on the Nawcc forums about the strength of 31-day springs, and their danger to the unwary repairer. Thanks, again, Brad

[@markkinsler4333]

31-day Chinese and Korean clocks aren't too bad if you're ready for them. Their escapements seem to never wear out, and they've been sold very widely in the United States, at least. I've fixed several this year.