MAIN SPRING

[yip]

  just ordered a new main spring for a small siler lock, the spring is to weak and was wondering is there any way to put the strength back in the old spring, hate to just throw it away.

[rich pierce]

Lay the springs atop each other. See if the weak one is spread the same as the new one. See if the weak one is thinned compared to new one.

If they look the same I’m not sure you’ll see improvement with the new one. If it has taken a set it could be heated, spread, hardened, and tempered. That could work or fail depending on your experience, technique, and so on.

[jerrywh]

Maybe the spring wasn't tempered.  I never heard of a Siler spring being weak.

[yip]

 Jerrywh; maybe that's the problem, i bought this lock from a buddy the lock is in good shape and my friend told me the main spring is weak so i ordered a new one and was wondering IF there was a way to made it strong again, i hate to throw a good spring away

[bob in the woods]

I've never had that problem with a Siler spring, but have seen a couple of weak springs on Italian imports.  One I was able to retemper for a friend. The other instance was causing problems at a shooting match and we were able to help out by inserting a wood wedge in the spring, increasing the power .  It worked for the duration of the match. Not sure what happened after that.  That might an option until you receive your replacement spring.

[flinchrocket]

I would try the spring and see how weak it is before I ordered a new one. Then go from there.

[yip]

 FLINCHROCKET;I'VE  ALREADY ORDERED THE SPRING, NOW I'M WONDERING MAYBE ITS THE FRIZZEN BUT ITS SCRAPING NICELY. JUST AIN'T SPARKING. IT COCKS A LITTLE TO EASY.

[flinchrocket]

If you hit the frizzen with a file it should skate right across. If it cuts the frizzen is to soft.

[Ron Scott]

You have not described what characteristic of the lock had convinced you the spring is weak. Hard for folks to give advice without good details.

[yip]

  SEEMS EASY TO COCK, NO SPARK, FRIZZEN IS HARD FILE JUST SKATES  OFF. NEW FLINT, COCK THROWS THE FRIZZEN FORWARD.

[flinchrocket]

Well, your new spring should tell the tail. Then you can play with the old spring and see if you can restore the temper.

[P.W.Berkuta]

As I remember it the Siler flintlock or percussion kits come with the springs soft and you have to harden and temper them to get them to function properly. I would call Jim or Barbie to confirm this. If not you just might be getting an unharden and untempered spring and not know where you stand.

[flinchrocket]

The small Siler kit I used 2 years ago had the springs already tempered.( main, frizzen and sear)

[yip]

  I DID CALL CHAMBERS AND TELLED TO A YOUNG LADY BECAUSE JIM WASN'T THERE, SHE SAID THE MAIN SPRINGS COME HARDENED AND TEMPERED AND IF I RETURNED THE MAIN SPRING THEY WOULD REPLACE IT BUT I ORDERED ONE NOT KNOWING THAT. THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE AND HELPFUL. I WILL RETURN THE OLD ONE. I PLAN ON TALKING TO JIM ABOUT THE MATTER.

[Stoner creek]

  I DID CALL CHAMBERS AND TELLED TO A YOUNG LADY BECAUSE JIM WASN'T THERE, SHE SAID THE MAIN SPRINGS COME HARDENED AND TEMPERED AND IF I RETURNED THE MAIN SPRING THEY WOULD REPLACE IT BUT I ORDERED ONE NOT KNOWING THAT. THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE AND HELPFUL. I WILL RETURN THE OLD ONE. I PLAN ON TALKING TO JIM ABOUT THE MATTER.

The person that you spoke with is the best in the business.

[yip]

  i got my main spring today and there IS a difference ,now she sparks enclosed is a picture of the difference