JPG - Wow, I'm afraid I just don't follow. My spring has a separate little piece of similar spring metal that it catches in turn on and that catches on the screw head (or similar item) sticking out of the shaft. Oh, I think you describe making a spring that doesn't have that piece end up working somewhat like this, where it catches automatically.
You can see that separate piece in the photo...
RPD - I'm not having trouble getting the spring case and spring back on the shaft and engaging - that is going fine (and I've done it a bunch as I messed around and cleaned it). I was thinking of taking the spring all the way out to clean it. I appreciate the link nonetheless.
I ended up compressing the spring (on the shaft) to separate the layers and squirted mineral spirits in to flush out the dirt, stopping when dirt no longer came out. I hair dried it with the spring tightened again to try to ensure I got the MS out.
I will certainly get some silicone lube for this and follow your lead, Bill. Why not use it elsewhere? Does it stay tacky? I do know it can wreck havoc with wood finishes.
RBursek - I think I'm very much a mutt. Irish for that name, I think. Never was able to learn any family history, really bugs me that I couldn't. Not even sure why. Probably some horrid dark story of family betrayal or some such that made them not talk about the past 🙂 OK, probably not. My folks moved out west before I was born and travel was too costly so the family was separated from the larger extended family back east wherever. Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, etc.
