Installing Squidder AR dog/spring- my head plate does not match tutorial???

[thorhammer]

See head plate; there is a pin in my head plate and also in the damaged head plate I transferred guts from. The tutorial has a molded recess for the dog spring (same dog/spring in my reel). How does the spring seat in this style head plate?


thanks,

John

[thorhammer]

see the pin. These are black plates so presumably more recent than Alan's marroon in the tutorial. NOT change for the better. I tried to seat on thje pin. terrible.

[alantani]

i wonder if a jigmaster style spring would work. 

[Alto Mare]

i wonder if a jigmaster style spring would work. 

I'm sure it would, but he would need to install a short post on the dog, so the spring would stay in place.
I've repaired these before, but can't find a pic. a post is actually better than the original.

Sal

[PacRat]

This one likely requires a leaf spring. I think I have one like it but it will be a while before I can dig it out and shoot some pics.
Also look here: http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=30.30
There's a post from rednecktailg8ter where he has photos of one that may have been modified to use a coil spring instead of a leaf but there aren't a lot of details.
-Mike

[RTT]

John

I pulled my black head plate Squidder and found it to be as described in the tutorial.  Sorry I can't be of more help.

Ray

[PacRat]

Here's some pics. I've never had a lot of faith in this AR spring. Thanks for giving me a reminder to have a second look. It's hard to see in the photos but if you look carefully the post looks damaged. I'm guessing corrosion. The spring is also weak but I'm hesitant to improve the spring without first improving the post. I'm hoping someone else jumps in with some good advice.
-Mike

[PacRat]

After opening my Squidder for the photos I decided to go ahead and replace the leaf spring. I discovered a new spring material. I scavenged it from an old vertical blind. It's stainless and it has a good spring-rate and memory. I cut it with light sheet metal shears but scissors would probably cut it also. I like this a lot better than what was in there when I took the photos. Time will tell.
-Mike

[oc1]

The old leaf springs were copper colored.  I always assumed it was just a strip of work hardened copper shim.  Folks used to hammer out a piece of copper wire to make one in a pinch. If it's too stiff then anneal it with a soft flame.

The style with the roach-turd-size coil spring and little nipple on the dog is more fool-proof in operation, but the spring is easy to loose.  Keep a glob of grease on it so it does not get away.

-steve

[Shark Hunter]

Penn dog springs are made of brass.
I finally found some stainless strips from windshield wiper inserts that work really well for my Senators.
Really springy once sanded down to about .040, I am liking the results.
The brass springs corrode and will break on a reel that has not had regular maintenance.

[Bryan Young]

I finally found some stainless strips from windshield wiper inserts that work really well for my Senators.
Really springy once sanded down to about .040, I am liking the results.

I knew I should have kept the wiper blades that I just through out for a reason.
Great idea to re-purpose old stuff.

[PacRat]

Daron, I thought I remembered reading something about using the wiper blade strips. I actually cut one but I only narrowed it in width but left it in its original thickness (no belt sander) which left it too stiff. That's when I saw the vertical blind parts sitting there so I gave it a try and I really like it. It's very flexy and it has a nice snap to it. The dog is much more audible but with less effort...if that makes sense. I'll leave it in a while then check it to see if any fatigue or memory sets in. I have a few extra pieces so if anyone is interested in trying some PM me and I'll send it.
-Mike

[Shark Hunter]

That is using your noggin' Mike.
I didn't have a belt sander either, but bought one just for sanding down these strips of stainless.
I have tried it in the past, but found it very time consuming with no belt sander having to shave the width and the thickness.
My old pickup uses 16" wiper blades. I buy the cheap wal mart brand. Supertech.
The strips in these wipers are the perfect width.

[thorhammer]

Folks, this is some great stuff and I appreciate it. where else but AT will folks go tear open their stuff to help a dude out. Loolng at the whole bit, I may have a couple of options:

-try to seat the roach turd spring as it came....no luck thus far
-fab a leaf spring to bend around the existing pin
-mic out a marroon plate (have several) for the recess dimensions as in tutorial. Build up a JB land around existing pin, dremel out recess for existing spring mounted in dog. I have the damaged plate to practice on.
-move the whole business to marroon plates

[Shark Hunter]

John,
I modified a long beach plate a while back to take a leaf spring. I think if you make a small cut to slide the spring in towards the jack spring. It will work.