replacing spring in hand assembly

[jimster]

How hard is it and what is involved in replacing just the flat spring in a hand assembly of a single action?
I have ordered another new hand assembly, and know how to fit this, but now have a few hands with broken springs stuck down in there, I would really like to know how to get out what's left of the old spring and put in just a new spring, as these hands are already fitted properly.  It would give me extra parts ready to drop in.  If this is something best left to a smith, maybe it would still be cheap to send these hands somewhere to have springs put in them?  I hate to waste the extra hands laying around.

Thanks

Jim

[trotterlg]

The only ones I have worked with have been pressed into an undersized slot.  Getting out the broken end without killing the hand will probably be the biggest trick.  You may have to build some tools to get it done right, something to lay it on with relief under the slot for the spring to fall into and a very thin punch.  Larry

[gunnut69]

An aluminum block with a relief cut would be my choice and a piece of spring steel flat stock hardened to a hard spring would work for a punch to drive the piece out. It may be a good idea to warm the part a bit before commencing with a heat gun. Won't alter the temper but a slot expansion couldn't hurt.. I saw in a gunsmith book once, but of course can't remember where, that it was possible to rplace the flat spring with a small coil spring. Compression spring of course and attached with a hole drilled thru the hand?? This may be just a set of synapses misfiring so take it for what it's worth.. I've never done it in the situation of a broken hand spring.

[jimster]

Thanks for the tips, something to play around with this winter.

Jim

[gunnut69]

Let us know how your fixes work out..