Spring question

[FourtyCaliber]

No, I don't mean the season. I mean like a spring. Like a compression spring.

I have a Black and Decker Wizard rotary tool. Inside, the spindle is connected to the motor by means of a spring and 2 cogs (for lack of the correct word). The spring broke. It's a short little spring. It's a little under 5/8" in length and just under 3/8" outside diameter. The special thing about this spring is that each end is bent in such a way that it crosses the center point of the inside diameter, if that makes sense. The "cogs" are "forked" at one end and this forked part slips over the bent ends of the spring. This entire assembly forms a coupling. The other ends of the cogs fit into corresponding slots of the motor and the spindle.

Anyways, this spring is no longer available from Black and Decker. I can either try and modify some other spring I either have or can purchase that is close in size to what I need or I can try and make my own spring (instructions on the Internet). First, I want to see if I can find something that might work.

What I'm having trouble with is identifying the name of the "end" configuration of this spring so I can do an effective search for one. It's a compression spring. That part is known. They further describe compression springs by the way the ends are finished. There is "open" end and "closed" end. There is "open ground" and "closed ground". Something like that. None of those end configurations is what I have. I'm hoping someone here might know what to call it. I'm going to try and attach a picture so you can see what I mean.

In the first picture, the part on the left is the cog with the fork in the end that fits over the end wire of the spring. The second pic shows the forked end of the cog fitted over the bent end of the spring and the other half of the broken spring fitted onto the cog in the spindle. Thanks.

 

[mechanic mark]

Black Decker Wizard Versapak Rotary Tool Excellent with Accessories Versa Pak | eBay thought you might be interested, by the time you locate a spring, if available, and had it shipped vs. price of this one.

Post model & serial numbers from tool, as well as year, thanks.

 

[FourtyCaliber]

Hey Mark. I checked out the link you provided. I think that's a bit different than mine. I think that one is rechargeable while mine is corded. In addition, I'd be looking at $16 for that one. The deal with mine is that it was my dad's and there is nothing else wrong with it. Basically, it's a challenge. I have many other grinders including a Dremel, a Dumore, an air die grinder, etc. It's just about seeing if I can fix it. I'm sure I can. I've fixed a lot of things for myself and others that were pretty much toast. As I said, just trying to find out the accurate name of the style of ends on the compression spring that broke and go from there. Also, I'm going to look around at Tractor Supply, Home Depot, Menard's, hardware stores, etc and see if I can find a spring I can modify. Thanks for the input, though.

 

[Rivets]

The spring you are looking for is called a "radial over centre spring". It is going to take some searching to find the correct one. You are going to have to take very accurate measurements of OD, ID, FREE LENGTH and WIRE SIZE. This is not going to be easy and time consuming. Good luck.

 

[FourtyCaliber]

The spring you are looking for is called a "radial over centre spring". It is going to take some searching to find the correct one. You are going to have to take very accurate measurements of OD, ID, FREE LENGTH and WIRE SIZE. This is not going to be easy and time consuming. Good luck.

Wow, that's a mouthful. Thanks for the name even if I can't find one. I found a couple compression springs in my spring "stash" at home. The OD, wire size, and ID are exactly the same as the broken spring from the rotary tool. They're a little over 2 times longer than what I need. I may be able to get a couple out of each one if I'm careful. I'd have to cut them to length and try and reform the ends, as they're closed and ground now. I think I'd have to make some kind of die in order to hold the spring securely so that I can reform the ends without distorting the rest of the spring. I don't know how well that will work, as I don't want to weaken the wire too much by additional bending. I'll have to make a small "bending bar" with a hole in it just over the wire diameter that I can slip over the wire and carefully bend it across to make this "radial over center spring" end. I'm going to at least try it, so we'll see how it goes. And I'm going to do some checking on the name your provided to see if I come up with anything. Thanks for the info.