Spindle Counterbalance Spring--Round Column Mill

[npalen]

Anyone happen to know the trick to reinstalling the spindle CB spring? There is a keyhole type slot in the end of the spring(not clearly visible in the pic) that needs to hook over and onto the flat head screw shown. The problem is not able to see where the keyhole is at in relation to the screw head when sliding the spring/housing over the shaft.

The two little roll pins, one shown in the upper right, don't help the installation process but are necessary to engage the slots in the spring housing to keep it "wound up" after installing.

Edit: The plastic knob and washer are removed prior to installing the spring/housing, of course.

[old mart]

As far as I remember, you have the bits ready as in the photo and the centre screw as well. Have the quill at the top. The spring inner end is engaged in the screw projecting from the spindle and the spring cage is rotated anticlockwise to give some tension and then pressed in place so the castellations on the perifery engage. You have to keep a good hold on it while the centre screw is done up by hand. If the tension is not enough, then slacken off the centre screw while keeping a grip on the spring cage and move it just out of engagement enough to be able to tighten it some more, do up the centre screw and retry the quill.
It is probably better to only tension a small ammount at a time rather than trying to do the lot at once, and gives you practice, when you have adjusted it a couple of times, it will be very easy.

[npalen]

As far as I remember, you have the bits ready as in the photo and the centre screw as well. Have the quill at the top. The spring inner end is engaged in the screw projecting from the spindle and the spring cage is rotated anticlockwise to give some tension and then pressed in place so the castellations on the perifery engage. You have to keep a good hold on it while the centre screw is done up by hand. If the tension is not enough, then slacken off the centre screw while keeping a grip on the spring cage and move it just out of engagement enough to be able to tighten it some more, do up the centre screw and retry the quill.
It is probably better to only tension a small ammount at a time rather than trying to do the lot at once, and gives you practice, when you have adjusted it a couple of times, it will be very easy.

"engaged in the screw projecting from the spindle" That is the part where I'm having difficulty. One has to guess as to where the keyhole slot in the spring is in relation to the screw head as it is not visible due to the spring cover/housing.

[BCRider]

The spring needs to be tweaked a little so the inner end is closer to the middle. Then it will self engage. The problem in your case is that over time the spring lost a little of it's bend and is now not close enough to center. Give it a tweak with some pliers or other tool to tighten up the last last half or 3/4 of the inner turn a little more inwards. It'll self grab the screw after that.

[npalen]

Got it! Thanks for your help, guys. It was a bit like how to catch a unique rabbit! (Unique up on it.)