Barrel for Mainspring - backplate won't stay in place

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 12:50 am     Post subject: Barrel for Mainspring - backplate won't stay in place

I have a #54 barrel with mainspring where the brass backplate seems to have come off. It looks like the backplate fits into the barrel, and I pressed it in slightly with heavy pliers but it comes back off again. without the back firmly on place, the shaft becomes loose (the backplate holds the shaft in place) and the whole thing skews in the clock. How does this backplate attach to the barrel ??

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:53 am     Post subject:

Not sure if it the same as mine but if it is then I believe you are referring to the disc that press fits into the barrel to hold the spring in place and the shaft true. You will need to press a bit harder I guess. When I got my cleaned barrels back from the friendly local clock guy the disc on one of the barrels was not flush with the barrel edge. So I used a small bench vice with two blocks of wood to carefully "pursuade" the disc to seat flush with the edge. I drilled holes in each of the pieces of wood to allow the shafts to go through. Just be carefull not to dent or bend the disc. Maybe the experienced clock guys have better advice.

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 12:04 am     Post subject:

It must be a press fit - I'll give that a try in the vise and thanks.