Here's my new spring setter...

[davee1]

Al, I actually like using a long 7/8ths wrench to twirl that baby down...keeps me fit!!! And one of theflange nuts acts as a jam nut against the other, and the botton coupling nut acts as a jam nut against the flange nuts. I've already done a 350 spring, and those nuts didnt budge. Its safe enough to pass on to other folks, and you can modify to your own saftey levels.

Also, the way I like to use this is...after I've jammed the 3 nuts together, I put thethree nuts in a vise on my workbench so that the rod is sticking straight up in the air. Then, I use a 7/8ths boxed end wrench to slip over the single coupling nut on top, and twirlaway.

I guess there's lots of ways of doing things...this is my gift to you guys as food for thought.

[davee1]

Good to know Paul. Them jam nuts work really well. I've seen em in other applications as well. They are a solid foundation. I'm even using two jam nuts!!!

[CharlieDaTuna]

It is a good idea and I used one for a long time years ago although it had a bearing on each end. In fact, it was on my website on the "Airgun Info" page for a number of years. I stopped using it altogether when I made a good universal can do all spring compressor and I got tired of calculating exact spring height all the time.

I also determined that it was far more accurate letting the gun itself set the spring. The reason that I stopped is that unless youi know exactly what your overall spring set length is and it is compressed value to that length, and if it is compressed and set beyond the maximum required set length, you do lose a little spring efficiency. A bit of premature spring fatigue if you will. Also, it you do happen to nick the spring on the inside due to it scraping the threaded rod, you then have a weakened spot in the spring and that is where it will possibly fail.

One other point is that depending on the size of the spring to the threaded rod, you can also cause the spring to have cant issues.

Of course the optimum way to set the spring is to install the spring in the gun without it being set and let the gun set the spring the first time it is cocked. Just cock it and let it set for about 5 minutes. Then it will be set to it's exact length that is determined by the compressed length to that particular action and spring  guide and tophat or spacer configuration.