Spring Transplant: VV-XI to VV-XIV?

[Cody K]

I picked up a 1920 VV-XIV recently, a little rough, but quite restorable. Of the four springs in it, one is torn at the pear-hole and will need to be replaced, and of course when one spring is replaced in a motor with a new one, all should be replaced with new. I don't want to go that far with this machine right now, because I'm still in the process of restoring another, better one.

I have on hand a motor from a 1916 XI that's already been raided for several parts, but the springs are still good. Does an XI from 1916 use a 12-foot spring? This is before Victor began to stamp the length on the barrels, and I'd be glad not to have to take it out and measure it if someone can tell me. Also (though this measurement would be a cinch to take, but before I mess with it at all) am I correct in thinking that the XI's springs are one-and-a-quarter inch, like the ones in the XIV?

In other words, will this transplant work?

Thanks for any advice.

[Henry]

According to the Victor Data Book, pages 126-129, all of the XI models, up to and including the XI-G, have 1-¼" x 18.5 ft. springs. The XI-H and XI-A types M, B, and C, have 1-¼" x 17 ft. springs. All of the XIVs take 1-¼" x 18.5 ft., except the late types F and G, which have 1-¼" x 12 ft. (VDB, pp. 134-136). Looks like you're SOL with this one!

[Cody K]

Thanks, Henry, I appreciate the info. Looks like it's a no-go then. Maybe I'll scrounge up a new used spring somewhere (guess I'll start with the Yankee Trader section)...

[Henry]

Wonder if it's possible to lop off a XI spring to 12 ft. I would think that you'd want to cut the outer end, i.e., not the one that fastens to the center shaft.

[Cody K]

Well, that's an idea, but I could save the original spring from the XIV more easily by lopping off an inch and cutting a new pear-hole. I'm not exactly sure why I'm resisting doing that, but I think it has to do with having to temper the new end before drilling, and then asking a friend who has access to a drill press to cut the hole for me. I feel like I ask him to do a lot of favors as it is, and I'd like to reserve his patience for when I really need him . I might resort to that though, if I can't turn up a used twelve-footer easily. I'd put the whole project aside for the time being, but now that I've got the darn springs out of the cans, I guess now's the time to get the machine operating again, so I don't have to deal with the problem again at a later date.

[Mr Grumpy]

not sure if it will help, but I've never had to use a drill press for this operation.

Heating the spring with a plumbers propane torch is enough heat for me to place the
end on a wooden block and just use my cordless drill for the hole. Then I use my
dremel with a cutting disc to make it pear shaped.

[Cody K]

Thanks, Vince -- I may just try to do it that way and leave my friend out of it for now. I have nothing to lose except another inch of spring. Still rather just replace the whole shebang tho.