to do or not to do

[Deb]

Do you guys let your spring motors run all the down or not or do you leave them slightly charged. I have heard two thoughts on this

First its not good to let them run all the way down due to the fact the inner part of the spring has the chance to come loose from the arbor shaft

second if you leave a slight charge on the springs that can weaken them causing them to break

Please give me your input thanks

[alang]

I would say that the truth is like so often in between extremes. Letting a machine run down completely at full speed might dislocate the springs and leaving a machine fully wound for long periods of time will definitely weaken the springs and might cause breakage. I don't see how leaving a bit of tension in the springs could do any damage, especially if they are played once in a while. Of course, would I plan to put a machine into storage for the next few years I would definitely let it unwind completely in a controlled manner, but then I would also coat the whole machine with a thin layer of wax for protection before I'd do that.
JMO
Andreas

[Henry]

I always take a couple of turns on the "winding key" (Victorspeak for "crank") after the motor runs all the way down, and that's the way I leave it after a session. I don't think that running the motor down all the way does harm, because it doesn't release all at once (unless you remove the governor when it's wound up, then you'll definitely get a nasty surprise!), but rather gradually slows as it approaches fully unwound status.

[Wolfe]

Metal memory. Good.

In other words, leaving a bit of tension is best, IMO.

[VintageTechnologies]

I leave enough tension on the springs so that they will not unhook, but then I've never had a problem re-hooking a spring.

[JohnM]

Springs shouldn't come unhooked so long as they are allowed to run down to their natural stopping point, and no more. It is also important to let springs relax so that the lubricant in the barrels will be squeezed back and forth between the coils as the springs are wound and unwound.