Help! Spring barrel retaining ring is driving me insane!

[Tinkerbell]

I have a two spring, single barrel Vic motor with a barrel retaining/snap ring which does not want to stay seated. Part of the issue, I believe, is that it doesn't sit flush below the rim of the barrel.

Any insider tips or advice for keeping that *$@# thing from wanting to pop out?? It's truly driving me insane... (Okay, maybe a little exaggeration there, but you probably get the idea.)

Thanks for any advice.

[OrthoFan]

I had that problem with a double spring barrel once. I couldn't get the ring tucked under the rim sufficiently to keep it from popping out while I wedged the rest of it in place. Finally, I gave up and clipped about ½ inches off of the end of the retaining ring. After that I was able to work it under the rim.

The next time I did spring work, though, I had a friend help me. We set the barrel on a flat surface, and my friend pressed down on the barrel cap while I worked the ring in place. This time it went in quite easy.

Based on that experience, I'd suggest that you try applying pressure to the cap to expose more of the rim, so the spring can be wedged between the rim and the barrel cap. Then, you should be able to nudge the ring in place without shortening it. Once in place, properly, it shouldn't pop out unless the barrel is out of round, the spring is bent, or the rim is damaged.

Hope this made sense,

OF

[Tinkerbell]

Based on that experience, I'd suggest that you try applying pressure to the cap to expose more of the rim, so the spring can be wedged between the rim and the barrel cap. Then, you should be able to nudge the ring in place without shortening it. Once in place, properly, it shouldn't pop out unless the barrel is out of round, the spring is bent, or the rim is damaged.

Hope this made sense,

OF

Yes, that does makes sense, and I will enlist a second pair of hands to help me. Thank you!

[phonojim]

Make sure all of the spring coils are in all the way. One turn can be sticking up just a little can be enough to give you fits with the cover. If the cover won't go far enough into the barrel to expose the ring groove all the way around, the coils may not all be seated. I have had to tap on the cover with a wood block and hammer to seat everything. Be sure to block the closed end of the barrel so you are not hammering against the hub.
I kind of remember having nipped off the end of a ring once or twice. Something else that might work: get the ring in place as closely as you can. If the ends overlap only slightly, you may be able to get the tip of a flat screwdriver between them. Twist the screwdriver to force the ends into place.
I hope you love this machine whan you get it done; you're sure putting a lot of work into it! Kind of reminds me of an Edison Standard D I bought a few years ago. I greatly underestimated the amount of work it would require to get it running. But... the finished product makes it worth it.

Jim

[Shane]

Confession: I never put those retaining rings back in. They are a real pain. I'm not sure if I have committed sins in the phono-world, but the lid seems to stay on well enough without it.

[phonojim]

I'm not sure why they used the rings in the first place. Endplay along the shaft is close enough that the cover can't move very much anyway. I'm one of those finicky mechanics who have to put it back if it was originally there whether it serves a purpose or not.

Jim

[OrthoFan]

I'm not sure why they used the rings in the first place. Endplay along the shaft is close enough that the cover can't move very much anyway. I'm one of those finicky mechanics who have to put it back if it was originally there whether it serves a purpose or not.

Jim

Maybe it minimizes damage if a spring breaks/explodes? Just a guess. I've always used the rings too, and somehow, some grease always manages to leak out from around the rim.

OF

[Nat]

I've used the shortening method with success.

But it also helps to swear at them a lot! I assume you've tried that?

[Tinkerbell]

But it also helps to swear at them a lot! I assume you've tried that?

Ab-so-lute-ly! And it worked, too!! (Along with some very greasy hands and tools.)

[Nat]

"In some circumstances, profanity provide a relief denied even to prayer."

- Mark Twain