TargetTalk

Hi,

I decided I'd do what I always do with a new gun, fully strip and clean. Not something for the weak at heart, but I'm not. Got the ol'TOZ stripped and cleaned. When re-assembling I slipped and "ping" the :$;)($ Cocking Lever Spring goes flying out into the shop hopelessly lost in my organized clutter. Out comes the iPad and oh no! $18 + shipping!!!

Well I just got some proper size piano wire and made my own (after 5 tries) i'm not going to pay $18 for a 1" piece of wire! It isn't hard to make a wire spring, it just takes practice!

Well all is well, my TOZ is clean and lubricated with a new Cocking Lever Spring and I now know a bunch about the inner workings of the gun.

The Duke, Dasvidaniya from Tennessee!

Which thickness did you use?

Good question, not to be smart but the "right" thickness, seriously though I don't know, I'll have to mic it and see. It was some scrap I had on hand from another project.

It was W6 size .016", known as Zither wire. Small stuff used on my Bowed Psaltry. Yes I shoot and play music doing neither with any great facility, but lots of enthusiasm. So .016 to .018 should work, YMMV, remember to wind the spring counter clockwise around a screwdriver handle or some other slim round tool that you can clamp in a vise. Takes about 4 winds around to give you what you want.

The Duke

Thank you for the information.

I used a paper clip for a spring replacement but had to file the base that goes around the holding screw, the first try got so thin it cracked.
I have found a supplier of stainless steel wire and wanted to get the right thickness to make a more suitable one, and a few spares, since I am up to my third one using the paper clip spring replacement method described in the past.

Paulo,

Use the music wire, stainless is unnecessary, you can probably find some locally if you check around at music stores. I had mine because I ordered a roll to restring a bowed Psaltry.

Paperclips are made from poor quality steel and will be too thick as a rule. The poor quality steel will cause cracks and breakage.

The Duke