Miroku Leaf spring to coil spring conversion

[rbertalotto]

This is about a shotgun, but a few folks on here with double rifles might find it interesting.

Yesterday while shooting trap (I was 21 of 22) my top lever leaf spring broke. UGH!

I've tried to find a replacement from Wisner and Robert Storms in AZ to no luck...

So I decided to convert it to coil spring.

Wrote an article with pictures on my web site.

http://www.rvbprecision.com

Hope you like it!

 

[shortgrass]

Did you order some Tempilaq when you ordered the spring steel stock and quenching oil? A light weight motor oil or transmission fluid will work for quenching oil, in a pinch. But, you can put SO much hand work into shaping and forging a leaf spring to size and shape, well, why take chances? I used to make quit a few leaf springs, but now most are newly made available from the used parts dealers like Gun Parts or Jack First,,, and maybe Midway too.

 

[moondog]

I broke one in a Kimber SxS. Couldn't find one. So I made a bunch, left and rights.
I keep extras in the case now. In a 7 pin sidelock it only takes a few minutes to swap.
I annealed mine in a lead pot.

 

[rbertalotto]

Yes, I have tempilaq that I use for annealing brass. Will be fun learning experience.

 

[shortgrass]

I broke one in a Kimber SxS. Couldn't find one. So I made a bunch, left and rights.
I keep extras in the case now. In a 7 pin sidelock it only takes a few minutes to swap.
I annealed mine in a lead pot.

Do you mean you temper the springs you've made in a lead pot? I used to get real 'technical', and used a digitally controlled heat treat oven, but found that Tempilaq and an oxy/acetylene torch could do just as well. O1 drill rod works well for leaf springs as it's high enough in carbon. It doesn't just come in "rounds", it comes in "flats" of many sizes. And, it is more readily available than high carbon steel from sources other than Brownells.

 

[rbertalotto]

There are many ways to temper after hardening. On method is the controlled temperature of molten lead. Emerse the object is a set temperature lead and it can not get any hotter than the set temperature. Very effective if you have a PID controlled lead pot.

 

[moondog]

I just bought spring steel flat stock and worked with that.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Lesson #1- start at the beginning

 

[shortgrass]

I just bought spring steel flat stock and worked with that.

Thems some pretty good lookin' springs, moondog.....

 

[moondog]

Thems some pretty good lookin' springs, moondog.....

Thanks I broke one on a dove hunt years ago and that's how that journey started.