Sourcing & making springs for slot machines

[geofflove]

I need some very small extension springs and can’t find a reasonable source. There are lots of mixed spring sets on eBay but all too big.

The ones I need are the light ones which return the penny trip lever on Oli Whales machines and also the spring on the ratchet lug.

Ideally a mixed set of tinys would be great as I know I’ll need various ones in time but if not if anyone know the rough spec and source of these particular springs it would be very helpful.
Cheers

[pennymachines]

Have you tried https://www.coilspringsdirect.com/ listed in Archive/Services?

[badpenny]

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cht394- ... ollection/
Is where I get mine.
Alternatively: -


BP

[pennymachines]

Or...

[geofflove]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I’ll take a look. And may try the home made route

[special when lit]

I recently needed a long, weak spring for a Sega jackpot, & got one from here.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304-Stainles ... 2749.l2649

Took a couple of weeks to arrive, but was cheap & what I wanted.

[tallstory]

I have made my own and it's easier than you might think using piano wire. It is the thickness of the wire and the spring diameter that determine the strength and you can get these dimensions from the one you want to replace. It takes a bit of experimenting to get the size of the mandrel right as the spring is always bigger once the tension is released. All you need is a speed controlled electric drill to turn the mandrel slowly while you feed the wire onto it wearing leather gloves to protect you hand. The mandrel doesn't have to be anything sophisticated - I used an old nail.

If you need an exactly specified spring, try Flexo Springs who have an enormous range to choose from and supply from stock in a day or two. Not as cheap as making your own but a top quality product. Their website is at flexosprings.com

[geofflove]

Thanks. I’ve ordered some piano wire so once that comes I’ll give it a try. How hard can it be?! Lol.

[santelmann]

It's officially documented that J&M use hardened piano wire for their skill system and main springs in the '30s.

[badpenny]

Topic merged - Site Admin.

The time comes when it occurs to you that correct springs are critical to the smooth working of your machines.
Then it's not long before you also realise that “Any old spring fitted any old way” is a hit and miss affair.
We often see questions on here “Where can I get the proper springs for my ….”

And we point out you can send lots of dosh to Americaland, then wait bucket loads of time for a small envelope to turn up. Often you'll also see a miserable reply from yours truly here pointing out you can buy a box of 200 assorted springs (compression and expansion) all diameters and lengths. About £8 from Machine Mart or from China via eBay.

Wherever you source them from, it's guaranteed that at some point you're going to have to adjust one, if only to get the length right or alter the loop on the end.

Here is how to construct perfect fittings/loops to the ends while also making your springs adjustable in length for future tinkering ….

For effective Spring Smithing I recommend gathering yourself a kit consisting of: -

Assorted Springs X 200 £8.00

Assorted Split Pins £5.00

Wire Cutters £6.00

Long Nose Pliers £6.00

Long nose pliers.jpg (3 KiB) Viewed 3050 times

Dental Picks £5.00

If you've had to adjust a spring's length, you'll end up with one that is missing at least one of its end loops, perhaps both. The loops you'll manufacture will add length to the spring and will also retract into the spring making it possible to shorten the stretch for adjustment.

Choose a suitable split pin and cut the head off leaving an inch length on its legs.
Now bend the legs 90 degrees away from each other. Opening up the spiral at the end of the spring feed one leg into the wall of the spring and twist until the other leg also winds itself on. Now it's secure use your long nose pliers to bend the legs up, thus trapping it in place. The more you turn it the further in it'll wind and the shorter will be the reach and of course vice versa.

New and adjustable end loops in place

The Dental Picks will allow you to reach into the middle of the machine and pull springs into place and attach the ends.
It's not so complicated as I've made it sound, and with little practice you'll soon be knocking them out.