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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) Ballard Coil Spring Conversion (Read 1384 times)
Myers
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Ballard Coil Spring Conversion
May 22nd, 2023 at 4:42pm
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A light bulb went off in my head yesterday after attempting to make another sear spring for a double set breach block. Has anyone converted a Ballard breach block to eliminate the original sear spring to a coil spring?
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard Coil Spring Conversion
Reply #1 - May 23rd, 2023 at 10:10am
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I've never made one, but I did own one that was converted, and I discovered the conversion when it quit working. Tried to rework it to make it more reliable, but it would eventually fail again. So I just went back to the flat spring.
  

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skydabber
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Re: Ballard Coil Spring Conversion
Reply #2 - May 23rd, 2023 at 5:50pm
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I have a single trigger breech block that came with a coil spring. It works well when the spring stays put. The car ride to the range seems to jiggle it out of position. It will not stay cocked until it is cycled several times. Once the spring readjusts, it reliably stays cocked and has a very good 1 lb trigger pull. 
I've tried multiple methods to keep the spring located, but haven't had much success. It has a hand shape block of plastic from a 3D printer holding the spring in it's position, currently.
I have a picture, but the file size is too big to attach.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Ballard Coil Spring Conversion
Reply #3 - May 24th, 2023 at 10:27am
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skydabber wrote on May 23rd, 2023 at 5:50pm:
I have a single trigger breech block that came with a coil spring. It works well when the spring stays put. The car ride to the range seems to jiggle it out of position. It will not stay cocked until it is cycled several times. Once the spring readjusts, it reliably stays cocked and has a very good 1 lb trigger pull. 
I've tried multiple methods to keep the spring located, but haven't had much success. It has a hand shape block of plastic from a 3D printer holding the spring in it's position, currently.
I have a picture, but the file size is too big to attach.


That's exactly what happened to mine often. Spring wouldn't stay in place. I considered using my Fordom and a burr to make a resting place, but didn't want to modify the action, even if it doesn't show.
  

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skydabber
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Re: Ballard Coil Spring Conversion
Reply #4 - May 28th, 2023 at 9:57pm
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Here is a pic of the coil spring.
  
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MrTipUp
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Re: Ballard Coil Spring Conversion
Reply #5 - May 28th, 2023 at 10:14pm
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I'd guess that if a shallow, spring-sized dimple were cut into the trigger, the spring would be more likely to stay in place.

Bill Lawrence
  
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bobw
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Re: Ballard Coil Spring Conversion
Reply #6 - May 28th, 2023 at 11:06pm
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I would think a threaded rod, screwed in from the top side of the sear, would keep the spring in position.  Make it just long enough to release hammer, and as a side benefit, the spring will stay straight and not buckle to the side.
Bob
  

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KFW
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Re: Ballard Coil Spring Conversion
Reply #7 - May 29th, 2023 at 7:07am
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I thought the OP was about fitting a sear spring to a double set trigger block? Making a spring for such is easy, but starting with the right material ensures success. Heat, quench, temper in lead.
  
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skydabber
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Re: Ballard Coil Spring Conversion
Reply #8 - May 31st, 2023 at 10:33pm
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Built a horseshoe flat spring for the Ballard. This little piece of steel took me two tries and multiple hours. The spring rides in a parabola like pocket in the breech block. The pocket is not a true parabola, more like a staggering, intoxicated circle trying to be a fancy parabola.   
I'm curious how this shape was machined.
  
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ssdave
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Re: Ballard Coil Spring Conversion
Reply #9 - Jun 1st, 2023 at 9:55am
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Never tried one, but looking at it I could easily make a wire spring that would work for that.  Would need to be very light wire, I'd guess about .020" diameter, maybe even .015".  Double spring, with flat end sections, and a tail that would sit against the side of the breechblock to stabilize it.   

I'm absolutely out of time for the next few weeks, but I'll try it if I remember when I'm not quite so busy.
  
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jfeldman
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Re: Ballard Coil Spring Conversion
Reply #10 - Jun 1st, 2023 at 12:40pm
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KFW has it right - the OP was asking about a sear spring for double set triggers.

Regards,
Joe
  
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MrTipUp
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Re: Ballard Coil Spring Conversion
Reply #11 - Jun 1st, 2023 at 2:20pm
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KFW has it right - the OP was asking about a sear spring for double set triggers.

Just chalk it up to old guys getting distracted and/or going off on a tangent.

Bill Lawrence
  
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