Inland shifter gate spring fix

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Miranthis

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Ok, here is the problem, this hole originally contained a spring (the yellow arrow) to keep pressure in the gate away from the reverse gate (pic from before the shifter clean up :eek: ). My informal poll found that probably 90% + have fallen out so much so that almost no one knew it was supposed to be there. Even the folks that rebuild the Inland shifters do not replace missing ones.

bottom view.jpg



So, with time to kill during my restoration and after trying to find just the right spring, but facing $40 minimum orders at most of the spring houses on the net, I took a tip and tried McMaster-Carr. no minimum order, just shipping. However, the selection was minimal at best. Limited to 0.5 OD springs when I wanted 0.56 to 0.58 to snug it in the spring pocket, so I bought a package of the two lengths available, 1.25 and 1.50 next day shipping was great. Here is what it looks like assembled after some fitting.

20250406_145831.jpg


I trimmed the 1.25 spring down by a coil and half, which fits the angle of the spring pocket better and is less stiff. Once that is done and the A833 rebuilt I will fine tune the spring with the shift handle attached.

I am still planning to use the hack a member suggested of installing a set screw on the left side that will retain the spring. I am awaiting a carbide drill bit but will probably have to have a machinist friend drill and tap it for me as the shifter has been seriously hardened.
 
Ok, here is the problem, this hole originally contained a spring (the yellow arrow) to keep pressure in the gate away from the reverse gate (pic from before the shifter clean up :eek: ). My informal poll found that probably 90% + have fallen out so much so that almost no one knew it was supposed to be there. Even the folks that rebuild the Inland shifters do not replace missing ones.

View attachment 1716389409


So, with time to kill during my restoration and after trying to find just the right spring, but facing $40 minimum orders at most of the spring houses on the net, I took a tip and tried McMaster-Carr. no minimum order, just shipping. However, the selection was minimal at best. Limited to 0.5 OD springs when I wanted 0.56 to 0.58 to snug it in the spring pocket, so I bought a package of the two lengths available, 1.25 and 1.50 next day shipping was great. Here is what it looks like assembled after some fitting.

View attachment 1716389405

I trimmed the 1.25 spring down by a coil and half, which fits the angle of the spring pocket better and is less stiff. Once that is done and the A833 rebuilt I will fine tune the spring with the shift handle attached.

I am still planning to use the hack a member suggested of installing a set screw on the left side that will retain the spring. I am awaiting a carbide drill bit but will probably have to have a machinist friend drill and tap it for me as the shifter has been seriously hardened.
There appears to be a small mark on the outside of the case around mid-center of spring. It is very hard! That spring looks damn near the same as original. It was kind of bizarre how the original had the coil end cut to fit the hole seat. Just a piss poor design from the get-go. It's the same old story...you need a good mechanic to make the engineer look good.
 
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That small mark was my center punch. Then i tried to drill it on the press with a non carbide drill bit that was advertised for hardened and stainless.... even leaned into it and it did not even leave a mark.....
 
That small mark was my center punch. Then i tried to drill it on the press with a non carbide drill bit that was advertised for hardened and stainless.... even leaned into it and it did not even leave a mark.....
I know. I was just funning with you a bit. I tried to do the same thing when I measured the original spring for you. LOL...That damn thing is harder than hammered dog ****.
 
I really wanted a spring that would snug into that pocket for retention, but i think either the setscrew or maybe a small weld (like just a tack) that would give any resistance to the spring as it tries to launch out of that assembly would be good. My sister-in-law's brother is a machinist if i just cant drill it. Of course if it wont take the drill, i worry about the tap, which is not carbide.
 

I really wanted a spring that would snug into that pocket for retention, but i think either the setscrew or maybe a small weld (like just a tack) that would give any resistance to the spring as it tries to launch out of that assembly would be good. My sister-in-law's brother is a machinist if i just cant drill it. Of course if it wont take the drill, i worry about the tap, which is not carbide.
I used a fine thread titanium tap. If you have an "in" with free machining tally ho. Good luck...you did an excellent job refurbishing that assembly. I'm with you. I truly think the spring is worth having.
 
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I used a fine thread titanium tap. If you have an "in" with free machining tally ho. Good luck...you did an excellent job refurbishing that assembly. I'm with you. I truly think the spring is worth having.
Thanks Jeff! I have the new bushings and have soaked and cleaned the shifter handle, but probably should think about rechroming or at least reverse lockout cable replacement as mine was previously worked on and the tale of woe of the mechanic in colorado who tried to fix it in 68 or 69 was legend.

The fable is that the cable broke so they fabricobled a loop and then interloced another loop through that to get the length right, then threaded those two ends through the handle. Dad talked about all the cursing and time it took.
 
There appears to be a small mark on the outside of the case around mid-center of spring. It is very hard! That spring looks damn near the same as original. It was kind of bizarre how the original had the coil end cut to fit the hole seat. Just a piss poor design from the get-go. It's the same old story...you need a good mechanic to make the engineer look good.
Easy cheetah! I’ve seen plenty of “certified” mechanics that were complete hacks! I wouldn’t trust them working on my bicycle! LOL!
 
Easy cheetah! I’ve seen plenty of “certified” mechanics that were complete hacks! I wouldn’t trust them working on my bicycle! LOL!
I agree about some mechanics... if you look at the photo of the spring it can be clearly seen there is nothing to hold the spring in place except the tension of the spring which is an unrealistic theory in the real world.
 
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