Anyone have an import dividing head? BS-0 or similar?

Pcmaker

Pcmaker

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I bought a BS-0 dividing head from Precision Matthews. I took the handle off to adjust the backlash. There's a retention spring right before the "clock hands" to keep tension on them. When I put everything back, when I adjust the "clock hands," it pushes the tension spring out of the groove and it pops out. I've been messing with it for hours now and I cannot seem to get it to stay. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

I've even tried pinching the spring with the hands' locking screw.
 
Thought I saw this post before... Deja vu. Can you take a picture of how you installed it? I have a BS-0 from PM as well. I recall having some trouble with this, but fiddled with it and it is fine now. I'll go take a look.

It is exactly like @benmychree said. The bump of the spring faces outwards. The annoying side tab also faces outwards. The clocking hands are UNDER the spring. Then the spring, then the handle.
 
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Yeah I posted this on the PM section, but that place doesn't get too much traffic.
 
The single answer you got in the other forum was correct. You have it installed correctly. But if you clock the arms, you need to move the spring! It's that simple.
 
I have to move the spring with my fingers when I move the arms? It wasn't like this before I took it apart. I was able to freely move the hands around and the spring stayed in place
 
I do. Maybe it needs some lube? Or bent back to where it was? Mine occasionally comes off when clocking the locked arms. If I rotate the spring then it doesn't. If you don't like it, then source a new spring?

Don't know what to say, save for accommodating its quirks. Or make something that works better. If it was me, I'd move the spring. Once I start cutting gears, I may change my mind. Hope to get to that sometime in the near future.
 
It is obvious that the culprit is the clumsy screw and washer on the sector arms, that bump into the spring and dislodge it, you may need to get rid of the washer and / or use a different screw or bend the spring so it does not contact the screw. This problem does not happen on OEM B&S dividing heads.
 
The thing is that it wasn't doing this prior to me taking it apart. All I did was replace the dividing plate.
 
Is there any difference between the bs-0 from PM and a bs-0 from one of the generic brands? There is a large difference in price. Willing to pay more for quality, but can't find anything different
 
I bet the plates are slightly different in thickness or something- but it does look like a hokey assembly- what holds the spring in place? Nothing, as far as I can see- and what is the sector arm screw and washer for anyhow?
Time for a re-design- why not use a regular wire spring? No room?
 
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