There are no springs in the unit. Part 15 and 40 just butt right up against one another. By tightening or loosening part 40 I can adjust the depth of the worm gear and set tension.Huh, it's been a couple years since I re-re-built my yellow iron dividing head, but... isn't there a spring between the plug #15 and shaft #40 on the print? I know my RT has one. My dividing head backlash must be completely sublime compared to what you're getting. I just don't recall having any trouble with this guy. I did replace the chinesium bearings with German bearings, as I tend to do. But that couldn't be it. Odd.