Drill press return spring

[dlane]

Spring broke at the slotted shaft , tried making another flat in spring for slot with heat x3 , keeps braking , is there a trick ?.

 

[RJSakowski]

How are you heat treating? When I have springs like that break, I just bend them cold. If they are breaking with that approach, then I would heat the end but only until the end just turns to a dark blue to gray color. This should give a spring temper.