tension in uhlmann reels

[oiuyt]

Hi all,
I've got an Uhlmann turtle reel that I was handed, opened, partially assembled when someone else ran out of time for fixing it. I've finally found enough time myself to do the required repairs (trying to find somewhere that accepts solder for the grounding wire is FUN). Right now I have a reel that is ready to have the cover replaced (30 second operation) and put back into service except that it has no tension from the spring. What should I do to fix this? I assume that it's probably a matter of winding some piece in some direction but I don't know which piece or what else I should be concerned about. Suggestions?
Thanks.
-B :)

[neevel]

Since you have to do a significant amount of disassembly-- and then reassembly-- to retension it by turning the spool (you may have noticed that to do just about anything inside an Uhlmann you've got to take out an awful lot of screws), the simplest way to do the job is to flip it upside-down, remove the screws that hold the plastic spring-cover in place (while holding the cover down, of course), rotate the spring-cover about 6 times to tension the spring, and then replace the screws.

BTW, the C-line of the cable is supposed to be soldered to the center tab of the terminal that's visible through the cut-out at the top of the spool. The ground on the Uhlmann turtles is brought from the metal base-plate to the C-line by means of the spring and the spool bearing shaft which the inside end of the spring slots into. One of the screws for the spring case also holds the outer end of the spring in contact with the base plate. A small metal tab connects the C-terminal of the floor-cord socket to the base-plate.

-Dave

[sallearmourer]

One what David suggestion is the easy but it also dangerous as well if your grip. The easy way is to remove the post that a& b lines runs.up. And turn it about six time clockwise and set the plug in place. This how Ted li Joe Burns and me do it. I mean 3 guys with over a 100 years of doing can't be all wrong. The way David suggestion you can after spring all over the place.

Another way send it to me


Tim

[oiuyt]

Thanks for the help, I'll probably end up finishing the job this afternoon.

Dave: yeah, that's what I figured. Was having trouble getting the solder to stick to the tab either (obviously it doesn't adhere to ANYTHING else, it all being stainless). Finally got it. Doesn't help that I'm far from the world's best solderer to begin with. :)

I'd figured out how the ground circuit worked by examination and testing pretty much everything to everything with a multimeter. Didn't help that when I got it the screws between the rotating plate and the shaft had been removed... until I realized that replacing them made a difference, I couldn't for the life of me figure out how it was supposed to work.

All should be good now, thanks for the help.
-B :)