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Re: HELP repairing clarinet spring

Author: BartHx
Date: 2015-02-26 21:31

I have fixed similar situations with a small screw driver (to remove and replace keys), needle nose pliers (to remove, replace, and hold onto the replacement spring), and an appropriate steel sewing needle. 1. Remove adjacent keys as mentioned above. 2. Use the pliers to back out the stub of the old spring. 3. Find an appropriate size steel sewing needle (The notch for the tip is probably on the back of the ring key arm on your instrument. Make sure the needle fits tightly into the post with enough left out on the upper side of the post to use as a handle. You may need to trim the point of the needle back to the appropriate length if it is too long. Hopefully, you found needle nose pliers that also have a wire cutter.) 4. Using the pliers to hold the needle by the "handle", heat the rest of the needle in a flame until it is glowing cherry red. 5. Quench the needle quickly in cold water and you have just made an emergency replacement spring. Install the spring in the post and reassemble the keys. Leave the handle in place. It will not get in the way of anything and will be useful in removing that spring when the time comes to replace it with a quality spring. If you can't get access to any tools or sewing needles, go with a rubber band. If you remove keys, be sure to keep track of which screws or rods go with which keys. Screws can be put back into their posts and rods can be put into the barrels of the keys they hold. As you remove each key, make note of how its spring is arranged so that you can put it back the same way. The left thumb ring (throat F) does not have a spring. Be careful that you do not knock off any cork or felt bumpers attached to some keys. On second thought, maybe a rubber band is your best bet if you don't mind the look and if you don't mind doing some polishing later if your keys are silver.

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