[Thanks for the advice. I didn't have a chance to use it. My wife sicced my oldest son onto the problem and he forced the springs close to being in the right place. I think I can use it. If not, surely, I won't be the only one-legged framer.
My son is stubborn. I noticed while he worked that, when he rejected his first attempt and moved onto the second, he would not return to the first again, even though the second worked only through force.
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QUOTE=David N Waldmann;913070]Well, I've never done it. But this is what I would do. Lift the cutterblock assembly as far as it will go and lock into place. This will put the springs into the position with the least tension. If you don't have the factory locking mechanism you can use an appropriate sized standard bolt and nut with two flat washers to hold the foot lever in the highest possible position.
First replace the broken spring. I would use a pair of Vice-Grips (the genuine thing - "central forge" just doesn't cut it) to grab the top end of the spring. Make sure you have a good hard "clamp" on the end of the spring, and in a place where it will not interfere with the installation; some experimentation may be necessary. Insert the bottom end of the the spring and pull up to insert the top. The remove the unbroken one similarly - grab with Vice-Grips on the top end of the spring, pull up and disengage. Replace second spring like the first.
Job done. Continue for the next 35 years.
Interestingly, our older chopper (Morso brand) is now at 32 years and we haven't had to replace the springs yet. I wonder how much longer they'll last...[/QUOTE]
