Fox Collectors

Has anybody ever measured the outer diameter and length of an original spring?

There are kits available on the internet that may have something that would work or could work with some adjustment.

https://www.amazon.com/CREEYA-Compressi ... 19525&th=1

I am speaking about a Fox B trip and spring possibly being the right size for a Sterlingworth. Has anyone tried that route?

Captain America wrote: ↑Thu Dec 22, 2022 4:02 pm I am speaking about a Fox B trip and spring possibly being the right size for a Sterlingworth. Has anyone tried that route?

No that's not going to work. Kind of like looking for an intake valve and valve spring for a vintage 30’s Ford flathead engine and asking if anyone tried them from a 50’s Ford overhead valve engine.

As a long time AHFCA Life member I have to say I'm disappointed that any number of Fox apprentices who've "been here to learn" for a decade or more now, haven't had the interest in taking apart one of their Foxes to measure the trip spring and report dimensions here, i.e., outside diameter, length and coil wire diameter. As Romac (Roger) suggested. Easily done and it's not like trying to disassemble the space shuttle. Yeah I know, let our Tom, Dick or Harry do it. Then some of the fellas can carry the specs to alternate sporting sites and bolster their status as Fox experts there. Sad but true. frank

Frank I applaud your expertise and knowledge when it comes not only to Fox double guns, but all double guns for that matter. I am amazed that you can take one apart and even manufacture and machine parts to repair these fine old guns. I think sometimes your abilities tend to incline you to think that everyone has that ability. I am trained and fairly well versed in the profession that I have been practicing now for 40 years. I feel very capable to discuss and work in the environment for which I was trained and tested. However, I don't have the tools nor the training nor the ability to be confident enough to take these old guns apart and work the wonders that you are very capable of doing. Sometimes when I read your posts it makes me feel like maybe I am in the wrong hobby. That maybe since I have no gunsmithing abilities that I should just sell my handful of double guns and go buy a Browning. Merry Christmas to you and all the members here!

Reggie, thanks for your perspective and Merry Christmas too! I sure hope the New Year brings a renewal to some aspects of our club to include participation.

Some additional comments: we're talking here about using a well fitting screwdriver and removing the trigger plate screw, taking out the spring and measuring it with a dial or vernier caliper. Then replacing both. There’s been step by step directions how to do that for many years now on our Home page. Granted, not all of our 500+ members can or are comfortable doing that, and certainly not on a high condition Fox with a pristine screw slot. But almost all of us have lesser condition Foxes and let's say only 5% of our AHFCA members can do that and with no ill effects to the Fox nor shaking their personal confidence. Ok, now with that low 5% number we can cipher that 25+ members have that capability ….. but in reality it's very rare when someone other than our day-one Tom, Dick or Harry steps up. Somehow that wait for someone else to do it culture developed here on Fox but I don't see that to anywhere near the same extent on the other collector SxS sites. Disappointing. frank

Been busy for a couple days winterizing equipment in anticipation of the cold we're expecting tonight, the lowest here in a couple years. But, finished up and got time to take the trip spring out of an old Philly A grade, ser. no. 12924. Measurements are as follows:

.120" outside diameter
.430" length

Don't know how to easily measure compression strength but it's definitely harder to compress than a ball point pen spring, and yet can be completely compressed between finger and thumb. The one I measured was not pristine, and looks to have been stretched at one time, maybe in an attempt to give it a bit more strength. I can't even say for certain it is an original Fox spring, but it works fine. Hope this helps.

Been busy for a couple days winterizing equipment in anticipation of the cold we're expecting tonight, the lowest here in a couple years. But, finished up and got time to take the trip spring out of an old Philly A grade, ser. no. 12924. Measurements are as follows:

.120" outside diameter
.430" length

Don't know how to easily measure compression strength but it's definitely harder to compress than a ball point pen spring, and yet can be completely compressed between finger and thumb. The one I measured was not pristine, and looks to have been stretched at one time, maybe in an attempt to give it a bit more strength. I can't even say for certain it is an original Fox spring, but it works fine. Hope this helps.

Stan, thanks for measuring. 3 minutes on google and I found a spring distributor that has a really close size readily available.

.120" = 3.048mm
.430" = 10.92mm

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203927876471?c ... 3iEALw_wcB

3mmX10mm for $2.45 for a 10 pack.

If they work, I'm sure you could sell all the ones you don't need in a flash on this site.

I'm going to take that one back out, next time I'm in the shop, and get a measurement on the wire diameter. It appeared to be larger than the 0.2mm pictured. We really need that.

Good eye Stan. 0.2mm is only about .008".

.016” wire diameter is the factory sizing. frank

Thanks for that input Frank.

I'll try to do a little more looking.

Roger

This looks like it might work:

https://www.springsfast.com/products/co ... 04-016-014

$2.60 plus shipping

Outside Diameter (in.) 0.120
Inside Diameter (in.) 0.088
Overall Length (in.) 0.438
Wire Diameter (in.) 0.016

Yes, thank you Frank.

Just saw that that supplier had a 6 piece minimum order.

Thank you Roger and Stan for your efforts.

Merry Christmas Fox Fanatics!

.465" length - this is a new factory 12-gauge trip spring
.118" outside diameter(.120" dia will also fit into the trip pin counterbore and work fine.) The counterbore is a blind hole in the lower end of the trip pin that keeps the spring centered.
.016" wire diameter
Common ball point pen spring at .163" O.D. is too large to fit into the trip pin counterbore. I know fellas will try to use them but the spring can't properly push against the trip pin and sooner or later the pin or rotary bolt engagement surface(s) will get worn.