Spring replacement on Big Max

I have an RCBS Big Max and luckily I have both the "Universal" and standard shell holder attachments but the springs on the universal holder wore out and it will lose hold on the case rim and leave sized cases in the sizing die. RCBS has no spare springs... yet another reason to buy Dillon I guess, they really support their products :-).

Anyway as I said luckily I have the standard shell holder attachment but that universal was so danged handy for short ammo tests I'd like to repair it. I've considered shimming under the tension springs, and stretching them and both may work for a time but I figure I'd ask here to see if anyone who has the same problem on their Big Max may have other ideas on getting it working?

Good machine shops can measure spring tension. They have spring rate testers. It's worth fixing that Universal, worth it's weight in gold. Finest deprimer ever made.

What do these springs look like" Coil, push pull radial? Mc master Carr, and Graingers have large selections of springs. You want to know the wire dia number of coils and length then call them and talk to their specialists. On a coil spring Inside dia and outside diameter is handy to have on hand also. On a torsion spring the length of the legs.

You can take the spring to your local hardware they usually have selections of springs that you might find one that matches up to.

The thing is you might have to take 5-10 springs from MC master or graingers. What ever a package is.

Got a photo of the spring?

You might also find a spring manufacturer that will make one as a courtesy.

A number of years ago we had a spring break on the Beomat trap machine on a Thursday before a big weekend end shoot. I took the spring into a manufacturer in Toledo that specializes in small short run odd ball springs. I handed them the two pieces, ten minutes later they handed me a functional spring that got us through the shoot. For $10. Nice people.

Later on, they made a compression spring for my stern steerer ice boat. It took the worst out of rough ice. I think that one cost me $20.

I think they take on jobs like this just for the fun of it.

And to help people with weird problems.

This is them: Springtime Manufacturing Co. Toledo, Ohio. I would have posted their website but they don't like my VPN.