How to get the index ring back onto the hand wheel?

[skippyelwell]

Took apart the top slide on the saddle to clean it up and now I have to re install the index ring on the hand wheel.
I've done this a few times but usually it's just one spring and a ball bearing, this one has three and the springs are strong enough to send the ball bearing across the room.
There's got to be a trick, anyone know it?
Thanks

 

[thestelster]

What a pain!! My thoughts:

A section of spring steel the width of the diameter of the balls. The length, 1/4" shorter than the circumference. Up turn the ends. Bend the steel band to go around the shaft tightly. So now when you put the band on the shaft, there's 1/2" space. Put spring and ball in one hole, rotate the band so it captures it. Go to the next, and the the next. Now the band has caprltured all three balls. Slip the index collar on which pushes the band. Keep going until the collar captures the balls, remove the spring steel band; the upturned ends will help in the removal.

Good luck. Have fun. No cuss words in front of the kids!

 

[skippyelwell]

Success, I didn't have any spring steel but found a SS band used on steering rack boots and it worked well.
I also cut a bevel on the inside of the ring to aid in pushing it on, as it turned out I could only hold two ball bearings at a time without a second pair of hands so installed the index ring to see what it would be like.

It worked perfectly, it made no difference that there was only 2 balls holding it rather than 3.

 

[thestelster]

Nice. Well done.

 

[whydontu]

My father always said “when all else fails, cheat”. Great words of wisdom, particularly applicable to home shop machinists.