Tool for mainspring removal

A method for safely removing a wound mainspring from its barrel comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an improved tool having (i.) a circular disk having a central pivot hole, (ii) a plurality of circular openings arranged in a circle around said central pivot hole, each of said openings being of a different diameter for accepting main spring barrels of differing sizes, (iii) a circular cap element having a central opening therethrough and internal threads therein, (iv) a vertical screw near the periphery of said cap element, said disk central pivot hole mounted on said screw, said circular disc having a thumbscrew for securing said circular disc in any of a plurality of positions relative to said central pivot hole, (v) a rotating cap portion having external threads to permit said cap element to be threaded into said internal threads to thereby vary the volume between said cap element and said cap portion, said cap portion having a central opening therethrough to permit access to a mainspring in said central hole of said disc;
• b) selecting a barrel opening of desired size by rotating said disk to place said barrel opening over said cap central opening;
• c) installing a mainspring barrel with mainspring in said barrel opening;
• d) temporarily locking said barrel opening in place by tightening said thumbscrew;
• e) rotating said cap portion to adjust said volume between said cap element and said cap portion to match the width of the mainspring being removed;
• f) grasping said mainspring through said cap opening;
• and
• g) removing said mainspring from its barrel, causing said mainspring to expand into said mainspring receiving and capturing space.