Detent Ball - How much spring tension?

[FOR_Star]

Just removed and cleaned the detent ball after it started sticking in the down position. (Parts # 52, 53, & 54)
When reassembling, is there a protocol for how far to screw in the brass plug (#54), thereby adjusting the spring tension on the detent ball?
Or, do you simply screw the plug in all the way (max spring tension)?  (The brass plug unscrewed easily, but I didn't take note if it was fully screwed in or not when I removed it.)

Thanks.

[fc60]

Greetings,

I may be wrong; but, I screw the brass plug in until I feel it start to bind.

I "think" the tapped hole has incomplete threads for this purpose.

Hopefully, Bruce will respond as he has more experience than me.

Cheers,

Dave

[rbwillnj]

As Dave says, just screw it in until it binds or stops.   On most machines the brass plug when screwed in as far as it goes, will sit proud of the steel base.  It won't hurt anything if you don't screw it in that far.  You don't need much tension on the spring.   Just keep the hole clean so the ball travels freely.   Be careful not to scratch up the sides of the hole.

Bruce Williams

[FOR_Star]

Thanks for the info.
FWIW, this Universal circa 1979, when the plug is screwed in until it stops (0 torque), the top of the plug is about 1/4" below the steel base bottom. (NOT proud ["UNPROUD"], recessed in the hole]

HNY

[rbwillnj]

That's unusual, but as I said it wouldn't hurt anything if you didn't screw it in that far.

Thanks for the info.
FWIW, this Universal circa 1979, when the plug is screwed in until it stops (0 torque), the top of the plug is about 1/4" below the steel base bottom. (NOT proud ["UNPROUD"], recessed in the hole]

HNY

[FOR_Star]

See picture of Plug (#54) screwed in until it stopped with zero torque.

I backed it out a quarter turn and readied it to reload some more.

Thanks for all the replies.