Parker Parts:

[Tom Pellegrini]

Last Tuesday while on the clays course the lever spring on my G grade broke. After I got home I used the directions that Brian Dudley had posted a while back. Followed them and removed the action from the stock and there was the spring in two pieces. Previously other members posted that they obtained parts from CMC. I called and asked about parts for a Parker. I was transferred to a "gentleman" and I asked for a lever spring for a hammerless Parker. Now my knowledge of the inner workings of a Parker are a bit limited. After talking to this "gentleman" I probably know a thousand times more than him. After about 15 minutes I was told that they do not have any parts for Parkers. I did an internet search and found a spring at Dixie Gun Works and it is on the way. Hopefully the assembly will go as smooth as the disassembly.

[Jim DiSpagno]

The Spring from Dixie gun works requires a great amount of hand fitting and filing. Be prepared for hours of tedious work. My suggestion would be to find a qualified Smith to do the work. Try Bill Schwarz in Georgia. Quality work and reasonable turn around time.

[Steve Huffman]

The Spring from Dixie gun works requires a great amount of hand fitting and filing. Be prepared for hours of tedious work. My suggestion would be to find a qualified Smith to do the work. Try Bill Schwarz in Georgia. Quality work and reasonable turn around time.

Been there done that and make sure you read on filing a spring only file
one direction and I forget which one !

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Tough break Tom. The top ever spring on my VHE 20 broke while shooting clays with Brett Hoops. I shipped it out to Dave Fejline in Ca. on a Monday, and got it back on Saturday.
Good luck, and hope to see you next year buddy

[Russ Jackson]

Good Morning Tom , Contact Lou Rotelli and discuss the spring with him ,he has made springs for me a few times over the years ! Always very pleasant to talk with and usually a short wait and always a fair price ! His Contact # is " 203-788-4920 " ! If you call and think of it ,tell him I said Hello ! Good Luck with your repair !

[keavin nelson]

Having fit one of Dixie springs, it does take some work, but using the broken spring as a guide very doable. As to filing direction, along the long axis, not across as it creates stress pattern for breakage.

[Harry Collins]

I too have used the Dixie Gun works top lever springs. In fact when I order it is for at least two springs. I do it just as Keavin does. Work the springs thickness, length and height to match the original. I have found that small needle nose vice grips make inserting the spring a breeze. I have used a Dremel Tool with the sandpaper https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tnpla/09023904?cid=ppc-google-New+-+Abrasives+-+PLA_sYv7Tasc7___164110813560_c_S&mkwid=sYv7Tasc7%7Cdc&pcrid=164110813560&rd=k&product_id=09023904&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-uH6BRDQARIsAI3I-UcJs9KbWFNPgQNrlEEAXxgWvlL91bWGsrQzWQycR4U0Sbv26pC yGMIaAh2PEALw_wcB
and work lengthwise and NOT up and down. Though a file might be better, I have yet to re-replace a spring. Good luck.

[Tom Pellegrini]

Thanks Jim. Looking at the old spring it won't take hours of tedious work. I shot in a pistol league for 14 years. I fit many 1911 trigger parts so this will not be a problem. As for a good gun smith, I have one of the best sxs smiths an hour away from me. I was at Darlington Gun Works yesterday talking to Jim Kelly so if there is an issue he is in my corner.

[edgarspencer]

make sure you read on filing a spring only file
one direction and I forget which one !
Always in a plane parallel to it's compression. Never perpendicular to it. If you're using a file, finish it by progressively finer grit emery, then crocus cloth.

[Tom Pellegrini]

Thank you all for your input. I had talked to Brian Dudley first and he said he might have a spring but I told him I had already ordered one from Dixie gun works.
One thing I found however, the tiny screw which goes through where the link operates the lock was missing. I took the gun apart on a white towel and as far as I can tel nothing fell out. I was at Darlington Gun Works yesterday talking to Jim Kelly and he has no idea how the gun was working without it. Luckily a while back he bought a huge lot of Parker parts. He brought a box out from the back and found one and put it in for me. Jim Kelly saved the day.

[Tom Pellegrini]

Thanks Russ. Always good to have more than one ace in the hole so to speak. Lou has to be a good guy, he's a paison.

[Tom Pellegrini]

Well the spring arrived yesterday afternoon from Dixie Gun Works. Looked about twice the size of the old one. After an hour of work with the dremel tool and file i go to put it in place and find out that the dead end does not even come close to the slot where it is supposed to go, and that is the side of the spring that was not even touched. I talked with Jim Kelly at Darlington Gun Works and he said he has a spring but he cannot sell it to me account of liability reasons. If I had a FFL AND a gunsmith license then he could sell me parts. So now parts in a box and looking like someone who totally knows nothing about guns, I drive another hour and a half and let Mr. Kelly fix my gun. A bit embarrassing thank you very much.

[Dean Romig]

As far as I know, the only part he can't sell you without a FFL is the frame (with or without internal parts) a spring doesn't fall under that law.





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[John Campbell]

If you still have the broken pieces of the original spring, you might consider having them laser welded back together. I've had it done on more than one flat gun spring and so far have had no problems after proper clean up. The person I use is:

Tony South
Micro Precision Welding
51797 County Rd. 652
Mattawan MI 49071

Phone 269-668-2760

[Dean Romig]

Or try Abe Chaber in CT. He is a master at making springs and is an old-school German trained gunsmith.





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[Brian Dudley]

Boy... all people need to do if they want to buy a spring is ask. Instead of jumping through all these hoops. Just sayin...

[Dean Romig]

Those with springs could have offered.





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[edgarspencer]

I talked with Jim Kelly at Darlington Gun Works and he said he has a spring but he cannot sell it to me account of liability reasons. If I had a FFL AND a gunsmith license then he could sell me parts..

I think if there was a legal or liability issue, Dixie would have indicated as much. Sounds to me like the guy wanted to make more then just selling a spring.

[Craig Budgeon]

I have seen a partial inventory of Brian's Parker parts and I am quite sure he can accommodate 95% of any request with an original or new part. Many of the fits-all parts don't really function correctly even after alterations.

[Tom Pellegrini]

Thank you all. Here is another for you. After driving to Darlington a second time and not able to purchase a spring from them as I mentioned before, I said I would go back home and collect all the parts and bring them back and have a spring fit to my gun. I was told I had to assemble the gun before I brought it in. I then asked about how long it would take and was told I would get my gun back in January maybe February.
I went home boxed everything and sent it off to Dave Fjelline. I talked to Dave today and told him my gun should arrive Wednesday possibly Thursday. He said if it arrives on Wednesday he would do it Thursday and it would be on the way to me on Friday. Problem solved.
I tried to deal local and have the gun repaired in a short time, but as always with my luck it never works out. If I sent it to Dave when it happened I would have had the gun back a week ago.

[Dean Romig]

Dave is the Man!!





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[Brett Hoop]

Tom

I think we should just call Dave, Mr McFeely because he is SpeedyDelivery and it’s easier to spell than Fjelline.

For those of you that don’t get the Mr Rogers character reference, sorry. We could all use a little Fred Rogers right about now.

[Tom Pellegrini]

Dave is a character. To look at him you just wander where he came from. Get him talking Parkers and you will be in awe.
Brian, I definitely appreciate all your help. If I would have just taken a few minutes to gather my thoughts none of the fiasco with Darlington Gun Works would have happened. Thinking I could do it myself was biting off more than I could chew. Lesson learned and thanks to all for all the suggestions.