What's inside a Slater latch?

[Barbelseeker]

Yes,

Go to full "Editor and perview box" at bottom of reply screen, Click

type your text etc.,

Position cursor where you want your picture to go, click on the "i" icon just to the right of the "Normal Box", select your pixcture and follow the few simple instructions.

[Wallys-Cast]

Here's a strip down and reassembly of a typical latch.
Its best to mark the position of the actual latch so it goes back together in the same position.


Once the screws are out its a simple matter of pushing the assembly out of the face plate. I used a small phillips screwdriver as a drift and tapped it out from the other side.


Once its out you can take it apart by removing the screw which also acts as the release lever.


The latch retaining screw also holds the spring in place, just undo it and its fully disassembled.


Reassembly is a reversal. Spring on first.


Then the latch. Not too tight with the screwdriver here, make sure the latch moves freely.


Then turn the latch a full turn to locate and load the spring then replace the lever screw from the front and its ready to refit.

Hope this helps.
Wal.

[Barbelseeker]

and looks like I was wrong about the slot - see yours is square at the end.

Very good job on the photo's and explanation.

[Liphook]

Excellent 'how to' guide Wal

[Duckett]

That’s brilliant Wal, many thanks!

Phil

[Deaf Cat]

Brilliant stuff! As good as those exploded diagrams we used to get in The Eagle.

[Eddy Pools]

Wal,
That's perfect - many thanks for taking the time to produce and share this with us.
Geoff

[StefanDuma]

Great illustrations of the "Slater" latch.

Its actually the Spring Release Latch its was first introduced in 1872 way before before Slater started making reels. JH Keene attributed it too Slater and hence the Slater catch. It was actually invented by James Brailsford.

The pictures show a Brailsford Spring release latch and a couple of spindles.

Brailsford used a strip of sprung steel.

Fig 105.jpg

Fig 108.jpg

Fig 107.jpg

Fig 106 copy.jpg

[Ross]

I would be very interested to hear from any one who has removed the brass slater latch mechanism from a wood & brass reel. I need to put the spring back and do not see how I can do that with the mechanism still in situ? This has been my first experience of restoring such a reel, just hope it will not discourage me lol. Regards, Ross

[Ross]

Thank you for the great photos of the slater assembly. A conundrum for those reading this thread: i have the spring shown in the photos for the latch but I also have a loose small spring not attached to anything which I imagine fits somewhere in a compressed state? Any thoughts? Regards, Ross