It is not necessary to have a fancy jig to set the depth of thimbles C12. All that is needed is a double diameter mandrel that is snug fit in the bore of shoe carrier C3/2 and a running fit in plate carrier bush C17. This can be easily be turned from a hard plastic such as Delrin. With the assembly in the vice a bar is used between the pins C14 to work the plate carrier C13 back and forth. The thimbles are adjusted to allow the shoes to expand to 6" (assuming that the drum has the standard 5 7/8" ID and has not been skimmed). The idea that the springs have to be set to a specific poundage is a myth. Cheers, Stu.
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