What the gear bar changes

Moving the gear bar changes how much the springs are pre-stretched when the carriage is home. A further-out setting means the springs are already under tension at rest, which raises resistance across the whole range and changes the feel of the start position.

Not all machines have an adjustable gear bar. Where it exists, it is a genuine second axis of resistance adjustment alongside spring selection.

Stoppers are a wear part people ignore

Every carriage return ends against a stopper. Over thousands of repetitions the rubber or felt compresses and hardens, and the return goes from a soft arrival to an audible knock.

That knock is not just noise. It is shock transmitted through the frame joints on every repetition, and it is one of the cheapest things to fix — stoppers are inexpensive and usually replace in minutes.

  • Check stoppers for compression, hardening and cracking
  • A knocking return usually means stoppers, not a frame problem
  • Replace in pairs so the carriage arrives square
  • Confirm carriage travel against spec after replacing

Spring anchor integrity

The anchor points carry full spring load continuously. Inspect for elongation of the holes or hooks, deformation, or any movement of the bar within the frame.

Any play here shows up as a vague, slightly unpredictable feel at the start of a movement, and it is worth investigating before assuming the springs are at fault.