Hi Dan, When you try to wind it, do you here any "CLICKS" at a certain point? You may have to listen carefully. If the spring is broken, there will be a click or thump when you reach that point where the spring is broken. Does it "free-wind" w/o any resistance? That could be because the winding arbor catch is not picking up the hole at the beginning of the mainspring. This could be due to the spring breaking right at the hole-end of the mainspring, thus the winding shaft just spins. You may have to endeavor to take the mainspring barrel out and remove the cover and check out the situation. Let me know what you find. I use a heavy canvas sack(like a mail bag) and heavy gloves when I remove a main spring from the barrel. I put the barrel in the sack, and with pliers(the jaws have brass caps on them) grasp the arbor end of the mainspring and carefully pull it out. Trust me, at a certain point, the entire spring will come out! The canvas bag will keep the mainspring from flying around the room , taking fingers and china with it. The other end of the spring can either be held by a rivet(usually cheap machines) or a screw, (the head will be visible from the outside.) or a barrel hook. After you detach that end, clean the entire spring in Naphtha(if it's not broken) and dry it. Clean out all the old grease in the barrel too. If the spring has just enlarged at the winding arbor, you can carefully re-bend the spring so the hook on the barrel arbor catches the hole in the spring. You really should clean the spring and barrel, even if it's not broken, as the grease is probably 80+ yrs old and is not going to get any better. I usually use wheel bearing grease, just plop a tablespoon full in the empty barrel before you put the spring back in. When you wind the spring back into the barrel, I suggest using the leather gloves again! One important thing before you remove the spring, take note of it's direction, I usually draw a quick sketch on a piece of paper. It's not really to har d a job if you're careful, but it is messy! Regards, Bill