Restoring the Lever

Moving along the weathered cedar timber of the potting bench, I encountered a pair of heavy handheld bypass shears hanging askew from a metal hook. The coiled wire return spring had slipped from its recessed brass seating. I set my boots firmly against the splintered wood grain, examining the alignment. Gripping the cold steel blade with both gloved hands, I applied calculated lateral tension to maneuver the dislodged wire tip back toward the notch. It yielded millimeter by millimeter before snapping flush into the socket with a solid click. I tested the handles twice. Fluid resistance returned.