I can "feel" the spring when I pull way back on it to load a long bobbin, but it doesn't spring back in place far enough to hold the bobbin in as it is supposed to wind. I can push on it with my fingers and get the bobbin going but that's a pain and not the way it was meant to work, so I will try Joe's suggestion and soak it and see if I can get better results. Still would like to replace it if anyone has any ideas where a functioning one might be. I could do ebay but I'd wonder if it worked or not, and some sellers may have no idea what to check.