DIY - Fix a Retractable Sewing Tape Measure
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- čas přidán 31. 12. 2016
- READ FIRST: This particular tape measure comes apart by prying off the top. Inward pressure from the cylindrical housing holds the lid on. Other lids are glued on. I don't have any advice for that, other than perhaps using a solvent to loosen the glue. Sometimes slowly and delicately prying it apart with a fine flathead screwdriver works, as long as you monitor its stress so it doesn't crack.
Need to fix a smaller version of a retractable tape measure? Here's a break down of the pieces inside, and how to reassemble. This may not cover what to do with a broken, missing, or malfunctioning piece, but in those cases, it will at least give you a break down of a working tape measure, from which you can hopefully interpret what steps to take.
When you initially wind the working spring with the intent to put it inside the plastic disc, it doesn't have to be "tight as you can get it." It only has to be tight enough that the outer diameter fits inside the disc's diameter.
Actually the price of this thing is nothing, but when i can fix it by my own hand, its outstanding, i feel satisfied, Thanks for sharing bro ❤️
Yeah, I've had a lot of feedback on just buying a new one. But that creates unnecessary and toxic waste, so I'm always for as many uses of something as possible before we have to recycle it.
Pricewise, you're absolutely right, however a person like myself would calculate the time and effort it would take to get out into this 112° F temp and drive 11 miles to a place to park in the outside oven, fanagle with crowds and lines and reverse it all to return home tacking on the amount of time and gas (@$3.59 per gallon) it took to do all of that. The of being able to fix it turns out to be much more than the dollars spent. I mean, even working to keep the same sense of desire to do the project after fooling with all of that😅
@@Buffie7770 incredibly accurate. Never thought of it like that 👍🏼
im here at 1 am because i broke my mothers tape measure, thanks
This made me laugh, thank you!
Same🥺
Same
Yo same
I broke my wife's tape measure, which had sentimental value. I was able to fix it thanks to your video. I appreciate you putting this out there.
This was great to hear! I love sentimental items, and fixing ones of buying new. I'm happy to help
It's 2021, and this video is still helpin' people like me, thank you so much sistah. Blessings to you & your family.
This was one of the clearest instructions for anything I have ever seen. My son had pulled it out way too far and broke it. Thank you for putting this on youtube. I wasn't sure if I'd find a repair video for a measuring tape like this. A nurse friend of mine let me have it. I didn't know it was for sewing! Thank you so much.
My son also broke ours I like putting things together wasn’t sure I could… still not sure but I have hope
Clearly explained the very minuet details and where the mistakes will happen .Like the spring end point should be in the slit, direction of the tape and spring… well done
This video is genius! Today mine came apart when it fell off the top of the shelf. I've had it for almost 10 years to measure my weight loss (don't ask, I persevere), and before throwing it out I thought of searching YT. Thank you!!
I congratulate you on, and am in awe of the stamina it took for, that journey. I'm glad you were able to repair!
I love smart people who can figure things out and share their knowledge with the rest of us! I never would have been able to fix my tape measure if it wasn't for this video. Thank you.
Incredibly well made tutorial! In all my years of using youtube, never have I been able to follow a guide so well.
You're a life saver! I figured it out on my own part of the way, but I didn't realize I was missing the spring. All fixed and working now. Thank you!
Thank you Siralay! I'm a software developer, a math guy, work on my own cars type of guy... I've done light plumbing, light electrical, and now mechanical contraptions. I was always taught to take care of my things. All things have value. I'd of never figured this contraption out after I pulled it open and the parts went flying all over the place, but thanks to you I got it back together ♥
I put this video up specifically because I never found one out there :) I'm glad you appreciate fixing instead of just throwing away, too.
I could kiss you! I broke my favorite tape measure last night and I was almost in tears. I was able to fix it easily! It wiggles around a little bit more, but it's working again! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
just broke this thing, and now it's working again. thank you😂
This video was everything for me at this moment! I could write a long paragraph as to why, but I'll simply say you rock!🎉
Herzlichen Dank! Mein Enkel wollte das Innere des Maßbandes erforschen und brachte mir die Einzelteile.
Dank der hervorragenden Anleitung hat Oma es repariert. Gruß aus Deutschland
Excellent video! Works like a charm. For people who are dumb like I am: The tape should be wound up in the direction of the spring from the INSIDE to the OUTSIDE. For some reason, even though my spring was wound the exact same way as the video, I ended up winding the tape the wrong way on my first try because I was looking at the outside of the spring to the inside.
You might have to be... a bit forceful in getting the top off. Some cheaper designs will have small a few plastic pegs on the inside that you just need to overpower. For me at least the friction fit was enough to keep it in when I put it back together.
Thanks, I thought to myself the spring is counterclockwise because I was looking from the outside to the inside (how I put it in), but couldn't figure out why she was saying clockwise. 😂
I fixed my broken tape measure by watching this tutorial. Thank you!
I'm surprise this particular video exist!! Thank you!
The Burlington County College tape measure rides again! Thank you.
2023 and this video still helps. Thank you!
And its 2022, this video is still helping !! Thanks you... God bless for you
Nah, I'm not a fan of any god's blessing, but I'm glad that it helped you!
Mechanical engineering student here. Thanks for the video. Nice and thorough.
Thank you! Great directions. I now have a retracting tape measure again!
Thank you. My 5 year old was bummed about her tape measure. I am so glad I found this because I was doing it all wrong! lol
Yes she is! My kids had broke mine and I was wondering how to fix this problem, now I do, thank you sooo much, I've just became a pro lol!
Many thanks :)
Helped me fix my tape measure that is very close to my heart, I thought it was lost
I would have loved to see how you opened it. I've tried many different ways and cannot get it open. I understand the lid fits inside the base, but cannot pry it open.
I realize this is late, but hopefully it still helps. I did nothing beyond pry it open. No screws, glue, or other fasteners. The lid fits inside the housing simply because the base is flexible and just slightly smaller than the lid's circumference.
My tape measure is exactly like this and I'm attempting to fix it now. So glad I found this video! Bravo to you for putting it up. BRAVO!
You re an incredible instructor,madame. The part where you told how to fix both clockwise ,ah right,tricky.Thank you very much!
Oh WOW.
You know what, I've been searching all over the internet for a tutorial on how to fix a retractable usb cord, which is a little different from the measure in the video, because it has two ends. But hell yeah, this video helped me understand the mechanism that was quite similar and I got it working after weeks! You rock,
Thank you very much Sirilay!
Ben Kay Ha! That's good to know. Makes sense of would work for that too
Wow! You just helped me fix my wife measurement tape. She refuse to buy a new one cause the design was cute and i just fixed it following your video guide! Thanks!
I always encourage repair instead of buy new, and of course I also identify with sentiment :D This comment made me really happy. I'm glad to have indirectly helped!
Thank you. I accidentally over-extended my tape measure, pried it apart and the steel coil had sprung out so I couldn't figure out how it went back together. After I watched your video I was able to fix it (with one false start when I didn't realize I needed to anchor the outer edge of the steel coil into the notches of the cylinder. ) Second try was a charm and it's perfectly functional now. It really helps to see somebody do it!
Thank you, I fixed the broken tape measure thanks to you.❤
OMG. I had a feeling someone made a video to teach this. Thank you!
This video was exactly what I needed! Thank you!
You don't know how much your video helped me when my tape fell and became broken before the exam😭❤️❤️
Thank you! I fixed mine while watching your video. Instructions were clear and concise!
I was able to fix the tape measure.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Thank you for showing how to fix my measuring tape🎉
Mine literally broke as soon as I bought it and I was desperate trying to fix it till I found this video it was my last hope and thank god this video fixed it better than its original state thank you so much for the useful content and clear instructions ❤❤
Thank you so much. You are a saviour. I loved my keychain so much but my friend broke it, i thought i would never fix it but thanks to you😀
I opened it before watching, it opens very energetically....I lost the little spring, but it still kind of works (just take the top off and it winds back up, then put the top back on)
So thank you very much.
You might be able to scrap a tiny spring from a pen, though its diameter might be too wide.
@sirilay Thank you for the reply, good idea, I'll give it a go.
Wow this is the exact same one as the one I just broke. Thank you! I fixed it! It actually working much better than it did before.
Thank you so much! You're a life saver! I tried to figure out on my own but it woulnd't spin. Then I watched this video and I fixed it and it works perfectly.
Always happy to help!
Thank you! I was able to fix my tape after my brother broke it thanks to your video :)
Thanks very much. My mum’s tape measure is working again.
Glad to hear!
I just fix my retractable measure tape right now watching this video. Thanks a lot!!!
thanks! I fixed my similar one by following you video.
Awesome! Thank you so much! Great video, clear explanation. Neat to see how the mechanics work.
It's 2022...thank you for this
thank you for this, I'm going to try fixing mine now.
Thank you!!! I just saved my tape from going to the trash! Awesome explanation :D
Really really thanks👍just fixed my wife broken one
Thank you so much for posting this video! It totally worked!
thank you very much it helped a lot! Greetings from Germany
Thank you from the year 2023!
Super useful👍🏻👍🏻 you're a saviour. It works for me. Thank you for making this video.
This video explained this really well, but I can't figure out how to open it! I don't want to break the measuring tape, nor my finger nail. This measuring tape in specific is really special to me, and I don't want to break it any more than it already is.
This is so helpful! Thank you so much!!!
Worked like a charm! Thanks!
I need to know how to open my tape measure case before I can follow the directions. Please!
if it dosent pop off i think once it breaks it is broken becuse you arnt supost to get inside trust me i tried and it didnt work
@sleepawkeen This one opened simply by prying it open with a flathead screwdriver. Other tape measures open different ways, unfortunately.
YOU ARE A GOD SEND!!! Thank youuuu
Lol I'm an atheist, but I appreciate the sentiment :)
Thank you sooo much, finally, i found your video, so clearly, it help my stuck ❤️
Great video! I had to throw mine away because the inner post that holds the tiny spring broke to pieces. Wish I saw this video before I messed up my tape measure
Omg you tutorial is awesome thank you so much!!!
Just what I needed, thank you! I wish you showed how the open the case. The broken tape was my Grandmother’s and I don’t want to force and break it.
This case was really easy to open. There's a tiny tab on the lid that matches the indentation over the slot through which the tape measure exits. The tab sticks out just enough that I pried up on it and the lid popped right off. There was nothing holding it together other than friction and exact measurements of plastic.
Very helpful video. Thank you so much 🤗😙
Thank you so much for this!
Thank you so much for this!! Just fixed mine :)
Super clear and very helpful! Thanks :D
Thank you very much for this video!!!
Thank you so much for this video!
Thank you. It's so helpful
Thank you for the help!
Amazing vídeo man, thanks you so much
Thanks for your video. I fixed mine.
2023 y acabo de ver tu video
Me sirvió mucho gracias !!
De nada
I'm trying to fix mine now, but I have no idea how to open it without breaking it :(
I broke my moms measure and then spent 2 hours trying to fix it and even cut my finger 3 times, this video saved me the second time i broke one
Always happy to help!
Thank you! My son fixed it for me! :)
Thank you💖 super helpful
I have a retractable sping just like this one but for usb mouses. the spring housing is about twice as small and frustrating as hell I can't put the spring back in
Thanks for this tutorial
Thank you so much..great help 😍
First question do all tape measures open and second how do you open it
I would assume they all open, but I can't confirm that. This one opened by popping off the lid. If you watch to the end and see how I snap it back in place, removing it was using that tiny tab on its edge to push it away from the base. The tiny tab helps it sit oriented over the opening where the tape comes out. Does that make sense?
@@sirilay the one I'm trying to open doesnt have a tab but thank you
In my case the plastic to pull the measure tape went off and now I don’t have an idea of how to open the metric tape case
Thankyou so much! Livesaving!
Muchas gracias... Preciso se me había dañado y con este video pude arreglarlo
Great video 👏👏👏👏
Am here with my sister to fix our grandma's tape measure 😅
Thanks a lot... So helpful... 😁🙏🙏
How did you get the spring in??
The tiny spring in the middle? I just placed it in. Nothing holds it there except assembling the entire tape measure.
You want to start from coiling the middle part, then keep one hand on the metal to hold the coil in place, while you use the other hand to coil the rest of the metal piece until it's wrapped all around the middle coil. To keep the coil tighter, the goal being to make the coil smaller than the spool piece so that you can just place the coil into the spool, then you want to pull on the uncoiled metal piece until the coil is small then use the hand keeping the coil in place to also hold that "new" part of the coil in place, then wrap the metal piece around the middle coil a few times, then pull to tighten, do that a few more times and you'll have a smaller coil.
It’s really helpfull. Thank you so much. Lovee. Bless you
How do you open it? I accidentally over-pulled mine, and now it doesn't go back in anymore. I have the same tape measure like yours. Thanks!
At the end of the video, you see a small tab on the lid--this lines up with a similar sized cut out on the base of the tape measure. The lid is held onto this model simply by a tight fit and slight flexibility of the plastic, no screws or other fasteners. To open, I simply used my thumbnail slid between the lid and the base at the tab and pry it open. Make sense?
@@sirilay Thank you for posting this reply. I had the same problem but wasn't sure if the top had been glued on or not. It was quite a tight fit but once it started to separate, under a little bit of pressure from me, it came apart as if I was shucking an oyster!!
What brand is this measuring tape? It seems more sturdy than others
Not sure on the brand. It was one given out by Girl Scouts, and I didn't see any markings on it to give you.
Bit of an odd question, but I'm trying to figure out why mine only partially retracts. Mine seems to be fused shut and will likely break when I open it, but I'm wondering where in the setup the issue is that makes it so only about 20cm of the tape retracts. Thanks!
My only thought is that the metal ribbon spring isn't wound tightly enough. That's what ultimately controls the force needed to retract all of the measuring tape. Or the metal spring isn't catching properly inside. That's a toughy
Thank you ❤️
Thanks!
Thank you!
My tape measure is not open its just not getting inside if i use the button. I tried to open it but it didn’t work. Any help on how to open these things up? Please!?
I'm not sure how you tried to open it, so I can't really weigh in. I pried mine open with a tiny screwdriver. If yours is glued shut, you'll have to either carefully pry it open to break that bond without cracking the casing, or perhaps try to cut through that glue with a hobby knife and some dexterity.