How To Fix a Broken Spring on an O’Keefe and Merritt Stove

You hear a pop and suddenly the stove door on your O’Keefe and Merritt flops down. Thankfully, with an O’Keefe and Merritt, you’ve got a stove that’s easy to fix. All you need to do is access the springs and repair or replace them. Here’s how you do it–read the rest after the jump:

1. Depending on the model of your stove, you’ll be able to get at one of the springs via an access door. On my stove the access door is located below and to the left of the oven door on the inside of a storage compartment. If that’s the only spring that’s broken all you need to do is pull it out and find a replacement at a hardware store or stove repair shop.

2. My broken spring was on the side of the stove that does not have an access door. To get at this spring I had to remove the side panel of the stove, which is easy to do. The side panel is removed by taking out a set of screws you’ll find along the back of the stove. Once the screws are out, pull the panel off and you should see another access door on the lower left side as you’re looking at the side of the stove. The spring will be behind this panel. I looped in a piece of wire to temporarily repair the spring as I had a loaf of bread to bake.

Put the access door and the side panel back on and you’re ready to go. If only newer products were built with ease of repair in mind!

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21 Comments

  1. Thanks Eric – inspired me to fix my over door on my O’K & M stove. Maybe try to pull it off this weekend!

  2. I wish fixing our OKM was this easy. We have a 1952 model 425-8 with these crazy roller thingies inside. Very hard to find. But so worth it. It took us three years to get the door fixed. The left hinge on our oven door was bent when we bought it. We tried to find a new door. No go. There are plenty of doors out there online to buy but none that use these roller thingies. So I finally brought our door to a local welder. He fixed it for $30. Then we found the roller thingies. Now we’re waiting on the new springs to arrive. It’s been three years cooking in a toaster oven and on a grill. I can’t wait to be able to bake.

  3. This is identical to my Grandma’s OK&M. I’d love to find one again. Learned to cook by her side.

    • Apparently there is a premium on this model because it’s small and will fit in an apartment. We were lucky to have found it in a thrift store. It works great.

  4. We have an O’K & M Oven with sprung door springs! Unfortunately, it is built into the wall. I’m wondering, if we can get a handiman to deal with it, do you think your instructions would work? The house was built in 1956 and the oven is original to the house. It works great, otherwise!
    Thanks

  5. My Okeefe-Merritt stove was bought in 1954. I love it! It has two ovens (side by side), four eyes, and a griddle. One of the oven doors is broken; it is hard to open, makes a loud noise, and sometimes can’t be completly closed. It is not built in. Can you suggest someone who could repair it? I live in Dallas, at (214) 348-0055.

  6. Here’s hoping that I find the broken spring when I open the left-side access door! Otherwise, I have to pull the stove out from its counter slot. 🙂

    Thanks for the write-up.

  7. Hi…I have this same stove..do you know what year and model it is? Do you know if it can be retrofit to have electronic ignition? I am remodeling my kitchen and love it but it doesn’t cook well! Someone told me it was worth $4K..is that true? Thanks for any info!

    • Hey Julie–I’ve been told it’s worth a lot of money too. Not sure why. And I think it can be retrofitted but I’m not sure. I’d seek out a repair shop that specializes in old stoves. Let me know what you find out.

  8. Bless your heart for posting these instructions! Now I just have to find the springs. Did you have a hard time finding a replacement?

  9. Pingback: My O’Keefe & Merritt Stove Restoration | Desiree's Vintage Stove Adventures

  10. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! My stove door sproigned last night and I was acclimating to living with an un-sprung door. Now, after a bit of elbow grease, it’s even better than it was before. Your photos/ description were invaluable!!!

    • You are welcome! And another tip–get a cheap oven thermometer (maybe two). A repair person suggested this. Good way of making sure the oven is accurate.

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