This was a job done for Benjamin, whose first Great Wheel (which he has named Anastasia) came with a broken maiden and no spindle (totally typical!). See pics here, media/set/?s...
Alan made a new maiden, fixed a split in the Mother of All, and made a new spindle. At that point, the ball is in my court. Here, I am putting the spindle onto my own wheel to test it.
I thought it would be a good opportunity to show this process.
Unlike with the flax wheel (for which you are constantly taking & putting the flyer & bobbin assembly off & on), you do not often go through this process of putting the drivecord & spindle together on the Great Wheel. However, it is a valuable exercise to watch, especially since the entirety is a learning exercise about how SIMPLE these wheels are and how SIMPLE the tension is and how SIMPLE it is to get past the tool and do what you wish to do: spin.
Yes. I love Great Wheels. :)