The present invention provides improved and more efficient methods and apparatus for maintaining and/or adjusting over-travel gaps and contact wipe portions in operating rod assemblies of circuit interrupters. According to one embodiment of the invention, a circuit interrupter comprises a fixed electrical contact; a moveable electrical contact; an operating rod assembly comprising at least one contact spring for imparting a corresponding opening or closing force to the contacts; a moveable contact stem operatively coupled between the moveable electrical contact and the operating rod assembly for positioning the moveable electrical contact into or out of engagement with the fixed electrical contact; and an adjustment member adjustably disposed on an opposite end of the circuit interrupter relative to the moveable electrical contact from the at least one contact spring; wherein motion of the operating rod assembly causes the moveable electrical contact to move into or out of engagement with the fixed electrical contact via motion of the moveable contact stem and wherein the moveable electrical contact moves into or out of engagement with the fixed electrical contact with application of force imparted by the contact spring, and wherein the adjustment member is capable of adjusting the force imparted by the contact spring when moving the moveable electrical contact into or out of engagement with the fixed electrical contact.

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