Abstract: A spindle nut remains attached to a dye spindle for repeated dye operations and includes radially projecting cam surfaces for successively guiding and locking a lock ring against outward movement relative to the spindle nut at the beginning of successive dye operations. A pressure plate engages the outermost yarn package on the dye spindle and a tube is fixed to the pressure plate and extends outwardly about the spindle toward the lock ring at the beginning of each dye operation, terminating in spaced relation from the lock ring. The pressure obtained during each successive dye operation moves the pressure plate outwardly until the tube engages the lock ring to hold the yarn packages on the spindle during dyeing.