Running with a broken recoil spring?

I searched the forums and it seems to be the opinion of some that if a recoil spring is broken, you just run with it until it breaks in a few other places?

My 225 has a broken spring on the right track, by the look of the break, it has been broken for some time. Do these break over time due to fatigue, or is it an indication of some kind of "event"?

[attachment=60241]225-recoil.jpg[/attachment]

the cause could be from either one--mine lasted over 20 years broken before it just let go in many places