The invention relates to a method for controlling at least one component executing a work function, for instance a weft yarn gripper (1), which serves as work equipment of a weaving machine. In the weft yarn gripper, the components (2) are mechanically pretensioned by a lever (5) that is actuated from the outside and a spring (6) that is configured in the form of an energy storage device and that is arranged in the body of the weft yarn gripper. A constructional element (9) that is connected to the components (2) is axially driven in an actuator (11) that exerts a clamping effect on the constructional element. The actuator (11) is controlled by an auxiliary energy in such a way that the components (2) are locked in the pretensioned positioned at a first point in time whereby the yarn trapper (4) is closed and at a second point in time pretensioning is released and the yarn trapper (4) is opened.