Mainspring housing fitting issues

[holyhandgrenade]

Hi all
I wasnt sure if this should go in "handguns" or here, but I decided here, feel free to move it if it fits better in there...

Anyway, heres my issue. I have a GI RIA that I wanted to install an arched mainspring housing with lanyard loop on for the full WWII look. The problem is that when I try to install the mainspring housing pin the holes in the frame and housing itself do not totally line up, its close but not quite. This is the second one Ive tried neither of them have worked (this on is from Numerich, the first one from Kahr and was significantly worse). I am beginning to wonder if its not my pistol itself at this point, although I havent heard of any issues related to this with Armscor guns.
Everything else seems to fit fine, but Im unsure how to fix the hole lining up issue. As I understood things, it should just slip right into place, however now Im beginning to wonder how much "fitting" is actually required. It seems like I could just enlarge the hole in the MSH to allow the pin to slip through, however Im unsure if that is in anyway safe/recommended.

I tried to put some talc inside to show where the two sets of holes do not line up.



Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[FMJBT]

Is there enough room under the mainspring housing so that it could bo moved inboard to line up with the hole in the frame? If there is, you may be able to mill away some of the rails on the outer edges of the MS housing, leaving only 1/2" or less of the rail at the top on each side intact. Remove a little of that rail at a time on each side until it develops enough play to allow the holes to line up. You may end up with only 1/4" or so of contact on each side between the shortened rails and the coroosponding slots in the grip frame, but that should still be more than enough to keep the MS housing in place when pinned in.

You could also elongate or enlarge the hole in the MS housing enough to pass the pin through. The only other option would be to modify the hole in the grip frame to line up with the MS housing, but that would be my last resort. I try to refrain from permanent modifications to the frame whenever possible

[saki302]

The housing looks flush with the bottom of the gun.

You can safely elongate the MSH hole with a round (thin) file to make it fit. Work slowly, and check for fit often. You will be filing for a LONG time

-Dave

[GM4spd]

The reason is doesn't line up is because spring tension is PUSHING it out.
You need to gently push down from the top of the frame until the hole
LINES UP then slide the pin in--DONT take a file to the hole. Pete

[team06]

Slide the MSH into place, stand the pistol upright with the MSH loop on the bench. Push the gun straight down and it will compress he spring enough to let you push the pin in almost halfway through. There may be a mainspring retainer pin on the lower end of the spring that slightly protrudes into that pin "channel", the retaining pin will need to be tapped past that pin (if it's there, some don't have one). A lot of the retaining pins (that goesfrom side to side) have a indent that the Mainspring retaining pin fits into, you push (or lightly tap) the retaining pin in until the mainspring retaining pin "clicks" in to lock the retaining pin into place.

I know... clear as mud. Try it though it SHOULD work. Do yourself a favor and do not remove any metal from the frame, it is a pain to put that metal back in :-)

[Kruzr]

This can happen when the hammer strut isn't centered on the manispring cap when you try to push the MSH up. Make sure the strut is in the recess and on the cap when you push the MSH up.

You also need to make sure the top of the MSH isn't hitting the grip safety too soon. If so, you will need to fit the MSH but this would be a very rare case.

To make sure, measure the new MSH and the old one that came off the gun.

[Beelzy]

You have the proper flush fit, so the hammer strut theory is out.

Just make the hole in the MSH larger, simple as that.

[holyhandgrenade]

Wow, thanks for all the replies.
I should have mentioned that the entire pistol is taken apart, the hammer strut wasnt even in it.

I figured that just enlarging/elongating the hole would be an ok option, I just wanted to make sure. I REALLY didnt want to touch my frame, dont think I even want it that much...

Well, I guess when I have some (alot of) free time Ill get a tiny file and go to work making that MSH hole bigger.

Thanks again all.

[Beelzy]

Screw the file, just get a drill bit the exact size of the hole and ream the hole
a tad bigger.

Time is money.

[holyhandgrenade]

Screw the file, just get a drill bit the exact size of the hole and ream the hole
a tad bigger.

Time is money.

Ha, yeah, I thought about that... I went with the file anyway tho, just to be sure.

Anyway, I finished it up tonight, ~2.5 hours later I was done. On the upside, it beats doing midterm work...

Here she is all done:



Thanks again