6 inch, bushing, 1911: recoil spring installation help please

[mtenenhaus]

I know it sounds silly but i'm having a heck of a time trying to install the incredibly long recoil spring set up in the pistol....6 inch long slide with bushing, 9mm.
From and accuracy perspective it shoots like a dream.

I quickly abandoned the standard GI (short) recoil rod. With a full length 2 piece rod its still an incredible bear to install.

Even using the lightest spring from Wolff it is so long it is unruly. If i cut off a few rings (shortening the spring) it is somewhat easier to install but of course the timing changes becoming ever more sluggish and to be quite honest with you its still a bear to install.

Have tried several permutations, slide on frame, slide off frame, slide upside down, progressively marching frame over springs while trying to keep the spring in place as i try to thread the rod, trying to align the spring on a longer rod...all to no avail. Hands/fingers are taking a beating.

Would sure appreciate any recommendations/help. Almost wish there were a captured set up for the gun. Perhaps a link to a video might help as well if possible.

thanks

[jericho89]

Were are you located? it is easier to show you then to explain to you. If you are close I would be willing to assist.

[mtenenhaus]

thank you.......san diego

[kcstott]

Straight up brute force and carefuly located fingers, But I can't say that about a 6" slide.

I for sure would not cut coils off the spring. thats a sure way to screw things up in a bad way.

[mtenenhaus]

follow up: My neighbor was kind enough to drill a hole in the rod for me. Can't wait to try it.

i'll definitely replace the spring as well.

[mtenenhaus]

tried the rod with the hole in it....didn't help because the overall length of the rod is still too long to extract from the slide without seperating the shaft.

i put in a new uncut spring....slowly marched the spring over a chopstick as it's thinner and flexible, this allowed me to the exchange the stick for the rod after placing the frame on the slide to keep the spring from springing out....still took a lot of time and hassle. there has to be a better way.

at least its in for now.

[kcstott]

tried the rod with the hole in it....didn't help because the overall length of the rod is still too long to extract from the slide without seperating the shaft.

i put in a new uncut spring....slowly marched the spring over a chopstick as it's thinner and flexible, this allowed me to the exchange the stick for the rod after placing the frame on the slide to keep the spring from springing out....still took a lot of time and hassle. there has to be a better way.

at least its in for now.

I've always installed the guide rod first then spring and plug, then rotated the bushing to capture everything.

And yeah even on a two piece rod this is still how I do it.

[mtenenhaus]

Perhaps my 2 piece guide rod is a bit too long as it extends beyond the front of the slide. The hex keyed portion is as you can imagine at the front so i can't easily reduce its length.

May have to look at another brand rod.

[MosinVirus]

Perhaps my 2 piece guide rod is a bit too long as it extends beyond the front of the slide. The hex keyed portion is as you can imagine at the front so i can't easily reduce its length.

May have to look at another brand rod.

How deep does the hex cut go? You may still be able to reduce the length that way. If not, couldn't you cut both parts back at the joint? As in, reduce the upper piece a little and cut back the threaded portion if it ends by being too long, producing a gap when fully screwed in.

When working with 2 piece rods, I usually put the barrel into the slide, bushing in place and turned to the right. Put the guide rod head half with spring on it into the slide at the barrel link, with spring protruding through the front of the slide. Put the slide onto the frame, with spring still protruding. Slide stop through the link. Cock the hammer engage the thumb safety, stand the gun upright muzzle up. Put the spring plug over the spring and push it down. Turn the bushing to lock spring plug as usual. Then screw in the front half of the guide rod.

To disassemble a 2 piece, I would first unscrew the front section of the rod, then disassemble like the GI setup - push spring plug down, turn bushing, slowly allow the spring to expand out the front of the slide, move the slide to take down notch, remove slide stop, take the slide off, remove second half of the guide rod and spring toward the rear of the slide.

With one piece guide rods with a hole in the middle for spring cap tool, I take the slide off by moving it back to take down notch, remove the slide stop. Push the guide rod head toward the spring plug until the hole in the guide rod gets exposed. Put the L shaped pin into the hole, then remove the capped spring, guide rod and spring plug as one unit toward the back. Because on at least one guide rod the hole was drilled horizontally, parallel to the dust cover top, so getting an L shaped tool in there was difficult.

Here is a video of how I removed my 2 piece.


And how I reinstall it

[mtenenhaus]

Thank you, appreciate the help. I'll play with it some more.

Got a kick out of your use of a chopstick...its one of my favorite tools as well. I keep one in my range bag and another on my work bench, helpfull to nock out pins, i have also used it to help sand nooks and crannies (dipped in abrasive), i even use it as a cleaning rod wrapping some paper towel moistened in solvent.

I also noted that fusion sells a longer recoil spring plug that is milled in such a way that it allows one to employ a 5 inch recoil spring instead of the 6 inch recoil spring which might make it all even easier.

[kcstott]

I have full length guide rods that are flush with the plug. I installed a two piece on my brothers pistol.

In both cases the guide rod was in one piece installed in the slide with the barrel. I can install the spring and plug rotate the bushing and then install on the frame, Or I can install the slide on the frame first and insert the plug and sling the bushing but either way I just shove the spring home with the plug and rotate the bushing and call it a day.

[dwalker]

Perhaps my 2 piece guide rod is a bit too long as it extends beyond the front of the slide. The hex keyed portion is as you can imagine at the front so i can't easily reduce its length.

May have to look at another brand rod.

My Wilson full length rod was not relieved at the back to allow it to properly fit against the barrel lug and had to be ground slightly to fit properly.

[mtenenhaus]

i'll definitely examine that as well. I do know that as a composite it is currently too long for direct installation. I'll also see if i can manage to shorten it. I'm strating to think that perhaps it was not in spec. Can't recall where i purchased it from unfortunately.

Worse comes to worse i'll go ahead and purchase the Fusion rod. Hopefully trying another brand will prove differently. Hate to waste more money

Sure appreciate everyone's help. Really enjoy learning

[MosinVirus]

i'll definitely examine that as well. I do know that as a composite it is currently too long for direct installation. I'll also see if i can manage to shorten it. I'm strating to think that perhaps it was not in spec. Can't recall where i purchased it from unfortunately.

Worse comes to worse i'll go ahead and purchase the Fusion rod. Hopefully trying another brand will prove differently. Hate to waste more money

Sure appreciate everyone's help. Really enjoy learning

Did you try the method I show in videos and Kcstott is taking about (I believe they are the same)?

[AreWeNotMen?]

tips for an SA TM Longslide?

I should probably start a new post, but just in case there is a wizard lurking here....

I have a SA Trophy Match Longslide that I have a heck of a time with reassembling the barrel, spring, and full length guide rod. Oh...and it's bushingless like in this photo (not mine). And no, I don't want to replace the two-piece FL guide rod. I read the manual, I've Googled 'til my fingers bled, etc...but I'm just not gettin' it. A video "proving" it can be done in a sane fashion would be ideal.