Plunger spring on series 80 1911has sprung loose…

[boisepaw]

This is why one should never go to far in cleaning a gun.

After trouble with the firing pin block it hook it all apart and in all the fussing to put it back together, the tiny spring flew out to parts unknown.

Any nearby options for the part or better yet, someone to help get it put back together?

Or a couple weeks from Brownells?

 

[inkd]

You can remove all the series 80 crap. You just need to get a shim to place in the frame to take up the space. Brownells sells them and I think Wilson Combat makes their own brand as well.

 

[Magnumite]

When you get a replacement put a kink in the center of the plunger spring. You can do this with small needle nose pliers by squeezing two adjacent spring coils. The spring ends will look off center when viewed from the side. That will prevent spring and pin launches from occuring.

To compress the spring to install the thumb safety 10-8 makes a depressing tool. A couples do also. You can also use a pipet plastic straw, like from a Breakfree bottle. A 1/16” long drift punch works. And so does a small pocket screw driver.

Using any of the above, install the spring and pins into the plunger tube. Install the thumb safety until the thumb safety just touches the extending detent pin. Use whatever tool to push the plunger in. While doing so, push on the thumb safety. Bimbo…the thumb safety pops into place.

 

[John from MD]

When you get a replacement put a kink in the center of the plunger spring. You can do this with small needle nose pliers by squeezing two adjacent spring coils. The spring ends will look off center when viewed from the side. That will prevent spring and pin launches from occuring.

To compress the spring to install the thumb safety 10-8 makes a depressing tool. A couples do also. You can also use a pipet plastic straw, like from a Breakfree bottle. A 1/16” long drift punch works. And so does a small pocket screw driver.

Using any of the above, install the spring and pins into the plunger tube. Install the thumb safety until the thumb safety just touches the extending detent pin. Use whatever tool to push the plunger in. While doing so, push on the thumb safety. Bimbo…the thumb safety pops into place.

Err, he is talking about the firing pin safety spring.

 

[BurtonRW]

You’re supposed to disassemble these things in a plastic bag if at all possible. Otherwise, I’ve had success in finding small springs (when I didn’t follow my own advice) by stretching a pair of pantyhose over the end of a vacuum cleaner and searching about where I thought it might have landed.

-Rob

 

[Magnumite]

You’re supposed to disassemble these things in a plastic bag if at all possible. Otherwise, I’ve had success in finding small springs (when I didn’t follow my own advice) by stretching a pair of pantyhose over the end of a vacuum cleaner and searching about where I thought it might have landed.

-Rob

That’s a nifty hack.

 

[Magnumite]

Err, he is talking about the firing pin safety spring.

Duh…!!!! You daaa man!

 

[boisepaw]

Gratitude to Doug at Tuckahoe Gun Works. Had a spring and the gun put back together and functioning by noon yesterday. Within 15 hours if my listing the spring. Wow!

 

[kshaw]

A few years ago, I took my 1933 government model 1911 to the NRA range. The firing spring and firing pin popped out and landed in front of me about 5 feet away. The Range Officer had to call a cease fire so that I could retrieve the parts.

 

[John from MD]

A few years ago, I took my 1933 government model 1911 to the NRA range. The firing spring and firing pin popped out and landed in front of me about 5 feet away. The Range Officer had to call a cease fire so that I could retrieve the parts.

You are one lucky guy. I saw that happen to a guy on a grass range and we never found anything.