Mainspring Retainer Pin

[jaustin72403]

What is the best way to get out the mainspring retainer pin out of the mainspring housing? I have a relatively new Kimber, and I am trying to replace the mainspring housing with an S&A magwell housing. The pin doesn't seem to want to budge. Any suggestions? Thanks

[Bud White]

Tap it out with a round punch or brownell's Makes a Removal tool some of them are a bear to get in and out

[Hunter]

Tip of an AR 15 firing pin.

[bearboy]

If you have an old mouse pad,put the pistol on it on it's side thumbsafety up . If the pin is just stuck a little penetrating oil around it won't hurt a thing.with the hammer down you can frequently use your left hand to hold the pistol and with your index finger relieve the pressure of the mainspring on the pin by pressing the bottom of the housing up toward the hammer then use the punch to press the pin out..sounds complicated really isn't.if that fails us a punch preferably brass to avoiding marring.in a pinch i have used large nails and small phillips screwdrivers.a folded piece of cloth over the pin is nice.If the pin in really stuck it may require a sharp rap with a small hammer on your punch to free it. good luck.

[Hawkmoon]

Point of order, Mr. Chairman, point of order.

WHICH mainspring pin are we talking about here? The answers given above relate to the pin that holds the mainspring housing into the frame, but there's also the little pin that holds the mainspring cap in the mainspring housing. And that little guy is under a lot of spring pressure. You don't want to just puch that one out without having the mainspring compressed and under control, or you risk injury and will almost certainly lose some parts.

The way I read the post, you're asking about the mainspring cap pin, but obviously other fols read it differently so I thiught I should ask.

[Hunter]

I was figuring the mainspring pin and not the mainspring housing pin. The tip of the AR 15 firing pin will push the mainspring pin about half way out. Then you can get control of the mainspring cap and pull the mainspring pin the rest of the way out. If you were talking about the mainspring housing pin an AR 15 firing pin will work for that as well as the hammer and sear pin (thanks Tuner).

[jaustin72403]

I'm talking about the mainspring pin that holds the mainspring in place. I have already removed the housing from the gun, the pin won't budge.

[1911Tuner]

Clamp it in a vise firmly, but don't crush it. Just turn til it gets tight and cinch it a little. Use needle-nosed pliers to push down on the cap to get the pressure off the pin. Use a small nail to push the pin part-way out the back...then reach around and grab it with your thumb and finger. Ease up on the pliers.

Reassemble in reverse order.

The tip of an AR-15 firing pin will work, and makes a dandy armorer's tool for the other pins.

[jaustin72403]

I don't have a vise, or an Ar-15 firing pin. I am limited to just a tool box with various tools. I do have needle nose pliers.

[1911Tuner]

I don't have a vise, or an Ar-15 firing pin. I am limited to just a tool box with various tools. I do have needle nose pliers.

Drive a finishing nail into a heavy wooden bench. Leave about a quarter-inch stickin' up. Turn the housing upside down and push it onto the nail head to get the tension off the cap retaining pin. Push the pin out with the tip of a small nail. Release tension slowly.