Changing the main spring housing

[Diode]

I decided to change out my Main Spring Housing on my RIA Officers model for a couple of reasons. One, I prefer the serration and two, just to learn how. Upon comparing the one from my RIA and the Ed Brown I ordered in the whole for the spring is larger in the EB.

Do I need to replace the Cap and pin retainer with one from Ed Brown as well?

Will I need to replace the spring?

Boy, I really thought I could handle this little project my self... guess not.

jim

[Diode]

In case anyone would like to know besides me.... Ed Browns "Officers Model" Main Spring Housing is drilled over size and requires you to get the Cap and bottom piece to match from them. This includes the Bobbed version form what they tell me.

jim

[1911Tuner]

In case anyone would like to know besides me.... Ed Browns "Officers Model" Main Spring Housing is drilled over size and requires you to get the Cap and bottom piece to match from them. This includes the Bobbed version form what they tell me.

jim

Howdy Jim. The officer's Models from Colt had larger diameter springs, caps, and plungers. The reason was to try and compensate for the shortened length of the springs. Sometimes the aftermarket vendors tell us this in the fine pring...Sometimes they assume that we know.

[auto45]

I never knew that. On a "quiz show", I would have lost all my money on that one. ;)

[Diode]

Howdy Jim. The officer's Models from Colt had larger diameter springs, caps, and plungers. The reason was to try and compensate for the shortened length of the springs. Sometimes the aftermarket vendors tell us this in the fine pring...Sometimes they assume that we know.

Thanks Tuner, I ordered the rebuild kit from E.B. it has springs and parts and all the roll pins. I was not sure and the girl on the phone at E.B. did not know if the spring was going to be larger as well but with what your saying it will be. I'll need to check the weight I guess.

[1911Tuner]

I never knew that. On a "quiz show", I would have lost all my money on that one. ;)


Yep. Same principle as with the redesigned guts in Springfield's ILS system.
The mainspring is shorter, so they upped the compressed load from 23 pounds to 28.

[Diode]

Oops, Tuner you mentioned "plunger". Will I need to replace it as well? I thought about that but I figured the diameter of the Cap would not matter to the plunger.... right? :butthead:

[Diode]

I never knew that. On a "quiz show", I would have lost all my money on that one. ;)

Don't feel too bad, none of my gun buddies had a clue either. I cant wait to crack open my Kimber and see what it has. :scared:

[1911Tuner]

Oops, Tuner you mentioned "plunger". Will I need to replace it as well? I thought about that but I figured the diameter of the Cap would not matter to the plunger.... right? :butthead:


Hard to tell. I've seen standard-sized plungers in OM housings and larger-diameter plungers. I don't know if Colt started out using the standard plungers and later switched...or if the aftermarket has stuck to standard or not. I don't get a chance to go into many of the semi-customs and have only seen one bobtail...and I didn't crack the mainspring housing.