Staked Grip Bushing Removal

[thehead7]

I've got a Springfield1911-A1 frame that is being reborn into a weapon that I can love...

Anyhow, I'm trying to figure out how to remove the grip bushings. They are swaged from behind and refuse to budge. I know there has to be some reasonable way to remove these...

Can anyone help me out?

Thanks,
-Head

[stumbler]

If you want to remove them because they are too long for the grip, you could carefully file them shorter.

Or, put a screw in (so as not crush them) and use (dare I say it?) Vise grips. I would tape the frame to protect it.

Why do you want to remove them anyways? (I'm curious)

[thehead7]

Well, to start with, I do not intend to re-use the bushings, so destroying them during removal doesn't bother me, as long as the frame is not damaged.

I want to remove the grip bushings so that I can more easily vise the frame so that I can fit it to the slide. I am also toying with the idea of machine checkering the front strap, but this is something that will take some research. If I had a CNC milling machine, et cetera, I know I could figure it out without too much issue, but I've got a little ways to go before I can do my own checkering...

Anyhow, I guess I'll give the vise grips a shot and see how it works out.

Thanks,
-Head

[stumbler]

I still would use screws as a filler. If a bushing gets "crushed", you will have to drill and re-tap. And use tape to protect the frame.

[Harlie]

Staking, a thread is damaged, won't that bushing thread ,when it is removed cause damage to the threads in the frame? Using wood, carefully and closely matching mag shape, make filler to insert into frame that extends below mag well and use this to retain frame while doing slide to frame fitting. If you have machine shop access, make one from alum' or steel (?). Brownell's sell jig's for this purpose also. Enjoy your endeavers.

[John]

Well, to start with, I do not intend to re-use the bushings, so destroying them during removal doesn't bother me, as long as the frame is not damaged.

I want to remove the grip bushings so that I can more easily vise the frame so that I can fit it to the slide. I am also toying with the idea of machine checkering the front strap, but this is something that will take some research. If I had a CNC milling machine, et cetera, I know I could figure it out without too much issue, but I've got a little ways to go before I can do my own checkering...

Anyhow, I guess I'll give the vise grips a shot and see how it works out.

Thanks,
-Head
I am puzzled. You do not intend to re-use the bushings? How do you plan to mount the grips back on?

[jcmios]

Removing staked bushings usually requires you to drill out the bushing center so that you are a few thousands from the threads in the frame. If you have a mill this is easy to do, if you have a drill press it hast to have almost zero run out on the spindle. Once drilled out you can use a sharp pick to press in and fold the bushing inward and remove it. Once one side is done the other side is easier as you can drill out the back side to a point just below the crimp and then unscrew then as usual.

Most frame clamps index off the bushings so you should not need to remove them to peen down the frame rails, or hold the frame in a vise.

[thehead7]

John: I will be replacing the bushings after I destroy them :)

Thanks for all the good advice. I think drilling out the center is going to be my best/safest bet. I do have access to a milling machine here at the office...

Generally speaking, having staked on bushings kind of bothers me. I much prefer to loc-tite them in place, as this has never given me trouble, and it allows me to remove them later for whatever reason with realative ease. (If worst comes to worst, I may have to heat things up a bit, but I still don't have to risk damaging the frame...)

If I get a wild hare and decide to try slim grips, I can indeed file down the current bushings, but then if I want to switch back, I'll have to change the bushings any way... I'd prefer to get things taken care of now rather then after I put a bunch of work into this thing. (In other words, if I am going to destroy the frame, I want to do it now, rather than after I've invested time on it).

I understand that I may end up dropping some money in the name of experience while learning to do all of the things I want to do, but I just can't seam to find a cheaper way to learn :)

Thanks a bunch, folks!
-Head

[stumbler]

Everything posted is possibly a lesson for others.



Keep us informed. Thanks, stumbler

[thehead7]

I ended up carefully using a pair of channel locks to remove the bushing.

In my case it worked, but I wouldn't recommend it if the bushings are excessively swaged. The swaged area did SLIGHTLY mar the threads, but I was able to re-install bushings without issue. Had the old bushings been swaged any more than they were, I could have had problems...

The next time I do it (If there is a next time), I think I'm going to vise the weapon on the mill and go that route...

Thanks, everyone, for all of the advice.

Oorah
-Head