Installing Hammer Strut Pins

[eafoster]

Kuhnhausen seems to be silent on this subject and searching these forums also yields silence.

I am replacing a strut and using a new pin. The new pin is a slip fit. But the installed pin was very tight and had to be driven out.

Factory installed pins have a dimple on the ends of the pins - are the pins swaged in place? Are the pins supposed to be a tight fit at all? Perhaps the new pin I have is incorrect?

Help is appreciated - thanks

[John]

The pins are supposed to be staked in place, hence the dimples you saw on your original one.

[eafoster]

Kinda sorta expected that John, but wanted to be sure before I started whacking on things.

Thanks

[Hawkmoon]

I think it is CDNN that sells roll pins for hammer pins. They provide a good friction fit without requiring staking.

[emilio]

i recently installed a new hammer, strut, and pin and used some blue thread locker (the temporary stuff) on the pin. with just a slight dab on both sides, i put the pin in and wiped up any excess, then made sure the strut was free to turn after the thread locker set.

i realized afterwards that i may have used the mainspring cap retention pin, as it was headed and needed to be shortened a bit... WHOOPS! but, hey, it fits flush and there haven't been any problems in almost 500 rounds!

- emilio

[1911Tuner]

I usually spread the pin itself with a sharp punch. Makes it easier and less invasive if I have to remove the strut. Somethin' about beatin' or filin' on the cheaper part just won't let me whack on a hammer...

There was a time that strut pins were a press-fit in the hammer/slip fit in the strut...but that was another world.