Greenhorn reassembly/no hammer cock

[Rock45]

Hi Folks,
I am new to the 1911's and I detail stripped my Taurus PT1911SS for the first time. I reassembled the bottom (frame) portion and the hammer will not cock. I tried to cock before putting the slide on. Any suggestions on how to get this fixed up? Thanks!
Wayne

[pa_guns]

Hi

Two possibilities:

1) The hammer does not move at all

2) The hammer swings back, but does not "catch" at the end of it's travel.

Depending on which one we have here, the exact solution is a bit different.

There are several guides in the technical section of this forum that go into putting a 1911 back together. They show how to put the spring in behind main spring housing, so it does not block the sear. They also show how to get the hammer strut positioned so it goes into the MSH properly.

There *should* be a reasonable explanation of that in with the pistol. I don't own a Taurus, so I'm not sure what they include.

Bob

[log man]

Hi Folks,
I am new to the 1911's and I detail stripped my Taurus PT1911SS for the first time. I reassembled the bottom (frame) portion and the hammer will not cock. I tried to cock before putting the slide on. Any suggestions on how to get this fixed up? Thanks!
Wayne
Probabilities are very high that the sear spring isn't as it should be. Disassemble down to sear disco and hammer, the sear spring lays on top of the sear on the left and on the disconnector in the middle, now slip in the MSH and align the strut, slide in the GS and push the MSH up the rest of the way and while bearing down on the bench top with the MSH install the pin, cock the hammer and install the thumb safety.

LOG

[Rock45]

Thanks Guys.
I've been busy at work so just getting back to it. I did read the strip down procedures and the animations here on the forum but I still didn't get it right. The hammer did come back but did not engage the sear. I will try again today. I'll let you know how I make out. Thanks again for your help!
Wayne

[niemi24s]

Here's how the sear spring leaves (leafs?) must fit onto the sear and disconnector for proper operation:http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p232/niemi24s/P092090002b.jpg

[pa_guns]

Hi

The only easy way for the hammer not to catch the sear is exactly what is shown in the previous post. The the sear spring is not "pushing" the sear into position. Put in in like in the picture above and it *should work*. The only hard thing to see is that the "fingers" go towards the sear when you look at the spring from the side ....

Bob

[Rock45]

Bob,
I got it! That photo did the trick along with the reassembly tips from log man.
I really appreciate you guys helping me out!
I'll have to strip again to lubricate as I was just trying to learn how to reassemble...now it's fun!
I'll be buying another 1911 in the near future...just haven't chosen one yet.
Thanks again!!!
Wayne

[Rock45]

OOPS!!!
I forgot Niemi24s! Thanks so much!!!
Wayne

[pa_guns]

OOPS!!!
I forgot Niemi24s! Thanks so much!!!
Wayne

Hi

Yup, he's the one that did all the work coming up with the picture.

Bob

[Rock45]

Yes, that is the best picture I have seen(I saved it to help some else in the future or for reference) so thanks again Niemi24s! Also, I was trying to put the GS on before sliding the MSH up into place and the SS kept jumping out of place so thanks to Log Man for directing me in a better procedure. Most strip down instructions give great strip down procedures but most say to just reverse the procedure for assembly...maybe, maybe not. Thanks to Bob(the first responder) for also responding with diagnotic help.
Take care!!!
Wayne

[Rock45]

Ok, ok, it's diagnostic!

[pa_guns]

Hi

The picture above is great for the position of the spring. It's not so great in terms of how much lube you should have running down the spring :D :D :D

Bob

[Rock45]

Bob'
That's just a semi-polished middle finger with light reflection! :D :D :D

[niemi24s]

OK, OK, enough already! Here's one with the oil all swabbed off and a nice new Colt sear spring: http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p232/niemi24s/P093160001b.jpgThis one's a timed exposure (~ 1+ sec.) in ambient light to eliminate glare from the lamp.

[pa_guns]

Hi

There's gotta be *something* I can pick on in that picture :D :D :D :D

Bob

[Rock45]

Maybe the pretty duo-tone (wood/pink) grips! :lh:

[pa_guns]

Hi

The picture does give you a pretty good idea of which fingers are forward and which are back.

What's wrong with pink duo tone grips? Every gun show I go to seems to have more and more firearms in pink ...

Bob

[niemi24s]

Relax, guys. That pink is just a rag I put down to cover up the junk on the bench. Really. Scout's honor. No kiddin'. :p

The gun handles are just regular wooden Herrett's. Honest. No foolin'.

Cheers

[Rock45]

Niemi24s,
I saw the pink rag in the backround and new it was just a reflection from the light! Bob was looking for *something* and in good fun, that was about it. A fine photo that really helped out! Thanks much!!! ;)
Wayne