Can a newbie change out mainspring housing?

[old okie]

I am new to 1991 pistols and have a new Rock GI. I have basic field stripped it to clean initially and learn how to do the basic disassemble and reassemble.

Now I would like to change out the mainspring housing to an arched one I bought from Auto-Ordinance (Kahr). I'm just not sure whether I can disassemble it that much myself and get it all back together again properly or should I take it to a gunsmith to get it done?

[Lance1955]

Yes, is the answer, Instead of typing it all out, I did a quick google search. Look hear, and this will answer all your questions. If you get stuck someone on here can help.
http://coolgunsite.com/disassembly/disassembly.htm

Let us know ! Congrats on the new Rock

[Mike45]

You can do it old okie. :appld:

The hardest part is compressing the spring in the MSH.

I have seen some on the board have modified a standard C-clamp to help with this.

If I can find the thread I will post it here.

Mike45

[tonka]

You can do it, provided you have the tools- basically punches- to do it with, and the info. The info can be found in the Tech Issues section, under Gunsmithing. There are also some disassembly vidoes there that might help you. The work isn't tough; I did exactly the same work to my RIA GI not long ago. I got lucky and found a housing that had the mainspring still in place, but moving your mainspring to the new housing shouldn't be all that difficult. Did you get a new spring, pins and cap with the MSH, or did it come stripped?

If you don't have properly-sized punches, resist the urge to "make do" with a tool that might not be quite right for the job. Another great tool is the set of 1911 service books written by Jerry Kuhnhausen.

[Old Fashioned]

If you get it done post a picture. I kind of like the arched housing myself but am hesitant about changing it. Don't want parts that the finish doesn't match.

[doctruptwn]

You can do it if you can tie you shoe's, Watch the video in the Gunsmithing section do a trial run without the new part. Then do it again and exchange the part. In the Tech Section there are the apropriate safty checks to make sure you have it functiong OK then enjoy. It only gets worse from here on out, Next you'll be looking to do other mods.

PS Oh one warning. Put the Mainspring houseing in a vice before you try and take it apart.

[jake129]

I can't believe no one else caught this, or did and did not say anything
I am new to >1991< pistols and have a new Rock GI.

Its a 1911...not 1991 pistol...hahaha nice typo :appld:


and yes you can do it...when you disassemble your old one i reccomend doing it in a large ziploc bag, which will aid in the recovery of the plunger cap and spring, should it decide to take flight

[old okie]

Sorry, I got in a hurry! It is definitely a 1911 Rock GI.

Thanks for all the encouragement! I'll do some studying in the areas suggested and give it a go. I do have the proper punches, etc., so am good to go from that respect. I just have the mainspring housing, so will need to transfer the parts over to the new one. Guess that is the tricky part, getting the mainspring out and compressed back in. I did see the modified 'C' clamp posting and that looks like it would be a good way to do it.

I'll let you know how it goes and post some pics when it's done!

Thanks!

[Auto Mag]

Old okie, welcome to the forum and congrats on your new RIA GI Model!!! :wc: :) I saw your 1991 reference but I knew what you meant, we all make mistakes!!!! I cannot walk on water either my friend!!!! :lm: :lm: You should have no problem with the mainspring housing at all!!!

[Joni Lynn]

I think it's a fairly easy task.
Just wear safety glasses in case the spring tries to attack you.

Welcome to the forum.

[WyoBob]

First tip: wear eye protection when working with springs.

I've had good luck putting a punch (I use heavy duty a plastic "probe") horizontally in a vice with only an inch or so sticking out. I then push the mainspring cap against the "punch" to take pressure off the retainer pin, remove the pin and then let the spring "decompress". Reverse the procedure to install the spring and cap in to your new housing.

WyoBob

[cadguy06]

I've had good luck putting a punch (I use heavy duty a plastic "probe") horizontally in a vice with only an inch or so sticking out. I then push the mainspring cap against the "punch" to take pressure off the retainer pin, remove the pin and then let the spring "decompress". Reverse the procedure to install the spring and cap in to your new housing.

Good call WyoBob...though, lacking a vice, I've been known to use the pin of the slide stop on the edge of a table or bench to do this, and usually vertically.
Ryan

[Rio Vista Slim]

First tip: wear eye protection when working with springs.

I've had good luck putting a punch (I use heavy duty a plastic "probe") horizontally in a vice with only an inch or so sticking out.
WyoBob
Although I use a regular metal punch, this procedure has worked better for me than putting the mainspring housing in a vise. You have much more control over the spring, and your other hand is free to remove the retaining pin.

[old okie]

Lessons learned - Thanks to all the responses and some searchng, I successfully changed the MSH and learned a lot from it. I rubber banded the grip safety and made one of the C-clamp tools which made it really easy to change out the housing and mainspring. However, there were some issues. First, the new arched MSH w/lanyard loop from Auto-Ordinance didn't quite fit - the holes for the MSH pin wouldn't line up enough to get the pin in. Had to file down the front side of the new MSH at the bottom and the front side of the rails, so it would come forward enough for the holes to line up. Once I got that done, and I got the pin in okay.

So, I got look I was after, but it just didn't feel as good to me when I gripped it. The way the arch hit my hand was not at all comfortable and seemed to point the muzzle slightly down. I ended up putting back the original MSH and like it much better - it feels more natural in my hand.

So, I learned more about the innards of my Rock, but also learned sometimes it's better to leave well enough alone!

[doctruptwn]

Sounds like a good experience even though, it didn't give you the feel you were looking for. At least now you know more than you did and Now you have something to build on with your next venture.