All the 1911’s that I have ever disassembled have been Springfield’s with the ILS system. So when ever I’ve taken off the main spring housing the mainspring and cap are sticking out of the housing. When I replaced my MSH I just assumed that it should be the same. That was until I began looking at a diagram of the pistol on www.brownells.com. I found that the mainspring cap is supposed to be held down inside the housing with a pin. I looked through my Ed Brown rebuild kit and sure enough, there was a pin just the right size. The mainspring housing is much easier to take off now The trigger feels better now also

Howdy Schapman,

Springfield omitted the pin for a reason...The ILS system uses a long cap and a short, heavy mainspring. Installing the cap pin into the ILS housing without
goin' all the way to the standard set-up can cause misfires. That short mainspring needs all the travel it can get with the extra-heavy firing pin spring.

Just FYI...

Didn't get your E-mail yet...I'll assume that we've got a "GO."

The mainspring cap isn't supposed to be held down inside the housing with the pin, on the ILS.

Sorry, Tuner, ya'll were faster on the draw.

__________________
"The pistol, learn it well, carry it always ..." - Jeff Cooper

Scott...That little bent rod that came with your Springfield is the takedown tool. Cock the hammer...Insert one end of the rod...Lower the hammer until
it flops around loose...Remove the mainspring housing pin, and the housing slides out with the spring captive.

Luck!

Quick Draw McTuner

So thats what its for!

I've replaced me ILS with a S&A Magwell Mainspring housing. I'm very happy with it.