The M1911 Pistols Organization Forums Site - Two Grip Screws Stripped
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United States  Old 21st June 2009, 19:16
stevenorlando stevenorlando is offline
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Two Grip Screws Stripped

Hello All!

Today I went to take the grips off of my Springfield LW Operator, and two of them got stripped. VERY CHEAP SCREWS! I didn't put much pressure on them or anything like that.

How do I get them out. Is there any kind of part out there to help me get them out?

I never had much luck with screw extractors
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United States  Old 21st June 2009, 19:34
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What precisely is stripped: the grip screw in the grip screw bushing or the grip screw bushing in the frame?
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United States  Old 21st June 2009, 19:42
stevenorlando stevenorlando is offline
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The Grip Screw

The grip screw is stripped. I'm not sure about the bushing!

Steve
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United States  Old 21st June 2009, 19:49
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If it's the "male" screw threads that are stripped, just buy new screws. If it's the "female" threads on the frame, aka known as bushings, then then can also just be replaced.

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Old 21st June 2009, 21:48
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He's asking how to remove them. They can't be replaced while they are stuck in the gun.

Are they both on the same side? If you should be so fortunate, then you can remove the grip from the opposite side, insert a thin probe through the bushings from the back, and use that to apply pressure against the screws while turnng them.

If they aren't on the same side, a similar exercise but using something bent into a 'L' shape to apply pressure from within the magazine well might work.
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United States  Old 21st June 2009, 22:56
stevenorlando stevenorlando is offline
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no,on different sides

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawkmoon
He's asking how to remove them. They can't be replaced while they are stuck in the gun.

Are they both on the same side? If you should be so fortunate, then you can remove the grip from the opposite side, insert a thin probe through the bushings from the back, and use that to apply pressure against the screws while turnng them.

If they aren't on the same side, a similar exercise but using something bent into a 'L' shape to apply pressure from within the magazine well might work.


They are not on the same side

On another forum it was suggested to superglue a hex wrench into the screwhole, and hopefully I can back out the screw.

Steve
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United States  Old 21st June 2009, 23:29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stevenorlando
They are not on the same side

On another forum it was suggested to superglue a hex wrench into the screwhole, and hopefully I can back out the screw.

Steve

Yes, that's worked well for me in the past.

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United States  Old 22nd June 2009, 09:42
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If you do eventually manage to get the screw out of the bushing without unscrewing the bushing from the frame, I'd be very cautious when installing the new grip screws.

If a grip screw shows even the least bit of binding, I'd clean out (chase) the bushing's internal threads with a tap. Otherwise the new screw may get stuck in the bushing and you may end up stripping the frame threads. Then you'd need oversized bushings!

If the cause of the problem was the grip screws loosening up and then being overtightened, little o-rings under the screw heads help.

Regards
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United States  Old 22nd June 2009, 10:33
stevenorlando stevenorlando is offline
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Unhappy
I think it was my fault

Quote:
Originally Posted by niemi24s
If you do eventually manage to get the screw out of the bushing without unscrewing the bushing from the frame, I'd be very cautious when installing the new grip screws.

If a grip screw shows even the least bit of binding, I'd clean out (chase) the bushing's internal threads with a tap. Otherwise the new screw may get stuck in the bushing and you may end up stripping the frame threads. Then you'd need oversized bushings!

If the cause of the problem was the grip screws loosening up and then being overtightened, little o-rings under the screw heads help.

Regards


I don't think there will be anything wrong with the bushings, however, I'll check.

Upon careful inspection of the screws and some earlier responses, I think the screws are torx, and I tried an allen wrench. I'll have to double-check this with Springfield.
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United States  Old 22nd June 2009, 10:48
log man log man is offline
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Yes, stock SA grip screws are Torx, and require a T15 driver.

LOG

 


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