1911 disassembly help needed

gunssb · 03-02-2005, 05:20 AM

Hi
so I wanted to disassemble my springfield 1911A1 (not field strip) to clean the trigger (it wasn't returning cleanly and I felt maybe there's a little dirt/gunk there). I have never done anything but field strip it before - so I went about it following directions at:
http://www.m1911.org/stripin1.htm

I got to the part where you remove the mainspring housing, but before I could remove the safety, the sear spring fell out. Well, I think I've cleaned up the trigger now (since I could reach it to spray stuff on it - I think there was some gunk on the sear spring), but I can't put everything back together. I know it sounds stupid and probably is but my problem is that I can't put the sear spring on because I can't get the safety lock and thus the grip safety off. I tried inserting the spring thru the little gap between the frame and the grip safety but can't get it to seat. So at this point, the hammer is all the way back (I'm not sure if it's cocked) and it won't budge one bit, I can slide the safety lock up over the plunger but that's the farthest it will go and I can't pull it out. Can someone please please help me out - I've been trying this for a while now but need to go to bed now - I haven't been so frustrated and felt so stupid in a while :insane:

NRAJOE · 03-02-2005, 09:40 AM

Heres the manual if needed...

http://www.sightm1911.com/manual/manual.htm

PAPA G · 03-02-2005, 10:09 AM

put all the parts in a brown paper bag then seek out a good gunsmith

mine was always glad to see me brown bag'n through the door!!!

gunssb · 03-02-2005, 10:21 AM

PAPA G I was afraid you were gonna say that - I might give it one more shot tonight otherwise it's off to the doc (Doc, I can't put my barbie back

)
thanks for the manual NRAjoe - PAPA G is that you shooting from the horse

lefty o · 03-02-2005, 10:34 AM

you want to take a small screw driver and reach in and trip the sear, or just pull the trigger and trip it. then pull the hammer part way back until you find the spot that will allow you to pull out the thumb safety.

Shaun · 03-02-2005, 11:03 AM

get a book on the 1911 it will prove to be a valuable purchase down the road.

PAPA G · 03-02-2005, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunssb

PAPA G I was afraid you were gonna say that - I might give it one more shot tonight otherwise it's off to the doc (Doc, I can't put my barbie back

)
thanks for the manual NRAjoe - PAPA G is that you shooting from the horse

nahhh....i used a lance, on mounted charges...into the Valley of Death...rode with the 600....of the Light Brigade

gunssb · 03-02-2005, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lefty o

you want to take a small screw driver and reach in and trip the sear, or just pull the trigger and trip it. then pull the hammer part way back until you find the spot that will allow you to pull out the thumb safety.

lefty, I can move the hammer freely - so I pressed the trigger, pulled the hammer back and now the safety moves over the plunger easily but I still can't pull it out ? What am I doing wrong ?
Remember, the sear spring is out so I wonder how that affects things.

Thanks!

There are no gunsmiths in the area who can handle this - I closest one is in LA - he's !!!! good but it's a 3 hour drive one way from here for something that seems so silly. I'd like to fix this myself if I can.

What would be a good 1911 book ?

MAX7.62 · 03-02-2005, 06:26 PM

Hey guns, when you move the safety lever up to the normal "notch", it should rotate just a little bit further up because the slide is off. THEN it should slide out to the left. Sometimes on a tight pistol the butt of a screwdriver can be pressed against the round end of the pin on the right side where it sticks through. Move the safety slightly up and down - wiggle it basically as you pull out on it. Be very careful for the plunger spring as you pull the safety lever out, the plunger and spring can jump out to the rear as the safety lever comes out. While on that subject - for re-assembly you will have to push the plunger in to seat the safety. The best way is to install the plunger and spring, the plunger pin will protrude to the rear, push the safety lever down untill it's against the plunger the with a very small screw driver (jeweler's screwdriver small) push the plunger in as you push the safety in.
Once you get it out and back in once, you'll see exactly what the drill is, then it's a simple thing ever after.
NOTE: To remove and re-install the grip safety the mainspring housing needs to be out.

gunssb · 03-02-2005, 07:03 PM

I got it! I guess the safety was just stuck - I actually had to insert a little screwdriver in there & give it a sharp tap. I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't break anything - but these things don't break that easily I guess - plus mine's stainless so you can't see nicks that easily

I did it one more time just to make sure I can do it next time.

you guys are great! saved me a trip & gun doc fees. special thanks to lefty o & MAX7.62 :cheer: :right: :nod:

03-02-2005, 05:20 AM	#1
gunssb Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: socal Posts: 1,833	1911 disassembly help needed Hi so I wanted to disassemble my springfield 1911A1 (not field strip) to clean the trigger (it wasn't returning cleanly and I felt maybe there's a little dirt/gunk there). I have never done anything but field strip it before - so I went about it following directions at: http://www.m1911.org/stripin1.htm I got to the part where you remove the mainspring housing, but before I could remove the safety, the sear spring fell out. Well, I think I've cleaned up the trigger now (since I could reach it to spray stuff on it - I think there was some gunk on the sear spring), but I can't put everything back together. I know it sounds stupid and probably is but my problem is that I can't put the sear spring on because I can't get the safety lock and thus the grip safety off. I tried inserting the spring thru the little gap between the frame and the grip safety but can't get it to seat. So at this point, the hammer is all the way back (I'm not sure if it's cocked) and it won't budge one bit, I can slide the safety lock up over the plunger but that's the farthest it will go and I can't pull it out. Can someone please please help me out - I've been trying this for a while now but need to go to bed now - I haven't been so frustrated and felt so stupid in a while :insane:

03-02-2005, 09:40 AM	#2
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,043 Images: 3	Heres the manual if needed... http://www.sightm1911.com/manual/manual.htm __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

03-02-2005, 11:03 AM	#6
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,592 Images: 1	get a book on the 1911 it will prove to be a valuable purchase down the road. __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/

03-02-2005, 06:26 PM	#9
MAX7.62 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Classified Posts: 934	Hey guns, when you move the safety lever up to the normal "notch", it should rotate just a little bit further up because the slide is off. THEN it should slide out to the left. Sometimes on a tight pistol the butt of a screwdriver can be pressed against the round end of the pin on the right side where it sticks through. Move the safety slightly up and down - wiggle it basically as you pull out on it. Be very careful for the plunger spring as you pull the safety lever out, the plunger and spring can jump out to the rear as the safety lever comes out. While on that subject - for re-assembly you will have to push the plunger in to seat the safety. The best way is to install the plunger and spring, the plunger pin will protrude to the rear, push the safety lever down untill it's against the plunger the with a very small screw driver (jeweler's screwdriver small) push the plunger in as you push the safety in. Once you get it out and back in once, you'll see exactly what the drill is, then it's a simple thing ever after. NOTE: To remove and re-install the grip safety the mainspring housing needs to be out. __________________ The Second Amendment, it ain't about DUCK HUNTING! I feel more like I do now that I did when I first got here!

03-02-2005, 10:09 AM	#3
PAPA G Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: somerset, kentucky Posts: 12	put all the parts in a brown paper bag then seek out a good gunsmith mine was always glad to see me brown bag'n through the door!!!

03-02-2005, 10:21 AM	#4
gunssb Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: socal Posts: 1,833	PAPA G I was afraid you were gonna say that - I might give it one more shot tonight otherwise it's off to the doc (Doc, I can't put my barbie back ) thanks for the manual NRAjoe - PAPA G is that you shooting from the horse

03-02-2005, 10:34 AM	#5
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,783	you want to take a small screw driver and reach in and trip the sear, or just pull the trigger and trip it. then pull the hammer part way back until you find the spot that will allow you to pull out the thumb safety.

03-02-2005, 07:03 PM	#10
gunssb Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: socal Posts: 1,833	I got it! I guess the safety was just stuck - I actually had to insert a little screwdriver in there & give it a sharp tap. I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't break anything - but these things don't break that easily I guess - plus mine's stainless so you can't see nicks that easily I did it one more time just to make sure I can do it next time. you guys are great! saved me a trip & gun doc fees. special thanks to lefty o & MAX7.62 :cheer: :right: :nod: