Recoil spring install question

sadrake13 · Post by **sadrake13** » March 1st, 2010, 9:01 pm

Received my 22 pound recoil spring attachment today from Wolff springs. I am having a heck of a time getting the slide back on when attempting to install it. Is this common? Any suggestions?

brock123 · Post by **brock123** » March 1st, 2010, 9:43 pm

You need to finish the ends to make them match the stock spring. I used a bench grinder then cleaned them up with a rotary tool. If you don't have a grinder you can just use a rotary tool to grind the ends flat.

sadrake13 · Post by **sadrake13** » March 4th, 2010, 7:23 pm

Used a buddy's bench grinder and it fit like a charm. Also, received 300 rounds of Silver Bear 9x18 ammo today too. Now it's off to the range.

vimes · Post by **vimes** » March 11th, 2010, 10:12 am

This is a timely thread for me. I'm having the same issue but I don't have a bench grinder or rotary tool and thus I'm not profcient with either. I'm not above buying one, however, (new tools yay!

) but if you guys could provide any insight on technique that would be great. Whatever is least expensive to do the job would be best. I'm reasonably handy with most things but I haven't done much metal grinding/finishing and don't really know how to "make the ends match."

Thanks in advance for any input. This sight has been invaluable so far in helping me gain knowledge about the p64. There are some true experts here!

juniustaylor · Post by **juniustaylor** » March 11th, 2010, 11:25 am

I don't think you can really ever get it exactly level. You'll just have to eyeball it. Using a square will be of no use. Your cheapest option is to use a file for a couple dollars. Dremels are relatively inexpensive for around $20 for the Black & Decker ones. Works just as good as the Dremel brand and it's cheaper and uses the same tools. Plus, that initial $20 investment will pay for itself as you'll find other projects around the house.

boomer · Post by **boomer** » March 11th, 2010, 12:54 pm

You can also cut and flatten spring ends very nicely with fine grit emery paper that is placed on a flat surface by just dragging the spring end back and forth on it.

Automotive grade wet and dry sandpapers go up to 1600 grit and are fantastic for spring tuning and feed ramp polishing. An old German gunsmith taught me how to just take a magazine spring and basically polish the coils with 800 grit 3 M Wet/Dry by gently running the spring across it several times. He also did magazine followers the same way. You will be amazed at how much better the mags will feed with a little polishing and tuning up. The magazine is the weakest link in any auto loader and very often gets the least amount of attention and cleaning until a problem arises. I learned the value of spring dressing in Vietnam, My weapons never failed me.

vimes · Post by **vimes** » March 11th, 2010, 5:57 pm

Thanks for the advice guys, I really appreciate it. I will have a look at them both side by side and see if I can do anything. Worst case, I'm out $8 or so.

Anyone know, mechanically, why it doesn't work as is? (perhaps this will be obvious when I look at them both).

boomer · Post by **boomer** » March 11th, 2010, 6:56 pm

Head room clearance in the slide that's all. Also when reinstalling the slide keep the front end of the spring at 12 o:clock for placement. This will make it easier to get the slide back on.

vimes · Post by **vimes** » March 11th, 2010, 7:45 pm

I see now, the stock one is just flatter at the ends. I will get my file out tomorrow and go to work on it. Thanks for the tips!

boomer · Post by **boomer** » March 11th, 2010, 7:52 pm

That should fix er right up for you!

pursuit · Post by **pursuit** » March 15th, 2010, 8:31 pm

Same problem here tonight. Also, my 22lber was noticeably shorter than the one that came out. Was this the case for anyone else?

Post by **normsutton** » March 17th, 2010, 6:05 am

vimes

all the springs are made the same way , but all of the guns are different
, when I make my trigger return springs I make them so they can be trimmed,

NORM

mrozowjj · Post by **mrozowjj** » April 13th, 2010, 6:53 pm

I'm having the same problem and I was wondering if the 22 lber was just too strong for my particular P64. I bought both the 20 and 22 lb recoil spring not knowing which would work best in my gun.

Odd question, each recoil spring also came with a tiny spring in it from Wolf. What is that spring for? I bought a replacement recoil spring for my Polish TT-33 and it came with the same size spring.

Post by **normsutton** » April 13th, 2010, 7:21 pm

mrozowjj

its a firing pin spring

NORM

juniustaylor · Post by **juniustaylor** » April 13th, 2010, 8:53 pm

mrozowjj wrote:Odd question, each recoil spring also came with a tiny spring in it from Wolf. What is that spring for? I bought a replacement recoil spring for my Polish TT-33 and it came with the same size spring.

If you have those extra power recoil springs installed, you should definitely replace it with that firing pin spring also. That extra power spring causes the firing pin to retract into the slide quicker during firing so that the firing pin doesn't drag the back of the case where the primer is. The flipside is that with the increase in spring force of the recoil spring, it supposedly retains the firing pin from extending past the bolt face when the slide slams forward which could cause an accidental discharge. I don't know how true that is, it could seem "possible" but not very plausible. Anyway, this is off topic, but figured I'd share it anyway. This info is all over the forum, a couple searches will reveal all these spring topics. A wealth of knowledge that I'm pretty much re-hashing.

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