FN SLP Recoil Tube Assembly

[pslater]

I recently bought a used FN SLP Mark 1 Tactical and, in the process of changing the recoil pad, had the recoil tube spring shoot all the way across the garage. Scratching my head and wondering;

1) *** just happened? and
2) How did this gun even cycle with the recoil spring not seated?

I began to try putting it together the right way. Needless to say, trying to get enough of the recoil spring inserted into the tube to allow the holding pin to be inserted proved to be impossible.

My wife came up with a great solution - a piece of 3/4" OD semi flexible garden irrigation tubing about 5 1/2 inches long. The ID just slips over the threaded end of the recoil tube and stays there. Feed as much of the recoil spring as you can through the tubing and into the recoil tube. Stick a flat blade screwdriver into the slot of the plastic spring keeper at the end of the spring and then just push the spring and keeper into the recoil spring tube until you can see the rounded base of the keeper through the two holes drilled in the sides of the recoil spring tube. Press and/or rotate the keeper with the screwdriver until the bottom of the keeper lines up with the holes in the recoil spring tube, insert the pin, and you're done!

I hope this saves someone a lot of time and frustration...

 

[orphanedcowboy]

Phillips screwdriver in the center of the spring, pushing the spring and tip of the screwdriver into the tube, then use a small pin punch or nail to hold the spring in place in the hole in the action spring tube.