1911 barrel link, how much fitting is normal?

[tracyballard]

I'm fitting a Wilson #3 link to a Sarco Roto 4M barrel and it's pretty tight. I cleaned out the leg holes on the barrel with a rolled up piece of sandpaper, and now the pin will clear the holes without the link, but with the link in it won't quite go thru. Is it normal to have to take some material off the end part of the link on the side where it connects to the barrel to provide clearance for the link to swing? how close should the tolerance be, and is this tolerance very important?

 

[rcmodel]

Will the pin fit the link with it out of the barrel?

It should be a free swinging fit through the link hole.
Then a tighter fit through the barrel lugs so it won't fall out easily.

If you got all that and it still won't go together, it sounds like your Sarco barrel has the pin holes drilled out of square with the lug flats.

rc