mikemyers
Member
The three most difficult things on my Les Baer are racking the slide (but that's getting better), inserting the slde stop during re-assembly (ditto), and removing/installing the barrel bushing.
Dis-assembly isn't too bad, now that my bushing has loosened up just enough to turn it, but I'm never really sure if the bushing will turn, or if my plastic wrench will self-destruct. Removing the slide as an assembly certainly helps a lot, and then I can use the barrel as a "battering ram" to remove the bushing..... I don't like doing that, but it's what everyone says to do. Re-assembly is even more of a pain, as while I can turn the bushing now, it's hard to push it in while turning it - nothing to push on the bushing...
There was a thread here a couple of months ago that looked like a solution to all of my problems - it's a bushing wrench with an attachment on one side, that can push/pull on the bushing.
When you use the flat side, it's just like any other bushing wrench (but because it is thinner than plastic wrenches, it "feels" better in my hand). The other side is all the trick parts....
Dis-Assembly:
If you can get the bushing to come out just a little, the "hook" slides under the flange on the bushing, so now you can "pull" on the wrench as you turn it, and in my case, the bushing came out fairly easily. Today I did it the other way, removing the slide as an assembly.
Re-Assembly:
In re-assembly, either to an assembled gun or to just the slide and bushing, without this new tool it was always a struggle for me. It's hard enough to just turn the bushing, let alone trying to put pressure on it to get it into the slide. With this new tool, the "hook" covers the end of the bushing, so as you push the wrench into the gun (while turning it slightly) the bushing goes into place with far less effort.
Here's a photo, with my Les Baer behind it:
I don't know where to buy them locally. I wrote the fellow who designed it, and got one direct from him. Dan Farrell, [email protected]
I doubt that most 1911 owners need one of these, as their bushing probably drops in and out with no effort. BUT, with a tight slide to bushing fit, this tool is worth its weight in gold! The thread that was posted before had a link to a video showing how to use the wrench. If I can find that video, I'll add it to this thread.
Dis-assembly isn't too bad, now that my bushing has loosened up just enough to turn it, but I'm never really sure if the bushing will turn, or if my plastic wrench will self-destruct. Removing the slide as an assembly certainly helps a lot, and then I can use the barrel as a "battering ram" to remove the bushing..... I don't like doing that, but it's what everyone says to do. Re-assembly is even more of a pain, as while I can turn the bushing now, it's hard to push it in while turning it - nothing to push on the bushing...
There was a thread here a couple of months ago that looked like a solution to all of my problems - it's a bushing wrench with an attachment on one side, that can push/pull on the bushing.
When you use the flat side, it's just like any other bushing wrench (but because it is thinner than plastic wrenches, it "feels" better in my hand). The other side is all the trick parts....
Dis-Assembly:
If you can get the bushing to come out just a little, the "hook" slides under the flange on the bushing, so now you can "pull" on the wrench as you turn it, and in my case, the bushing came out fairly easily. Today I did it the other way, removing the slide as an assembly.
Re-Assembly:
In re-assembly, either to an assembled gun or to just the slide and bushing, without this new tool it was always a struggle for me. It's hard enough to just turn the bushing, let alone trying to put pressure on it to get it into the slide. With this new tool, the "hook" covers the end of the bushing, so as you push the wrench into the gun (while turning it slightly) the bushing goes into place with far less effort.
Here's a photo, with my Les Baer behind it:
I don't know where to buy them locally. I wrote the fellow who designed it, and got one direct from him. Dan Farrell, [email protected]
I doubt that most 1911 owners need one of these, as their bushing probably drops in and out with no effort. BUT, with a tight slide to bushing fit, this tool is worth its weight in gold! The thread that was posted before had a link to a video showing how to use the wrench. If I can find that video, I'll add it to this thread.
Last edited:
)
