1911 Grip problems

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TanklessPro

TanklessPro

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LA....Lower Alabama, I think. The tinfoil confuses
First of all I'm a big fan of 1911's and this is the first issue I've had.

I picked up a slightly( less than a box ran through) used Kimber pro carry 2. I'm not a fan of the rubberized grip panels so I bought a nice set of Smokewood grip panels. The issue is ALL of the bushings came out and now are stuck in the old grips. Should I buy all new screws and bushings or try to get the old ones out?
I talked to a gunsmith friend and he suggested using vise grips with wooden Popsicle sticks to try to protect the threads on the bushings but he said sometimes that doesn't work. Do you have anymore suggestions?
 
Are they stuck due to corrosion/rust or Loctite?
If rusted; soak in penetrating oil overnight, if Loctite; heat them.
Use your buddies trick to protect threads.
 
Do yourself a huge favor and buy 4 new bushings (screws optional but preferred). With the aluminum frame it will be very easy to strip the frame threads if the bushing threads are slightly damaged (think barely perceptible to your naked eye eye damaged). Whenever a bushing comes out, I check the rest for tightness and then end up replacing all 4 with new ones using a drop of blue loctite on each frame hole. Snug down the bushing using a bushing driver or properly fitting hollow ground flathead blade to avoid damaging thenew bushings on the way in. Wipe away the excess loctite and let it cure 24 hrs before installing the screws just incase you inadvertently got some loctite on the inner bushing threads. One more thing is to pay attention to how the bushings go in, make sure they go in straight. If they go in crooked and you dont catch it guess what, you just wiped out your frame threads and need oversized bushings or a new frame.
 
My Kimber only had one come out when I went to change the grips.
Call Kimber they will send you 4 new bushings.
Use pliers or vice grips to get the screws out of the old ones, throw them away and loctite in the new ones.

Koz
 
I have always used a drop or blue loctight and very carefully reinstalled the grips with the bushing and tightened them snug. Waited 24 hours and then a quick twist of screw driver broken screws loose. Removed the screws and grips and installed new grips .
I did this on couple Colts and my Dan Wesson
 
I'd just buy new bushings. The previous owner probably didn't know he didn't need to torque down the grip screws so tightly.
 
Personally, I keep a box with extra bushings, both blued and stainless for just this reason.

I wouldn't recommend trying to re-use those bushings if they've been buggered-up. Bushings are cheap compared to having your grips come off during shooing... or the cost of having a Smith fill-in and re-tap messed-up grip holes.
 
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