1911 Slide Lock/Plunger Issue

[RevolvingCylinder]

Upon reassembly of my 1911 pistol, I always have to fight with the plunger to get the slide lock in place. It always requires a small screwdriver to depress the plunger(which is more challenging than it sounds keeping the tiny screwdriver from slipping off of the tiny surface while allowing the slide lock through which has caused scratches on my pistol when it does slip) so that the slide lock can go in place. There is no other way. This is my first 1911 and I don't think it's normal because all the instructions I've read on installing the slide lock makes no mention of this extra procedure and disassembly/assembly of the pistol is often referred to as "tool-less" which mine clearly is not. Is the plunger to long? Is there a way to remedy this or is it normal?

 

[HuntAndFish]

Here is a schematic of a 1911:


When you say the "plunger", are you talking about the barrel bushing plug?

When you are putting the slide lock in place through the link, the link should be able to move fore and aft to allow you to align it with the holes in the frame. This should allow you to install the slide lock without pushing on the plug.

 

[Hunter0924]

Check out the 2 videos at the bottom of this link.
http://www.m1911.org/full_striping.htm
You can use the ledge of the slide stop to push the plunger in as you insert it in the link. Up and in.

 

[ugaarguy]

A gunsmith buddy uses the little plastic orange peelers from tupperware to push plungers in for thumb safety reinstallation because they're cheap and the plastic won't mar the gun. If the slide stop reinstall is giving you problems I think this little trick might be helpful there.

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

HuntAndFish, it's not shown on your diagram. It is not the recoil spring plug.

Hunter, those videos wouldn't load for me. "Error downloading codec". I think I get the gist of what you're saying and I think I've tried it repeatedly with no success.

ugaarguy, I take it this isn't unusual? I would really like to be able to do it without a tool. I was wondering if modification or replacing of parts were necessary if an out-of-spec part is to blame. Keep in mind it is a SA GI model.

 

[Dienekes]

It varies a little as to the gun. Sometimes the bevel on the rear face of the slide stop is contoured so it will depress the plunger the way you want it to and allow you to fully insert the slide stop. Sometimes it won't. I have reshaped a couple to do just that. For those others I used to use the tip of a ballpoint pen to push the plunger in enough to allow the slide stop to seat.

Just try to avoid making the curved "idiot scratch" so many 1911s have.

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

I think I may just have to reshape that part of the slide stop slightly like you did.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Slvr Surfr]

Are you trying to install the slide stop with the guide rod spring in place ? If so leave the spring undone, and place the slide stop in first. This made my life much easier when installing reassembling the gun. Just use care when capturing the guide rod spring as its all under full pressure.

 

[crankshop1000]

Try using the small blade of a penknife to depress the plunger.Works for me!.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Originally posted by HuntAndFish:
When you say the "plunger", are you talking about the barrel bushing plug?

On the left side of the frame above the grip panel there is a tube with spring-loaded ball detents - or plungers - in each end. The forward end detent holds the slide stop in place, the rear one the thumb safety lever.

And, yes, my 1911s (a SIG and a Colt) give me some difficulty getting the slide stop detent into place.

 

[HuntAndFish]

HA! Now I understand. Yeah, I have a plastic orange peeler in my range bag. YMMV. Fingernail works too.

 

[the pistolero]

I had that exact problem -- quite literally got the red-thumb the first time I tried to re-assemble my first 1911, trying to get the slide stop back in. It was with the Springfield GI as well; eventually I figured out how to get it back in, which was to position the slide stop at a slightly downward angle and move it up while pushing it into position, as opposed to pushing it in level with the notch, which meant you were basically pushing directly against the plunger. I actually had to sleep on it, but once I thought about it and tried it, I got my 1911 back together.

 

[Misfire99]

I have found that the easy way is to put the safety on safe. The spring that controls the safety plunger is the same spring that is holding the slide stop. When you set the safety you release pressure off the slide stop plunger. It will then be easy to get it in place.