Advice for replacing 1911 recoil spring guide rod please...

[bradvanhorn]

I don't mind full length guide rods, but for simplicity of take down and cleaning (please, let's not debate this), I was going to replace my Kimber full length guide rods with standard guide rods. This morning however, I had another thought... Can you simply cut down the factory full length guide rod to standard length? I was thinking I could cut the FLGR to standard length, round and polish the end, then replace the FLGR plug with a standard plug and be ready to run.

On a similar topic, could you do the same thing with a tungsten FLGR? That would probably turn out to be a very expensive standard guide rod, but you would get a little more weight forward than with regular steel. Also, I thought I read somewhere that tungsten was more difficult to manipulate than steel. I didn't really plan to do this, but I was wondering if it were possible.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks - Brad

 

[Old Fuff]

A lengthly thread has been underway on the subject of full-length guide rods that contains answers to most of your questions. Do a search on "guide rods" and we won't have to reinvent the wheel.

 

[bradvanhorn]

I don't mean to be rude, but I am not asking about the merit, or lack thereof, of full length vs standard guide rods. Thus, all the threads you'd like me to read don't help.

Again, my question is: can I cut a full length guide rod to standard length, replace the plug, and will it work properly?

I assume the answer is yes, but I thought perhaps it would be better to ask than assume.

Thanks!

 

[1911Tuner]

Cut the Rod

brad asked:

Again, my question is: can I cut a full length guide rod to standard length, replace the plug, and will it work properly?

Yep. You want to do it on a lathe and radius or at least bevel the end
to prevent the spring coils from snagging on it. There is also the issue
of weight, and although older Colts used a solid steel rod, the later ones
were hollow. As long as everything is in-spec, I don't really see an advantage, but there must have been SOME reason other than the little
bit of weight reduction for the cost of an extra machining step. Maybe
to help keep it straight with the gun in battery and the recoil spring tension low.

Most FLGRs that I've seen have the rods threaded into the heads at some
location...which means that there's always the chance of it coming unscrewed. That would also not allow a hole to be drilled/reamed all the way through if you want to go with a hollow rod.

Best bet is to just order a standard guide rod from Brownells for 15 bucks.
If you don't have access to a lathe, a machine shop is gonna hit you for about 10 dollars for the cut and shaping in a lathe. I can offer a part number if you need it.

Luck!

Tuner

 

[Old Fuff]

bradvanhorn:

I didn't mean to be rude either, but earlier threads did cover ways to shorten a FLGR. and any problems if one did so. No, there weren't any.

Tuner:

They changed the original recoil spring guide early on because the two-piece construction was actually cheaper to make once it was tooled.

 

[bradvanhorn]

Gentlemen, thank you for taking the time to respond; I appreciate your comments. It sounds like I might as well buy the new parts and be done. I don't have the machinery to do the job as described (though I could probably do a real nice hack job with a dremel), and I don't want to pay someone to do it. Now, where did I put my Brownells catalog...

 

[1911Tuner]

Guide Rods and Stuff

AH Fuff! I knew you'd have the answer...

Hey bro...Ever find those long steel triggers? I'm beggin' here! I know ya
don't wanna make me go aftermarket on a classy old Colt.

 

[Old Fuff]

No, because the stuff is in deep storage - either here in Arizona or elsewhere. But I am looking, and when, not "if" I find one it will come your way. Tiz not necesssary for friends to beg.

 

[1911Tuner]

Friends

Fuff said:

it will come your way. Tiz not necesssary for friends to beg.


Ahhhh...T'ank ya ol' son...Still waitin' on that dang WW2 Springer to
check out. The boy is draggin' his feet. Hope he drops it off before he
breaks somethin'...

Brad...Ed Brown markets a good spring guide. It's in Brownells.
Part # 087-881-001 for the plug ($7.95) and
087-882-001 for the rod(15 bucks) plus shipping.(1-800-741-0015)

Luck!

Tuner

 

[sm]

Since I don't know , and I didn't look...forgive me for being lazy and asking dumb questions...

The Stubby GI's that I have "borrowed" *ahem* from the parts bin are hollow.

What is the Ed Brown ? Solid or hollow?

Are some of these Aluminum...have seen but not actually handled some that "appeared" so.

Anybody stock the old plug with the danged dimple dealie the spring fits into?

Probably some fella been sitting on cache of Mil-Spec parts for all these years just grinning and waiting for the right time to unload and make a killing on this stuff.

If this fella is a THR member , I hope I'm in good graces with him.

 

[1911Tuner]

Lazy and Lazier

Howdy sm,

The Ed Browns are hollow. Aluminum? never thought to check, but if they
are, they're the toughest aluminum I've ever seen. I've got one in a
beater that's seen at least 15k and the blue isn't even worn off.

You said:

Probably some fella been sitting on cache of Mil-Spec parts for all these years just grinning and waiting for the right time to unload and make a killing on this stuff.

It's Fuff! He's hangin' onto all that good stuff, and prob'ly got plans for a closed auction sometime soon.

Soon as I get caught up, I'm gonna take a shot at makin' a punch and die that'll do the cut in the plugs that ain't gottem...I figger I'll be able to make
a KILLIN', if the postman can handle the load.

Cheers!

Tuner

 

[sm]

I wouldn' think aluminum either. This one just had a different "look" than steel...or a blue with bluing removed.

In a Kimber Series I , blue, one of the old ones.

He was just showing some new folks the 1911 and doing a great job of teaching safety , range rules and all. I didn't want to intrude I had other folks I was with. New folks shot the gun very well, grins all around.

Old Fuff huh? You reacon he is sitting on a cache?

Hi Old Fuff, old buddy , old friend...

Sorry Tuner, no offense..."bidness is bidness" you understand...go play with a file or something, make coffee...I need to visit with MY OLD friend Fuff here...

Kidding, besides I ain't never had BBQ from Tuner's neck of the woods...I know better than to burn bridges...heck may even have a project for Tuner in near future...

 

[1911Tuner]

Bidness is Bidness

Don't listen to'im Fuff!! Don't get schmoozed by that smooth-talkin' city-slicker! He's only after your dimpled plug. He don't love ya like I do!

 

[Old Fuff]

I can see I'm going to have to look up those parts I stashed. Nothing really good, just old GI stuff ....

 

[1911Tuner]

Tain't Nuttin'

Fuff said:

Nothing really good, just old GI stuff ....

Thaaaat's right....Just old antiquated, obsolete, quaint stuff only us
nutty purists want...

 

[Old Fuff]

As I remember some of it is even .... Parkerized. Not the kind of quality you'd be interested in ......

 

[1911Tuner]

Quality

Parkerized?

*thud*<--------------Tuner fainted

 

[sm]

Old Fuff...

Real quick now before Tuner boy wakes up...
Wait...he is an hour ahead and probably gone to bed, I'm pulling an all-nighter ( again)...Old Fuff IIRC is an hour behind me on time zone...

Tuner - you snooze you lose...

 

[Old Fuff]

I'll keep you in mind ....... Course I might need some of this stuff if I ever wanted to build another gun ......

 

[1911Tuner]

ESS EMM!!!

Yewwwwww SNAAAAAAAKE!

 

[andrew17]

Hey there bradvanhorn,
You might also want to check with your local 'smith. They have a lot of these old plugs layin around from where people wanted to "upgrade" to a full length rod.
I did this and walked away with a brand new plug and rod for 10 bucks.
HTH