Hello to all, well I have a problem. I put a tighter barrel bushing on my Smith 1911. It was tight and the recoil plug had to be pushed into place with a little effort (should have been my warning). The groups were a bit tighter but the gun is a keeper anyhow. Well upon trying to break it down the bushing will not allow the recoil plug to pop out no matter how I turn it or to where, the plug hangs up on the bushing by just ever to small a margin. The guide rod is long and will not come out with the spring in place. I hope I've explained in clearly and would appreciate it little advice. Thanks C
Can't remove bushing or recoil plug
- Thread starter caleb
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1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Tight Plug
Hi caleb, and welcome aboard.
If you have a steel or aluminum bushing wrench, try turning the bushing a little further in a clockwise direction...looking at the muzzle end of the gun. Sometimes the bushing's lug in the raceway makes it tough to turn to the full takedown position, and sometimes it's just that the bushing is so tight for the last bit of movement. You may have to get someone to help hold the gun while you hold the wrench and tap on it with a small hammer. Be careful to stay clear of the plug, since it may launch when the bushing clears it.
Hi caleb, and welcome aboard.
If you have a steel or aluminum bushing wrench, try turning the bushing a little further in a clockwise direction...looking at the muzzle end of the gun. Sometimes the bushing's lug in the raceway makes it tough to turn to the full takedown position, and sometimes it's just that the bushing is so tight for the last bit of movement. You may have to get someone to help hold the gun while you hold the wrench and tap on it with a small hammer. Be careful to stay clear of the plug, since it may launch when the bushing clears it.
Thanks for the quick reply Sir. The bushing is a bit wider and can turn to about 90 degrees and can actually turn past the area that would allow clearance for the plug to pop out. The more I turn it the less clearance the plug has. C
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Plug
Caleb wrote:
>The more I turn it the less clearance the plug has. <
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Tryin' to wrap my head around that...and the nearest thing I can come up with is that the flange on the bushing is too wide or of incorrect geometry in the curve above the flat, or maybe flared out in that area. You may have to carefully file on the flange or maybe a small flat on the plug in order to clear it. If you can post a picture, it would help.
Caleb wrote:
>The more I turn it the less clearance the plug has. <
*************
Tryin' to wrap my head around that...and the nearest thing I can come up with is that the flange on the bushing is too wide or of incorrect geometry in the curve above the flat, or maybe flared out in that area. You may have to carefully file on the flange or maybe a small flat on the plug in order to clear it. If you can post a picture, it would help.
I think you have it exactly the flange is too wide in the round area and the clearance in the flat area is just a wee bit too wide. Your suggestion is the only way I could think of unless I could compress the recoil spring down the guide until it can be removed all intact. I just didn't want to scratch the barrel with a file as I bugered up a nice stainless Colt Commander with a pair of pliers trying to remove a too tight bushing that I whacked in place. Any other thoughts? C
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Flange
Caleb...I just had a thought. Is the bushing one of those designed for a reverse-plug system...one that more closely matches the end of the slide?
I've nver run into one with a too-wide flange to clear the plug.
Even if you cut the guide rod in order to bring it out, you'll still have to cut on the flange, since the plug has to come out the front. You can get files with a safe side for the task...and go slow.
Caleb...I just had a thought. Is the bushing one of those designed for a reverse-plug system...one that more closely matches the end of the slide?
I've nver run into one with a too-wide flange to clear the plug.
Even if you cut the guide rod in order to bring it out, you'll still have to cut on the flange, since the plug has to come out the front. You can get files with a safe side for the task...and go slow.
It's a standard bushing that comes on a SIS GSR. They sent me three extra bushings when it went back for some issues and those bushing are a bit oversized and very well made so I thought I try it on the Smith whose bushing is thin and a bit loose. Even if the guide rod and spring are removed the bushing still has to come out of the front of the gun? C
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
re:
Quote:
>Even if the guide rod and spring are removed the bushing still has to come out of the front of the gun?<
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'Fraid so, if it's a standard (non-reverse plug) recoil system.
Quote:
>Even if the guide rod and spring are removed the bushing still has to come out of the front of the gun?<
***********************
'Fraid so, if it's a standard (non-reverse plug) recoil system.
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