Help with the venerable Star PD

[Hide and Watch]

Greetings all. Just registered and this is my first posting.
I recently found and bought a used first generation (Garcia import) Star PD. Always wanted one, now I have one. Great little compact 45....alloy frame, no grip safety. Everything you want in a 45.
Well, the first thing I did was order a complete 'service pack' from Wolff. When it arrived, it appeared the recoil spring was waaaay too long. I phoned Wolff and they said no, it should be correct.
Anyway, does anyone know how to disassemble the captive recoil spring on a Star PD? I can't figure it out. Is the guide rod a two piece affair? Does it unscrew somehow?
I can't even get the thing apart to see if the spring I have is proper or not!

Thanks for your input.


Jim

 

[GreySmoke2]

It appears to have a screw at the front?
Manual Attached with Pic...

 

[Noveldoc]

You need to push the spring up and lock it on the rod with some vice grips. Get it completely off the connector on the bottom of the rod. And push the plastic buffer up out of the way also.

This item is secured to the rod with loctite. I heated it over a stove burrner until it got hot to the touch. Took care not to heat the buffer or spring. Then it twisted off easily with pliers. I saw no need to reapply loctite when I reassembled.

This would be a good time to replace the plastic buffer also. Can find one on the net for just a few bucks.

And yes the spring will look too long.

Tom

 

[Hide and Watch]

Thanks!

Was able to get it apart without heating it. Replaced it with a 14# recoil spring. Replaced all the mag springs as well.