Kimber MSH problems

[Billy Sparks]

I really dislike plastic mainspring housings on 1911's therefore I generally change them to a steel one when I get a chance. I have done this on at 3-4 of my Colts without any problems. Anyway I pulled the plastic MSH off of my recent production Kimber fullsize and replaced it with a steel one. One problem, the hammer will no longer cock. I can pull the hammer back but it will not stay cocked. I tried replace the factory standard MSH with the same results. What am I doing wrong?

 

[photo_guy]

Did the leaf spring pop out of position while you made the swap, perhaps? I had a very similar problem when I did my last MSH swap-out. (In my case it was flat Vs. arched).
If you don't remove the safety when removing the MSH it is easy for the leaf spring to get out of wack if it is not held in place.
Do a detail strip of the safety and springs and try putting it all back together correctly, step-by-step.

 

[HSMITH]

Sounds like the sear spring is under the sear. Pull the mainspring housing, the grip safety and take a look. Make sure all 3 (or 4) tabs are on TOP of the corresponding components that they engage. Reassemble and see what happens.

 

[BluesBear]

Yes it sounds very much like a three fingered spring problem.

Have you solved it yet?

 

[Billy Sparks]

As a matter of fact I finally had some free time Sunday and took out the thumb safety and saw what everyone was talking about. You have never seen anyone so happy to hear a 1911 hammer go click, click when you cock it.

Thanks guys.

 

[BluesBear]

We love happy endings.




But...

Make sure you haven't bent or kinked the three fingered spring. If so it could affect the safety as well as the reliability of the gun.