More on RRA 1911 Problem

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280PLUS

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For those who might be keeping up.

My neighbor at the range last night just bought the same model Custom Wadcutter and had the same problem taking the recoil spring guide rod apart. This is the fourth one I've heard about. He got his apart and found the salts from the blueing are the problem. Its corroded together inside.

I'm betting "Mark" at RRA knows this but didn't quite mention it to me. Thats why soaking it with light oil will probably do the trick. I haven't tried again yet, it has been soaking for a few days now. Probably tonight. I'll repost here with the results. I also have to call Chuck over at RRA today so that should be interesting too.

Incidentally, he got his apart with his "special machinist's vise". With it he was able to "gain a purchase" and hold on to the back end of the rod and then turn hard on the outer piece without anything being jammed up against the frame. He says, "It was easy to get apart, all you need is a $500 vise".

:)
 
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If you have bluing salt residue bleeding out somewhere (usually a white or white/brown crud) don’t oil it. Instead degrease the part(s) and then soak them in soappy warm water and follow with a boiling water rinse. Then, and only then oil the parts.

The residue is water soluble – at least until it’s oiled. After it becomes saturated with oil it is no longer soluble, and much harder to get rid of. The problem occurs when manufacturers or refinishers don’t thoroughly rinse the parts after they come out of the blue tank. This is far more common today then it used to be.
 
Got It!

:D

Finally got a chance to call RRA and talk to Chuck. He was saying something about "interrupted threads" and told me to go ahead and use a cheater on the end of the allen wrench. So I did and it slowly started turning but took about half the threads before I could turn it without the cheater. I expected it to pop and then thread loosely/easily apart. Not so. Here is a pic of the male threads and what looks for all the world like thread lock. The oil did not penetrate.

Opinions on this would be appreciated.

Thanx to fuff for the info on bluing too.
 
Yup ... Somebody used epoxy or Loc-Tite where they should not have. It's a wonder you got it loose without something busting. Clean those threads with a wire brush and you should be good to go.
 
Kind of looks like red Locktite. Threads must have been a little oil to get the red Locktite to break loose without heating it.
 
End result:

Chuck At RRA is sending me a new guide rod with his apologies. I have to send the old one back so he can find out who put the thread lock on it and string them up...

:what:

:D
 
I've been turning wrenches professionally almost 30 years now so it actually didn't put up too much of a fight once I decided it was coming apart. I just had to know what was keeping it together. There was quite a bit of contradiction going on in my talks with the reps and I knew if I sent it back without knowing what it was they'd probably be blowing smoke up into places I don't like smoke blown.


I would have never guessed it was thread lock. When I told him for the second time that I knew of another who had the same problem but thought it was bluing crystals he reversed himself from "we rinse our parts thoroughly" to "well that one was probably bluing".

It did mar the end of the rod where it binds in but no damage to the barrel or frame at all.

Lots of rough finish on the internals too btw, I see at least one edge on the end of the guide rod where it has been ground and still has the sharp flashing (is that the word?) or burr that nobody bothered to run a quick file over.

That's kind of sad to find in a $1500+ gun, wouldn't you say? I didn't mention it to him. I didn't feel like getting into it I guess.

Is it ok for me to polish the OD of the bushing so it doesn't take so much force to unlock and remove it?

Like with steel wool or very fine emery? I have a Dinan Colt and the bushing on that one doesn't even need a wrench to turn it.

The RRA is IMO a little too tight (almost a press fit) but I'm not sure my opinion is correct.

here are some pics of the burr, kind of hard to see but it's the best I could do on short notice :rolleyes:

:D
 
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