trouble with 1911 hammer and safety while reassembling.

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

OK, so I detail stripped my 1911 for the first time, and everything was running smoothly until it came time to put the sear spring and mainspring housing back in the gun.


I put the sear spring back in, and attempted to put the mainspring housing back on, but I could not get the hammer to stay locked back once the mainspring housing applied pressure to the hammer strut.

On top of that, even if I held the hammer back with my thumb, the safety would not go up.

My searspring doesn't look bent, and if I take off the grip safety and push the sear with a toothpick, the hammer engages it nicely.



Can someone please state the obvious mistake I'm making so I can slap my fore-head and say, "ohhhhhh"?

Thanks, everyone.

 

[GLOCK45GUY]

The hammer does not have to be back when putting the MSH back on. Actually can't be back.

Put the hammer forward against the frame and install your MSH, the same as when you take the MSH out with the hammer forward.

Just don't let the hammer peen your frame out of shape.

 

[AZ_Rebel]

You may have the left leg of the sear spring UNDER the sear rather than ON it. That will keep the sear from catching the hammer.

 

[rcmodel]

Hook the bottom bend of the spring in the slot in the frame, and then rotate the other end down, or in otherwords, lay the spring down on top of the disconnector, sear, & trigger.

While holding it there with your left index finger, slide the MSH on over it partway.

Once the MSH is holding the spring down so it can't get out of place, assemble the other parts, hold the grip safety down, and finish sliding ithe MSH on & put the pin in.

rcmodel

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

You may have the left leg of the sear spring UNDER the sear rather than ON it. That will keep the sear from catching the hammer.

Often times after struggling with something all night if I just go to sleep and try it again in the morning I'll get it right, hahah.

That is exactly what I did, hahah.

I started thinking about it, and I realized that having a prong sitting underneath the sear would be absolutely useless.

So I did what RcModel said and put it all back together.


I wish I woulda known the hammer didn't have to be cocked.


I had to use all of the strength in my gorilla hands to get that MSH on there all the way, and then get the pin in, too.


Thanks for the help, guys.


David.