UPDATE Help, K9 elite trigger bar broke. Need advice.

[ripley16]

At the range yesterday, my K9 trigger suddenly went south. It would not reset. I figured either a spring or the trigger bar broke. Had a heck of a time getting the slide off, (without being able to normally pull the trigger), but finally accomplished that three handed mission. Removed the grips too and found the trigger bar broken, the rearmost piece that contacts the cam was gone. Never thought that a likely event but it happened. Now I'm wondering if this is a DIY repair or should I sent it back to Kahr. How hard is it to replace? Does the entire trigger assembly have to be dismantled? This is an older elite trigger, made about 2007.

The irony here is that this occurred a few rounds after the RO at the range asked me about the gun and I let him shoot a couple rounds. He said it was much nicer than the range rental and I bragged about the better trigger. Jinxed myself I guess.

[yqtszhj]

I'd blame it on the RO. ;)

From the K9 exploded diagram on the kahr sight it looks like the trigger is similar to the polymer guns so the trigger pin would come out which disassembles the whole trigger assembly. I've done this on a couple of my polymer kahrs and while you do have to hold your mouth right to get it all back together it was possible. I used several punches to get everything lined up before reinstalling the trigger pin. I think the first time it took me a couple of hours while also referencing another kahr during reassembly. The next time or 2 it didn't take as long. One note is if I remember right the trigger spring went flying and I had to look for it.

One thing I cant tell is how the trigger pin is held in on the K9. On the polymer frames there is a cross pin that holds the trigger pin in via a grove on the trigger pin and it took a couple of good whacks to get it out.

[Old No7]

One thing I cant tell is how the trigger pin is held in on the K9. On the polymer frames there is a cross pin that holds the trigger pin in via a grove on the trigger pin and it took a couple of good whacks to get it out.
I just changed out the old "NYPD" parts in a nice used K9 that I got for the 3 parts that converted it to a "very sweet" & Elite (hey, that rhymes!) trigger.

The trigger pin was held in by...

Much friction...

It took many more whacks with a hammer & punch -- even with a 2X heavier hammer than I'd started with -- to get the pin to start to move.

Best thing I did to help was to clamp the frame down solidly on a solid wood bench (over a convenient small hole I drilled for the pin to enter) to eliminate any "bounce" or "rebound" effect from the frame. That did the trick -- plus a little "liquid lubrication" helped too. Luckily, my punch never slipped and scratched the frame, because I'd built up a small "wall" around it with multiple layers of masking tape leaving just a small un-taped hole for the pin to enter. That worked out well.

If you're not shy about whacking on your K9 (gee, that sounds illegal!) this can be a DIY job.

But if you are, then you may want to enlist the help of a gunsmith or send it back to Kahr.

Good luck.

Old No7

[yqtszhj]

Sounds like the sear pin on my cz p-01. on the CZ they recommend starting it with a hardened starter punch which I happened to have and like you did I had to use a REAL hammer. The small ball peen hammer didnt do it.

[Bawanna]

I've never been into one that far. My gut response is send it back and let the experts take care of it.

That being said, what one man can do another can do. How many times I wished I would have let the other man do it though.

[gb6491]

I just changed out the old "NYPD" parts in a nice used K9 that I got for the 3 parts that converted it to a "very sweet" & Elite (hey, that rhymes!) trigger.

The trigger pin was held in by...

Much friction...

It took many more whacks with a hammer & punch -- even with a 2X heavier hammer than I'd started with -- to get the pin to start to move.

Best thing I did to help was to clamp the frame down solidly on a solid wood bench (over a convenient small hole I drilled for the pin to enter) to eliminate any "bounce" or "rebound" effect from the frame. That did the trick -- plus a little "liquid lubrication" helped too. Luckily, my punch never slipped and scratched the frame, because I'd built up a small "wall" around it with multiple layers of masking tape leaving just a small un-taped hole for the pin to enter. That worked out well.

If you're not shy about whacking on your K9 (gee, that sounds illegal!) this can be a DIY job.

But if you are, then you may want to enlist the help of a gunsmith or send it back to Kahr.

Good luck.

Old No7

Sounds like the sear pin on my cz p-01. on the CZ they recommend starting it with a hardened starter punch which I happened to have and like you did I had to use a REAL hammer. The small ball peen hammer didnt do it.
Very good advice here. I would like to add that I found using a "starter punch" helped when I disassembled my K9. My starter punch is made from a small brass punch. It has a short shaft to reduce any flex.
http://i66.tinypic.com/nqtqc5.jpg
Here's a video of a gent doing a full disassembly of a MK40, it will give you an idea of what's involved with removing the trigger bar on a metal frame Kahr:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCFUuWPNwlg
IMO, the trouble he mentions having when removing the trigger axis pin might might be attributed to his tools. If he was using that same bench, I don't think it is sturdy enough.

Regards,
Greg

[DJK11]

Bummer, I thought that I was the only one to brake trigger bars on 9 mm Kahrs. After replacing two on my pm9 it's always in the back of my mind when I carry it. After watching the video, it's a bit easier on the poly vs metal pistols. I clamp the frame in a wood clamp.

[ripley16]

Thanks for all of the helpful comments. The video was very informative. The maker of the video needs to be introduced to the "Ripley Retractor" to aide in removing that pesky back plate.:) I think I might go ahead and send the gun back to Kahr. The night sights are dim enough to be useless, so I might ask for new ones as well as the repair. Sights can be a challenge to change as well. Thanks for the help... as always a great, well informed community of forum friends.

[ripley16]

Update:
Kahr came through in a very nice way. I decided to return the gun to them for a repair and emailed the service dept. for a return authorization. It came the next morning accompanied by a Fed Ex shipping label. Great news because when I checked to see what the overnight fee was for a small package it came to $70. Thank you Kahr. Ian Burr, with Kahr, stated the turn around time is 6 weeks. Can't wait to get it back. I expect the repair to cost an hour in labor plus the part cost, very reasonable considering the shipping savings. I was assuming I'd have a local FFL mail the gun for me vis USPS for around $35.

Good start to a downer of a situation. I hate when a gun breaks.

[Old No7]

Good luck with the repair!

I wonder "what size hammer" they use at Kahr?! :confused:

Old No7

[Bawanna]

Kahr probably uses some form of arbor press, only guessing got nothing to back that up with.

If Kahr picked up the shipping I'm guessing they will pick up the repair as well, I wouldn't be surprised to see a no charge invoice in the package and hopefully long before 6 weeks.

[finpro]

I once spoke to a Kahr tech about removing the then-standard K trigger to convert to an Elite trigger. He said I could do it if I had an arbor press. I had never heard of this and had to look it up. I eventually bought an Elite MK9 and K9 for the trigger, despite having no interest in their purely cosmetic features.

[MMyers1970]

Update:
Kahr came through in a very nice way. I decided to return the gun to them for a repair and emailed the service dept. for a return authorization. It came the next morning accompanied by a Fed Ex shipping label. Great news because when I checked to see what the overnight fee was for a small package it came to $70. Thank you Kahr. Ian Burr, with Kahr, stated the turn around time is 6 weeks. Can't wait to get it back. I expect the repair to cost an hour in labor plus the part cost, very reasonable considering the shipping savings. I was assuming I'd have a local FFL mail the gun for me vis USPS for around $35.

Good start to a downer of a situation. I hate when a gun breaks.

Ian is GREAT. I've dealt with him on two repairs,and both times Kahr paid for shipping both ways---and kept my pistols in house a single day. One of them was WAY out of warranty(I bent my slide stop spring and Ian suggested I let them update my old P9 from the plastic pin retainer to a screw retainer) and I didn't have to pay a penny for repair.

Kahr's customer service is outstanding.

[Old No7]

Kahr probably uses some form of arbor press...

Agreed. I was only joking about the "hammer size" -- but sometimes it DOES matter!

I do like that "starter punch" from the 1st page -- I'll have to ask my brother-in-law to make me up a few. I'll bet that sure would have helped on my K9 trigger replacement.

Old No7

[ripley16]

Update, sort of. Coming up on 7 weeks and still the K9 is at the Kahr Mothership. I guess the holidays slowed down the repair line production. Starting to get withdrawal symptoms. :crazy: I'll comment when the gun returns; a record of the experience for posterity. Forgot to mention that this is a "blemish" gun. Makes a difference in any warranty issue I would imagine.

[gb6491]

Thanks for the update. Hope you get it back soon.
Regards,
Greg

[ripley16]

Update;
The time passes slowly. Nine weeks at the Kahr facility and still no K9. I have to admit I'm surprised a repair takes this long. Trying to be patient.

[Bobshouse]

Update;
The time passes slowly. Nine weeks at the Kahr facility and still no K9. I have to admit I'm surprised a repair takes this long. Trying to be patient.

Takes a while first time around, second trip will be much faster, hang in there!

[Buzzard45]

nine weeks? time for an e mail: "did ya forget about me?"

[ripley16]

nine weeks? time for an e mail: "did ya forget about me?"

I did that at 6 weeks. At 7 weeks I was emailed that the gun would be worked on "today or tomorrow". Nothing since.

[ripley16]

UPDATE

Finally, after 10 weeks I received the welcomed email that my K9 is on it's way home and should be here tomorrow. Like getting a new gun... the anticipation is almost unhealthy. :blushing:

It's tomorrow... and tracking shows it's on the truck for delivery today. Cool. I have not seen a bill. I figured there would be a charge to repair and a charge to return. This gun is a "blemish" K9 long out of warranty. Other than the long wait, I can't complain about the complimentary service. I'm impressed.

Now, hurry up FedEx driver. I want to go shoot it. Got my range bag ready, Ruger SR22 and a HK P7M8 in the bag waiting for the threesome...

[ripley16]

Gun is back home. Trigger bar replaced. No charge. Ten weeks and four days total from drop off to arrival. I wiped it down from it's test firing residue and it's all set for a range trip.

[Bawanna]

Wish I was near Virginia, always wanted a P7, never shot one. Heard they heat up pretty quick but I'd be ok with that.