Newb Needs Help with CW40 Reassembly!

[Husky44]

Guys:

Great forum here... been lurking for a week waiting on my CW40 to come in. Did all the take-down, clean, mag prep, lube... Reassembly is kicking my butt, and I REALLY want to go shoot this thing in the morning.

I think I screwed up by pulling the trigger while the slide was off, but I'm having a bear of a time getting the slide back on. I can work it past the two cams (for lack of a better term) at the rear of the frame that rotate when the trigger is pulled, but I can't get the slide more than about 1/2" past the normal closed position. Been wrestling with it for about two hours. Read the other sticky post about the slide stuck, but I don't have the problem with the Slide Release being inserted. Can anyone set me straight?

[Husky44]

OK, some progress... I got the slide on, slide stop inserted, and can get the slide to pull fully to the rear, but I have to be pushing in on the slide stop with my right thumb to be able to rack the slide, otherwise it catches on the little knob on the slide release that lines up with the indent on the slide for assembly. It catches here traveling back, and you can feel it rubbing here when traveling forward.

If I push the slide stop lever into the frame with more than a little force, I can get rack the slide with no problem. If I stop pushing in, the slide will lock to the rear (no magazine inserted). The slide stop is not in the "up" position. To release the slide, I push IN on the release. Is this a problem with the spring?

[gb6491]

Push the slide back until it is even with the rear of the pistol (barrel should appear to be in battery).
Insert the slide stop pin about 3/4 of the way into the frame with the lever positioned at 4 o'clock.
Now push the slide further back until the take down notch on the slide is positioned above the end of the slide stop spring (centered on the window in the frame) and hold it there.
While holding the slide in that position, rotate the lever up to about three o'clock and push the stop stop completely into the pistol.
Regards,
Greg

BTW, welcome to the forums:)

Oops, I see you were posting as I was writing.
You may or may not have bent the slide stop spring. I'll dig up a link to how it should look. You need to insert the stop so that the end of the spring rests on top of the piece of the lever that protrudes into the frame.

[Husky44]

Greg:

Thanks for the reply; I was re-reading the insert by WynTrout (I think that was the right name) on the initial prep sticky, and just working on that. I've tried it several times, and still get it sticking, unless I'm pushing the lever in. Do I need to go find a #5 torx? That's the only thing I haven't done is tighten the screw retaining the spring.

[Husky44]

Well, I'm going to run down to schucks and see if I can find a #5 torx. Grab some supper while I'm out, and hopefully hit the range yet tonight... Follow up report coming later.

[gb6491]

Greg:

Thanks for the reply; I was re-reading the insert by WynTrout (I think that was the right name) on the initial prep sticky, and just working on that. I've tried it several times, and still get it sticking, unless I'm pushing the lever in. Do I need to go find a #5 torx? That's the only thing I haven't done is tighten the screw retaining the spring.
Check the spring for damage and proper orientation first.
Here's how an undamaged and properly positioned spring should look:
http://i53.tinypic.com/4j4zsp.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

Here's another post by Wynn that shows where the spring's end should be on the lever:
http://kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=33264&postcount=7
Regards,
Greg

[wyntrout]

There's a video at kahr.com under your pistol... under the small diagrams at the lower left "Take Down Video", the same as for most polymer models:

http://www.kahr.com/Pistols/Kahr-CW40.asp

at 4:30 into the video there are special instructions in the video on installing the slide lock. The whole video is a must for taking your Kahr apart and putting it back together.

In a pinch, you can use a jeweler's screwdriver that fits in the Torx screw securely enough to turn the screw. Be VERY CAREFUL... the metal screw can STRIP the plastic threads! Just turn it, if you must until there's resistance... no one more quarter turn or so!

If you aren't careful, the slide stop lever's protrusion can push the free end of the spring into the hole, bending it, or the protrusion can ride OVER the free end of the spring, forcing the slide lock to lock open the slide.

Check the video out.

If the spring is bent inwards or out of position, use a pair of needle-nosed pliers to gently bend it back into shape/position, after removing the slide lock lever and slide.

Good luck.

Wynn:)

[Husky44]

Quick update for tonight: Got the torx, tightened the screw, didn't see any effects. Was AT the range, and I wanted to at least get a start on my 200 rounds, so I took the screw out completely. The gun cycled well without a mag in the chamber in that state, so I put about 100 rounds through it. Probably 85% of them the slide locked back.

On a good note, I REALLY like how it shot! Seemed dead-nuts accurate at 10 yards in low light (like, I couldn't see my sights...).

I haven't looked at the videos above, but the pics are an eye-opener. The spring indeed did get pushed into the hole, so now we know at least part of the problem...

Thanks for the awesome assistance! Sorry I won't be much help to others for a while.

[Husky44]

So,while I'm looking at the supersize picture above, and trying to reinstall the spring, I realize that I'm missing the washer around the screw that holds the spring in place. :O

I jumped back in the truck, drove out to the range, walked to the table where I took the spring out, turned on my flashlight, and it was pointing right at the washer! This after I had cleaned up, hauled off ammo boxes, targets, packed my gear, all at that table. Prayer works!

Got home, reassembled the gun with the washer, with the spring lined up as shown, and everything seems to be in working order, including chambering snap caps without locking back. Let's hope that everything functions properly tomorrow at the range.

Greg, Wynn: Thanks for all the help! FWIW, I'm pretty sure I dorked up my spring when I was testing the slide lock clearance in #6 of the Proper Prep thread. That might be a good place to insert something about the spring getting pushed into the slot--because the manual's reassembly instructions basically say "do everything in reverse from disassembly".

You guys have built a great thread for new owners! Thanks! I was beginning to get concerned that I was possibly going to regret this gun, but now I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

[wyntrout]

That Kahr video really stresses correct re-assembly with emphasis on the slide lock spring. That little thing does several jobs and can be damaged or bent several different ways, causing all kinds of problems.

Gun cleaning is forbidden at my range and it's not very bright. I do carry a flashlight there, but you're very lucky to have found that washer! I just ordered another set for my P40. The screw and washer are only $1.10, but that tiny spring is $6.60, as are all "minor" springs, even the straight wire magazine catch spring!

I was ordering a bunch of stuff, including one of the Looper Kydex-reinforced leather gun belts, so I really looked around to get everything I had been thinking about, including a new mag catch for the P40, in case I want to experiment on the one I have.

Wynn:)