Reassembly - Inserting Recoil Spring & Guide Rod

[gb6491]

gb6491 - I'm glad that you posted the video. That's the same way I install my guide rod and spring on my CW9. A picture may be a 1000 words but videos have to get up into the 100,000s.

Do you have to reach around a camera tripod as I did?.......I know what you mean, but it still gave me a chuckle; thanks!

I got enough "practice" during that half hour session yesterday to last a lifetime, in addition to a sore and slightly bruised thumb. I don't know what the tolerance on the rod versus hole are but getting the rod through the hole while overcoming the spring tension using just my hands or even the slide braced against my body is not an easy task.

gb6491

The issue goes beyond just the basic design but rather the design, tolerance between the rod and hole, the angle of insertion required to make the insertion, shape of the breech end of the barrel and the spring tension. I have no problem getting the spring compressed without bending it but that last 1/16" push at just the right angle to get the tip of the rod started in the hole is very tight. If there 1/32" clearance (rod versus inside hole diameter) that clearance is even less given the rod is approaching the hole at an angle.

Actually, if the end of the rod was slightly rounded at that end it would make the job much easier.

Sorry friend, inclusive of "design, tolerance between the rod and hole, the angle of insertion required to make the insertion, shape of the breech end of the barrel and the spring tension" I'm just not having any issues inserting the guide rod and spring into a CW 45.
However, as you mention that a slightly rounded end would make the job much easier, I wonder if there is an issue with your guide rod.
Mine has the end beveled, perhaps yours isn't:

Regards,
Greg

[TominCA]

I'm on my second P380 - both had (have) serious function problems. I noticed that the second P380 has a longer outer recoil spring - so long it really doesn't fit well - the first P380 had a shorter spring. The problem with the P380's is the return to battery - it often doesn't make it (many eamples of this in this forum) so I think they beefed up the outer spring by making it longer - now you really have to play with it to get it in. I've owned probably 40 semi auto pistols over the years - Never had function problems this bad.

It could be they did this on your model also - the inner spring is shorter and also very stiff and I think the outer spring is not just recoil absprbtion - it also gives the slide the last little bit of push into battery. Call Kahr - or better yet complain to your dealer - if the dealers get involved it will help Kahr start paying attention to their pistols.

[jocko]

tominCA. Have u counted the old recoil spring (outter) compared to this new one to see if indeed they added coils This would tall us alot. I have been told they changted the inner spring but not the outter spring. All springs take a set, but coil count would be very important.

[CJB]

On the PM45, my only point of reference, I agree it could have been designed better, but its not a bad design. Putting a slight dome on the end of the "button" at the end of the shaft would have made things easier, but its not an impossible task.

On the CW... cant say, never tried it.

[TominCA]

It's a good idea! but unfortunately the old spring is back to the factory so I can't count the coils on it - what I did notice is that the last coil of the outer spring actually tries to protrude through the hole in the slide way before the rear of the guide rod is in position and I have to rotate it out of the way - and then compress the spring by grabbing it in the middle to get the rod into position (one of those "need 3 hands" gun asembly things). I did not have to do anything like that with the first pistol. It also appeared to be quite a bit stiffer to work the slide on the second pistol. I left the slide locked back for about 12 hours - but it did not make a difference.

[2edgesword]

Do you have to reach around a camera tripod as I did?.......I know what you mean, but it still gave me a chuckle; thanks!

Sorry friend, inclusive of "design, tolerance between the rod and hole, the angle of insertion required to make the insertion, shape of the breech end of the barrel and the spring tension" I'm just not having any issues inserting the guide rod and spring into a CW 45.
However, as you mention that a slightly rounded end would make the job much easier, I wonder if there is an issue with your guide rod.
Mine has the end beveled, perhaps yours isn't:

Regards,
Greg

Greg

I think you have identified the problem. The end of my guide rod has NO bevel whatsoever which would explain why if the rod is not aligned just so it won't start through the hole in the slide.



It appears that a finishing step (adding the bevel) may have been missed.

[Bawanna]

Maybe order you up a Steve Bedair stainless guide rod. Good guy, good guide rod and it looks wicked cool too. I'm nearly certain it has that bevel too, at least mine did.

[2edgesword]

I did a little more searching on the web a found others with the contrasting guide rods with insertion difficulties...

Without bevel


With bevel