I need HELP, please

[THEPOPE]

I have a huge problem, I think, and I don't know where else to turn,
so if someone would help me, I will be forever in your debt....


I dis-assembled my Mark III, for the second time, and must have screwed up big time on re-assembly.

The part at the back of the grip, the last thing you assemble, the Mainspring Housing latch, wasn't springy to the feel, like it's supposed to be when I swung it back into place, so I knew something was wrong, and I can't get it to swing back out away from the frame now.

It seems to be stuck solidly, just as it begins to swing out, it stops, and won't budge to release the cylinder post assembly.

I hope this makes sense to someone here, as I am out of ideas, and I am in panic.

PLEASE help me find a solution to this problem.

I am trying to go by the manual, but it doesn't help at all for this .

Thanks for any help....

Ime out ;)

[DJ Niner]

I've had this happen to me with MK-Is and MK-IIs. If the hammer strut isn't lined-up with the plunger cup when you swing the mainspring housing closed, it will often jam against the inside of the frame, next to the mainspring housing. If this is the case, you probably can't pull the bolt to the rear either (because the hammer can't/won't move).

When this happened to me, I noticed it DID take a little more effort to get the housing open, but it didn't jam it really tight; try to find a way to add a little more force, gently, to get the housing open. You might also try pressing upward on the top of the housing, near the area where the web of you hand sits when firing (base of the cylinder post); this might get you a little slack to pop it free. Of course, wiggling a stuck part while pulling on it is a popular option, too. :)

Hope this is helpful.

[A21D]

I've had this happen as well when I 1st broke down my MKII. I tapped the bolt stop bin with a soft mallet a couple of times and that seemed to loosen things a bit so that I could get the mainspring latch out. That may or may not work for you, I just thought I would give you another suggestion. Like DJ said, the plunger is probably wedged inside the frame. Once you get the mainspring latch out, you'll probably need a pair of needle nose pliers, or a small screwdriver to pop it out. To reassemble the best way to get the plunger properly lined up is to point the pistol up at a vertical angle, so the plunger is pointing out towards where the mainspring latch goes. Then slowly close the mainspring latch. You should feel just a little bit of tension as it's almost fully closed. Good luck!

[THEPOPE]

Dj niner, I believe this is what happened, what you describe, and when I realized I did it, I tried to remove the housing, but can't budge it beyond a quarter inch, it's solid.

also tried to pry it out with a screw-driver, carefully, and while jiggling, pressing, pressure in various angles and methods, no go, not even a little.

A21D, what is the bolt stop bin? Maybe you meant bolt stop pin?

Tried to do that too, if that's what you mean, I tapped, sorta hard,but carefully, no go, nada iota of loosen apparent. Bummed out, but thanks for the suggestions, men, I really appreciate the help.

Let me run this past you fellows, it seems that I may try to drive out the pins that hold together the sear assembly, and hammer assembly, while it's in this condition, in essense, a detail strip from the outside, while not seeing how the parts fit.

But that should release the parts that are hanging me up, any thoughts on this idea, pro or con?

Gonna maybe try it tonight later,then it will be a matter of following some on-line pics and such, to re-assemble the detailed parts back together.

I am reluctant to do this, for I don't want to harm my firearm, and not too interested in detail stripping it, at this stage, especially since I can't seem to do a simple field strip, for God's sake.

:shocked:

Please advise on my plan, so I may make an informed decision before I attempt it.

Thanks, again....

Ime out ;)

[A21D]

Originally posted by THEPOPE

A21D, what is the bolt stop bin? Maybe you meant bolt stop pin?

Tried to do that too, if that's what you mean, I tapped, sorta hard,but carefully, no go, nada iota of loosen apparent. Bummed out, but thanks for the suggestions, men, I really appreciate the help.



Yeah, that's what I meant. :supergrin: Sorry. It sounds like that thing is stuck together good. Maybe you could tap it a little harder, but it's your gun and I understand you don't want to damage it. When I had this happen it eventually came loose with tapping and wiggling.

If you haven't already looked you can check over at www.mkiii.org
That message boared is dedicated to the MII/MIII platform.
You might also check over at www.rimfirecentral.com/forums
Good luck!

[THEPOPE]

A21D, yessir, I have tried the first site, which is where I heard of a fellow that drove the pins out to get his apart....

I will try the second one you mentioned, now, and thank you for the links.

I don't want to whack it too hard, but maybe I'll give it one more smack or two, with a little more force, although it seems to be too locked for this to matter much. I assume you mean to hit the post pin ....to drive it down, but with the latch only moving quarter of an inch away from the frame, there is really no where for the latch to go, it would bottom out against the frame, it seems to me.


THERE MUST BE A WAY....

I have the will, now I need a way.

Mout

;)

[THEPOPE]

Ladies and Gents, we have a winner.....

A fellow on the "gunsmith" section led me to a site that out-lined the exact problem I was having...and a solution.

Holding the pistol muzzle down, mag inserted, trigger held back with thumb, a sharp, short rap to the reciever, between the back sight and the ejection port, released the hammer into the proper position, only took two raps and the latch sprang open....AMEN, brothers and sisters...

That is the solution to this particular problem, worked like a charm, and would recommend doing this if you have the same situation.

Not a hard bash, mind yoy, but a short, sharp, fairly easy rap to the reciever did the trick.

Thanks to all who tried to help, and a "salute" to a Steve Koski, in gunsmithing for pointing me into the realm of solving this dilema.


Ime out and shooting my Mark III once again, and all is well with the world....;)

[DJ Niner]

:thumbsup: