MAINSPRING COMPRESSION AND THE FINICKY LUGER...

Heinmot · 04-14-2004, 02:39 PM

OK, THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE CHIMED IN WITH ADVICE AS TO HOW TO GET MY PISTOL ROLLING ALONG SMOOTHLY.

Sorry for posting on the commercial side. The post should have been here, I guess.

As I mentioned on the previous post, there appears to be just a smidge of excess stiffness just before the toggle reaches its most rearward point. Removing the grip panel and hand racking the action, I notice that the mainspring appears to reach complete "crush" BEFORE the toggle reaches its most rearward point. Then the spring bends to the side with the coils slightly overlapping each other.

I THINK this is the source of the increased stiffness.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT MY MAINSPRING IS A COUPLE COILS TOO LONG??

Are Luger mainsprings made with different lengths?

This increased tension occurs at just the point where a fresh round should be stripped from the mag, so i am wondering now if the mainspring is my problem after all!

Any ideas????

John Sabato · 04-14-2004, 02:47 PM

You may have found the problem. It may not be an original mainspring, but a replacement with a spring that was too long sometime during it's life. You can buy replacement mainsprings in three different weights individually or as a set of three from www.gunsprings.com If you buy the set then you can vary the adjustment based on loads. there is an excellent article in the Technical information pages by THOR on the procedure for changing mainsprings... not a task for the feint of heart, but not really that hard.

You can cut one coil at a time from the spring that you have and test fire it with your favorite load until it passes muster.

Good Luck and let us know how thing turn out.

Heinmot · 04-14-2004, 03:09 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr /> there is an excellent article in the Technical information pages by THOR on the procedure for changing mainsprings... not a task for the feint of heart, but not really that hard.[/QB]<hr /></blockquote>John Sabato, Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Is Thor's article the Disassembly procedure on the Tech side? Or is there some other article. I only see the black and white disassembly directions, but the photos are a bit fuzzy.

John Sabato · 04-14-2004, 03:28 PM

Sorry, the article is actually on the General Information page...

Here is a link direct to the article:

http://www.lugerforum.com/Mainspring_Install.html

Heinmot · 04-17-2004, 10:49 AM

OK, one more test completed...

Uhg, here goes;

I tried 147 grain American Eagle Flat Point FMJ's.

RESULT?

A total and unmitigated disaster...

Wouldn't feed at all, and actually became wedged in the magazine even during loading.

However, I did try the "load one over an empty magazine" test to see if the toggle would lock back.

No go.

However, there really is no obvious increase in recoil with these rounds. Purely subjective of course, but...

So.

I just got the magazine springs from Wolff, and will replace the originals in the Mec-Gar and fxo, and then I should have the Wolff 36 lb recoil spring by Monday or so and will install that.

If these fixes don't work, I think I just may chuck the thing in the stock pond.

Then I can stick with the RELIABLE Browning Hi-Power!!

Thor · 04-17-2004, 11:50 AM

Heinmot, I would be glad to get your Luger up and running for you. Please let me know if I can help you with it before you pond chuck it! I can lap polish the moving parts, check all the springs and test fire it for you before it is returned.
After working and firing hundreds of Lugers I bet I can zero the problem and fix it. Tom Heller is also very good with these weapons. He has taught me a bunch of stuff on them.
<a href="http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/TLSS_banner.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/TLSS_banner.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

04-14-2004, 02:39 PM	#1
Heinmot User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: USA Posts: 57 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	MAINSPRING COMPRESSION AND THE FINICKY LUGER... OK, THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE CHIMED IN WITH ADVICE AS TO HOW TO GET MY PISTOL ROLLING ALONG SMOOTHLY. Sorry for posting on the commercial side. The post should have been here, I guess. As I mentioned on the previous post, there appears to be just a smidge of excess stiffness just before the toggle reaches its most rearward point. Removing the grip panel and hand racking the action, I notice that the mainspring appears to reach complete "crush" BEFORE the toggle reaches its most rearward point. Then the spring bends to the side with the coils slightly overlapping each other. I THINK this is the source of the increased stiffness. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT MY MAINSPRING IS A COUPLE COILS TOO LONG?? Are Luger mainsprings made with different lengths? This increased tension occurs at just the point where a fresh round should be stripped from the mag, so i am wondering now if the mainspring is my problem after all! Any ideas???? __________________ Psalm 20:7

04-14-2004, 02:47 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	You may have found the problem. It may not be an original mainspring, but a replacement with a spring that was too long sometime during it's life. You can buy replacement mainsprings in three different weights individually or as a set of three from www.gunsprings.com If you buy the set then you can vary the adjustment based on loads. there is an excellent article in the Technical information pages by THOR on the procedure for changing mainsprings... not a task for the feint of heart, but not really that hard. You can cut one coil at a time from the spring that you have and test fire it with your favorite load until it passes muster. Good Luck and let us know how thing turn out. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

04-14-2004, 03:09 PM	#3
Heinmot User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: USA Posts: 57 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva"> there is an excellent article in the Technical information pages by THOR on the procedure for changing mainsprings... not a task for the feint of heart, but not really that hard.[/QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">John Sabato, Thanks for hanging in there with me! Is Thor's article the Disassembly procedure on the Tech side? Or is there some other article. I only see the black and white disassembly directions, but the photos are a bit fuzzy. __________________ Psalm 20:7

04-14-2004, 03:28 PM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	Sorry, the article is actually on the General Information page... Here is a link direct to the article: http://www.lugerforum.com/Mainspring_Install.html __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

04-17-2004, 10:49 AM	#5
Heinmot User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: USA Posts: 57 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	OK, one more test completed... Uhg, here goes; I tried 147 grain American Eagle Flat Point FMJ's. RESULT? A total and unmitigated disaster... Wouldn't feed at all, and actually became wedged in the magazine even during loading. However, I did try the "load one over an empty magazine" test to see if the toggle would lock back. No go. However, there really is no obvious increase in recoil with these rounds. Purely subjective of course, but... So. I just got the magazine springs from Wolff, and will replace the originals in the Mec-Gar and fxo, and then I should have the Wolff 36 lb recoil spring by Monday or so and will install that. If these fixes don't work, I think I just may chuck the thing in the stock pond. Then I can stick with the RELIABLE Browning Hi-Power!! __________________ Psalm 20:7

04-17-2004, 11:50 AM	#6
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Heinmot, I would be glad to get your Luger up and running for you. Please let me know if I can help you with it before you pond chuck it! I can lap polish the moving parts, check all the springs and test fire it for you before it is returned. After working and firing hundreds of Lugers I bet I can zero the problem and fix it. Tom Heller is also very good with these weapons. He has taught me a bunch of stuff on them. <a href="http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/TLSS_banner.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/TLSS_banner.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a> __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email [email protected] ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."