RIA 1911 guide rod unscrewed

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - RIA 1911 guide rod unscrewed

Posted: 9/12/2018 8:41:02 PM EDT

Exactly as the title says, the guide came unscrewed from the cap and now it is impossible to take apart fully or put back together. IDK what to do other then toss it in the trash, I've just being having a bad day and this could not have happened at a better time, I have put only 150 rounds through this gun and it was unfired before I got it.

No I did not try to unscrew the guide rod when I stripped and oiled it before the first time I took it out.

I will post pictures as soon as I can.

Edit:I managed to screw it back in via vise grips somewhat, hopefully I can get it back together, as soon as that happens it's gone, this was my first 1911, and now I have zero urge to ever touch one again.

Edit 2:it is bushingless, and the guide rod isn't all the way unscrewed.

Edit 3: the I put the slide on after it was screwed back in slightly and pulled back to see if i couldn't put in the catch to get to the takedown hole on the guide rod, that apparently was enough to completely unscrew the guide rod, but the rod didn't come out, instead the cap flew off as soon as I took the slide off and the spring fucked itself.

EDIT 4: I had the guide rod mostly back into the cap but cycling the slide completely unscrews it.

Edit 5: I finally got it apart, according to RIA there is supposed to be loctite on the threads of the cap, but there isn't any, thank you to those that helped.

Posted: 9/12/2018 8:47:57 PM EDT

[#1]

Did you call RIA?

Posted: 9/12/2018 8:50:17 PM EDT

[#2]

Quote History

Quoted:
Did you call RIA?

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X2

You can give it to me if it’s going to the trash.

Posted: 9/12/2018 8:53:38 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
Did you call RIA?

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It happened a few hours ago, they didn't pick up so I assume they are closed after 4pm (whatever time that is for them).

I managed to screw it back in via vise grips somewhat, hopefully I can get it back together, as soon as that happens it's gone, this was my first 1911, and now I have zero urge to ever touch one again.

Posted: 9/12/2018 8:53:54 PM EDT

[#4]

Send it back and they will fix it, just use my address as return address.

Posted: 9/12/2018 8:56:24 PM EDT

[#5]

If the guide rod is out, why not remove the barrel bushing and disassemble the gun? You don't sound like you are a very good bowler............

Posted: 9/12/2018 8:58:16 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
If the guide rod is out, why not remove the barrel bushing and disassemble the gun? You don't sound like you are a very good bowler............

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it is a bushingless gun, the guide rod is not all the way out, I'm sorry I didn't specify.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:03:11 PM EDT

[#7]

RIA doesn't exactly set the bar in the world of 1911s. Hard to judge 1911 platform by one of the cheapest examples made.
But- RIA has good customer service.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:07:15 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
Exactly as the title says, the guide came unscrewed from the cap and now it is impossible to take apart fully or put back together. IDK what to do other then toss it in the trash, I've just being having a bad day and this could not have happened at a better time, I have put only 150 rounds through this gun and it was unfired before I got it.

No I did not try to unscrew the guide rod when I stripped and oiled it before the first time I took it out.

I will post pictures as soon as I can.

Edit:I managed to screw it back in via vise grips somewhat, hopefully I can get it back together, as soon as that happens it's gone, this was my first 1911, and now I have zero urge to ever touch one again.

View Quote

Translation:
I purchased the greatest gun ever designed, but put zero effort into learning how it operated, and when I neglected a stupid simple bit of maintenence, the front fell off, now, since I put zero effort into learning how this gun operates, I posted on arfcom instead of googling how to reinstall the part without damaging it. Then , when people posted, I went and found the most destructive possible tool to try to reassemble it.

Dude, if you purchase a gun, it is your absolute responsibility to learn how to competently operate it. That you put 150 rounds through it means you should have already educated yourself, but failed. Get thee to google and learn. You don't have to thank me, but you should heed me.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:09:33 PM EDT

[#9]

I don't understand how you re having this much trouble with a two-piece guiderod, or why you couldn't disassemble it.

I'll be happy to dispose of it for you, though.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:10:16 PM EDT

[#10]

How about removing the slide stop, and taking the entire top off as one piece.
Deal with it from there.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:11:06 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:

Translation:
I purchased the greatest gun ever designed, but put zero effort into learning how it operated, and when I neglected a stupid simple bit of maintenence, the front fell off, now, since I put zero effort into learning how this gun operates, I posted on arfcom instead of googling how to reinstall the part without damaging it. Then , when people posted, I went and found the most destructive possible tool to try to reassemble it.

Dude, if you purchase a gun, it is your absolute responsibility to learn how to competently operate it. That you put 150 rounds through it means you should have already educated yourself, but failed. Get thee to google and learn. You don't have to thank me, but you should heed me.

View Quote

I didn't neglect shit, how the fuck is it my fault the guide rod unscrewed itself, it shouldn't have happened, I did google and found according to RIA it shouldn't be able to do this. I simply used the vise grips to grap on to the end of guide rod protruding from the from to screw it back into the cap.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:11:35 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
I don't understand how you re having this much trouble with a two-piece guiderod, or why you couldn't disassemble it.

I'll be happy to dispose of it for you, though.

View Quote

Not a two piece as far as I can tell.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:11:47 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
How about removing the slide stop, and taking the entire top off as one piece.
Deal with it from there.

View Quote

I did.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:13:01 PM EDT

[#14]

Meh. Don't be a baby. Happened to me too and they just sent me a new rod. Haven't had any trouble since.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:14:50 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Meh. Don't be a baby. Happened to me too and they just sent me a new rod. Haven't had any trouble since.

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The rod isn't the issue. It unscrewed from the cap.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:16:57 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Translation:
I purchased the greatest gun ever designed, but put zero effort into learning how it operated, and when I neglected a stupid simple bit of maintenence, the front fell off, now, since I put zero effort into learning how this gun operates, I posted on arfcom instead of googling how to reinstall the part without damaging it. Then , when people posted, I went and found the most destructive possible tool to try to reassemble it.

Dude, if you purchase a gun, it is your absolute responsibility to learn how to competently operate it. That you put 150 rounds through it means you should have already educated yourself, but failed. Get thee to google and learn. You don't have to thank me, but you should heed me.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Exactly as the title says, the guide came unscrewed from the cap and now it is impossible to take apart fully or put back together. IDK what to do other then toss it in the trash, I've just being having a bad day and this could not have happened at a better time, I have put only 150 rounds through this gun and it was unfired before I got it.

No I did not try to unscrew the guide rod when I stripped and oiled it before the first time I took it out.

I will post pictures as soon as I can.

Edit:I managed to screw it back in via vise grips somewhat, hopefully I can get it back together, as soon as that happens it's gone, this was my first 1911, and now I have zero urge to ever touch one again.

Translation:
I purchased the greatest gun ever designed, but put zero effort into learning how it operated, and when I neglected a stupid simple bit of maintenence, the front fell off, now, since I put zero effort into learning how this gun operates, I posted on arfcom instead of googling how to reinstall the part without damaging it. Then , when people posted, I went and found the most destructive possible tool to try to reassemble it.

Dude, if you purchase a gun, it is your absolute responsibility to learn how to competently operate it. That you put 150 rounds through it means you should have already educated yourself, but failed. Get thee to google and learn. You don't have to thank me, but you should heed me.

Not to mention the specific model purchased is a more advanced variant that takes more understanding than a standard GI model.

I feel like the brand doesn't matter OP would have had a problem with any manufacturers version.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:20:37 PM EDT

[#17]

Why all the drama? Just contact RIA. They have a good CS reputation.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:21:50 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
It happened a few hours ago, they didn't pick up so I assume they are closed after 4pm (whatever time that is for them).

I managed to screw it back in via vise grips somewhat, hopefully I can get it back together, as soon as that happens it's gone, this was my first 1911, and now I have zero urge to ever touch one again.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Did you call RIA?

It happened a few hours ago, they didn't pick up so I assume they are closed after 4pm (whatever time that is for them).

I managed to screw it back in via vise grips somewhat, hopefully I can get it back together, as soon as that happens it's gone, this was my first 1911, and now I have zero urge to ever touch one again.

Ah, yes... vice grips. Your one step away from a dremmel tool....

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:26:02 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Not to mention the specific model purchased is a more advanced variant that takes more understanding than a standard GI model.

I feel like the brand doesn't matter OP would have had a problem with any manufacturers version.

View Quote

RIA is the only manufacturer that uses this style of guide rod as far as I can tell.

I did more googling because fuck me for asking for help on a forum, and found one other case of exactly what happened to me, it boiled down to a manufacturing/assembly defect that there is nothing I could have done anything about.

I also looked in the manual for the 7 millionth time since I purchased it and the manual lacks the exploded view for this exact model.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:27:47 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:

Ah, yes... vice grips. Your one step away from a dremmel tool....

View Quote

it was to grap ahold of the front of the guide rod, I was tired of crushing my fingers every time they slipped.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:31:28 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
RIA is the only manufacturer that uses this style of guide rod as far as I can tell.

I did more googling because fuck me for asking for help on a forum, and found one other case of exactly what happened to me, it boiled down to a manufacturing/assembly defect that there is nothing I could have done anything about.

I also looked in the manual for the 7 millionth time since I purchased it and the manual lacks the exploded view for this exact model.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Not to mention the specific model purchased is a more advanced variant that takes more understanding than a standard GI model.

I feel like the brand doesn't matter OP would have had a problem with any manufacturers version.

RIA is the only manufacturer that uses this style of guide rod as far as I can tell.

I did more googling because fuck me for asking for help on a forum, and found one other case of exactly what happened to me, it boiled down to a manufacturing/assembly defect that there is nothing I could have done anything about.

I also looked in the manual for the 7 millionth time since I purchased it and the manual lacks the exploded view for this exact model.

Well, when your first inclination when running into an issue is to throw the gun version of a tantrum and say you're going to throw it in the trash, what real purpose is there of trying to help if you've already given up before trying anything else?

If your OP would have been "Hey my thing broke, here are some pics, any ideas? I guarantee you would have gotten WAY different reactions.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:33:34 PM EDT

[#22]

PM me with your address I have a spare.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:37:19 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
Well, when your first inclination when running into an issue is to throw the gun version of a tantrum and say you're going to throw it in the trash, what real purpose is there of trying to help if you've already given up before trying anything else?

If your OP would have been "Hey my thing broke, here are some pics, any ideas? I guarantee you would have gotten WAY different reactions.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Not to mention the specific model purchased is a more advanced variant that takes more understanding than a standard GI model.

I feel like the brand doesn't matter OP would have had a problem with any manufacturers version.

RIA is the only manufacturer that uses this style of guide rod as far as I can tell.

I did more googling because fuck me for asking for help on a forum, and found one other case of exactly what happened to me, it boiled down to a manufacturing/assembly defect that there is nothing I could have done anything about.

I also looked in the manual for the 7 millionth time since I purchased it and the manual lacks the exploded view for this exact model.

Well, when your first inclination when running into an issue is to throw the gun version of a tantrum and say you're going to throw it in the trash, what real purpose is there of trying to help if you've already given up before trying anything else?

If your OP would have been "Hey my thing broke, here are some pics, any ideas? I guarantee you would have gotten WAY different reactions.

I'm sorry I've just been having a bad day, I was about to post pictures, then I made some progress only to get my finger crushed. The shitty "you are a retard hur dur you shouldn't own the best weapon in the world" posts kind of side tracked me.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:38:06 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
PM me with your address I have a spare.

View Quote

Don't worry about it, thank you for the offer though.

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:46:15 PM EDT

[#25]

I want to see a picture because I can't visualize what unscrewed. I know what the guide rod is (!) but if it's one piece what unscrewed?

Posted: 9/12/2018 9:53:35 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
I want to see a picture because I can't visualize what unscrewed. I know what the guide rod is (!) but if it's one piece what unscrewed?

View Quote

RIA has a one piece guide rod that unscrews from the cap, it was supposed to be covered in loctite, but as you can see, it wasn't. There was nothing I could have done to prevent it, there was no maintenance that I skipped, simply an assembly issue.

Posted: 9/12/2018 10:05:49 PM EDT

[#27]

I gotcha now. I went through the safe and dragged out my brothers TAC 2 and then watched a Youtube video.

My pistol isn't apart for comparison but I wonder if you could compress just a few coils of the spring, enough to give you some slack, and then get it screwed back together?

Posted: 9/12/2018 10:20:58 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
I gotcha now. I went through the safe and dragged out my brothers TAC 2 and then watched a Youtube video.

My pistol isn't apart for comparison but I wonder if you could compress just a few coils of the spring, enough to give you some slack, and then get it screwed back together?

View Quote

No matter what though, the spring unscrews the guide rod from the cap, so I don't understand how to prevent it from loosening up all the time.

Posted: 9/12/2018 10:29:41 PM EDT

[#29]

That's why real 1911 guys don't mess with anything but g.i. guide rods and plugs.

Posted: 9/12/2018 10:45:21 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
That's why real 1911 guys don't mess with anything but g.i. guide rods and plugs.

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Real 1911 guys also seem to do a lot of talking out of their asses. I realize that pictures would have helped, and that I should have calmed down before I typed anything out, but the know it all attitudes don't help.

Posted: 9/12/2018 11:34:29 PM EDT

[#31]

Well, maybe de-grease it really well. Both parts. Reassemble and use some permanent Loctite. Maybe even stake it if that's possible. Then get RIA to send you a new one.

Posted: 9/12/2018 11:45:52 PM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
Well, maybe de-grease it really well. Both parts. Reassemble and use some permanent Loctite. Maybe even stake it if that's possible. Then get RIA to send you a new one.

View Quote

That's pretty much my plan at this point, I wonder how common this is.

Posted: 9/13/2018 12:23:21 AM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
Real 1911 guys also seem to do a lot of talking out of their asses. I realize that pictures would have helped, and that I should have calmed down before I typed anything out, but the know it all attitudes don't help.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
That's why real 1911 guys don't mess with anything but g.i. guide rods and plugs.

Real 1911 guys also seem to do a lot of talking out of their asses. I realize that pictures would have helped, and that I should have calmed down before I typed anything out, but the know it all attitudes don't help.

I'm pretty sure his comment has to do with the guide rod RIA chose for this gun, not your choice OP. Full length guide rods in 1911s are unnecessary. Especially two piece versions.
ETA- In 5" barrel government models, the GI guide and plug is the way to go, and inexpensive too. BTW, if you clean the threads and apply red loctite to them and reassemble, it won't come apart again. It is VERY common for it to come apart if it was finger tight with no thread locker. It probably made it through assembly at the factory like that.

Posted: 9/13/2018 1:49:11 PM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:
RIA doesn't exactly set the bar in the world of 1911s. Hard to judge 1911 platform by one of the cheapest examples made.
But- RIA has good customer service.

View Quote

I haven’t had any troubles with my 4 RIAs, and 2 are the model that OP has.
Maybe he should read the owner’s manual and check YouTube?