It seems I'm going thru the "cutting my teeth" phase in building my .22 dedicated upper. I tried to install a set of magpul handguards and used the handguard removal tool to remove the tac-sol m4 handguards and replaced them with the magpul.  I noticed that the delta ring didn't have any "spring" to it when I tried to clamp the ring over the rear magpul handguard tabs and then I looked closer and it looks like some sort of spring wire is slightly outside of it now on the carry handle side. Did I break something or is this an easy fix?

there is a snap ring that is behind the spring  that fits inside the delta ring cap, you might have popped that out of the groove it sits in.

What Gunner said.  The slip ring probably came out of it's slot.  The Tac Sol doesn't use a gas tube.  You can spin that ring (looks like a big e-clip) so the little pliers holes are to one side of the receiver.  Use a set of slip ring pliers (local auto store for a few bucks) and snap it back in.  Once it's back in you can spin it back so the gap/holes are not visible from the side.  This will take care of the spring/tension problem.

You can do it with the hand guards on or off.  Off is easier, but if it's a looser slip ring it might pop back off when you use the hand guard tool.

Thanks for the insights. Now, just to confirm; I don't need to remove anything from the barrel to get the slip ring back in place. I just need the pliers to place the slip ring in place? I guess I need to find a video online that shows how this is done ...Man, I've got so much to learn!!!!