Posted: 11/15/2010 7:55:25 AM EDT
| How difficult is it to replace the mainspring housing. I recently traded into an 80 Series Colt Combat Commander. It came with a flat polymer mainspring housing. I would really like to replace it with a steel arched housing. Is it just a punch to remove the pin? Does anyone know if I will be able to just swap out the internals. Also, any idea where I might find a suitable arched mainspring housing. I would prefer a grooved one to a checkered one. Thanks in advance. |
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Quoted:
How difficult is it to replace the mainspring housing. I recently traded into an 80 Series Colt Combat Commander. It came with a flat polymer mainspring housing. I would really like to replace it with a steel arched housing. Is it just a punch to remove the pin? Does anyone know if I will be able to just swap out the internals. Also, any idea where I might find a suitable arched mainspring housing. I would prefer a grooved one to a checkered one. Thanks in advance. I did it, so it must be easy. Replaced the polymer MSH on my Colt S80 Commander with a SS Colt MSH. Yes, the internals swap over easily and the only tool you need is the punch. MidwayUSA stocks the Colt MSH's. I think I paid about $35.00. Best advice I got was to hold the MSH inside a cardboard box when you remove the pin to release the spring so you don't shoot parts through the window, TV or whatever. It was good advice. Good luck. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
How difficult is it to replace the mainspring housing. I recently traded into an 80 Series Colt Combat Commander. It came with a flat polymer mainspring housing. I would really like to replace it with a steel arched housing. Is it just a punch to remove the pin? Does anyone know if I will be able to just swap out the internals. Also, any idea where I might find a suitable arched mainspring housing. I would prefer a grooved one to a checkered one. Thanks in advance. I did it, so it must be easy. Replaced the polymer MSH on my Colt S80 Commander with a SS Colt MSH. Yes, the internals swap over easily and the only tool you need is the punch. MidwayUSA stocks the Colt MSH's. I think I paid about $35.00. Best advice I got was to hold the MSH inside a cardboard box when you remove the pin to release the spring so you don't shoot parts through the window, TV or whatever. It was good advice. Good luck. That is good advice. Been there, done that. Crawling around on the kitchen floor with a flashlight for an hour looking for a pin or a spring. Thanks to those who responded. Getting ready to order the mainspring housing from Midway right now. |
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Colt and Midway Usa sell original steel colt parts. I have a steel Colt mainspring housing replacement on my Colt right now.
As far as replacing the housing, ensure that the slide is off the frame, and that the hammer is at its absolute lowest uncocked position, this will remove all hammer strut tension on the housing and pin. This will make the housing pin much easier to remove, and the new housing way easier to reinstall. Here is a link for OEM colt parts: Colt Parts The best punch to use to remove the pin is a 1/8 rollpin punch. It has a convex end that fits the mainspring housing pin concave. You can find this punch at your local Sears store. I know the store in Killeen Texas carries them, that is where I got mine. Best of luck! |
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Here's my easy MSH switch method.
NOTE: This works for original Colt type housings. Other brands may have different internal parts in the mainspring housing assembly. Have on hand: A 1/8" punch. A 1/16" punch. Possibly a small hammer. A small block of wood. A small finishing nail. Some rubber bands or some tape. Drive the finishing nail into the block of wood so about 3/4" is sticking up. Use a file or stone to round off and smooth the nail head. Use the rubber bands or tape to hold the grip safety depressed. This holds the internal parts in position. Disassemble the slide from the frame and LOWER THE HAMMER ALL THE WAY DOWN. REPEAT, ALL THE WAY DOWN. Use the 1/8" punch to push out the MSH retaining pin at the bottom rear of the frame. You can use a small hammer to tap it out, but you can usually do it with just your hand. Slide the MSH down and off the frame. Put the open end of the housing down over the nail in the wood block and push down HARD. Use the 1/16" punch to push out the small pin at the top of the MSH. This is the mainspring retainer pin. It has a flared head and MUST be pushed out from the outside of the MSH. With the pin out, ease up on the MSH and remove the mainspring plunger, mainspring, and MSH retainer. The retainer is a cone-shaped plunger that is usually crimped to the bottom of the mainspring. Test fit the new housing into the frame to insure it fits easily into the frame and with the bottom flush with the frame, the holes line up. Clean everything and apply a good lube. A good grease works well with the mainspring. Insert the cone-shaped retainer into the MSH then the spring, then the plunger. Press the end down on the wood block and push down hard. Insert the small retainer pin into the MSH from the INSIDE of the housing. It must fit flush with the inside of the housing. Slide the MSH back into the frame, and push the MSH retainer pin back in. The side with the hollow end is usually to the left side of the frame. |
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That's good advice on changing the MSH. Don't forget to secure the grip safety all the way down so the sear spring (the flat metal spring you'll find under the MSH) can't get loose. The lower end of it has a tang that fits into a slot in the frame - the depressed grip safety should hold it in place fine.
Be aware that sometimes there is fitting to be done so the MSH goes into place easily. It also could possibly interfere with the grip safety or leave too much of a gap under it. (9 times out of 10 it'll just swap in and you're done. But if it doesn't go that way, you'd best get a gunsmith to fit it for you. I'd say since you're dealing with a Colt, the new housing will basically fall into the pistol if you throw it right. 
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