Ruger tool for spring compression

[Sgt. Hochbauer, SASS #64409]

Does anyone know of a tool to compress the spring when you are changing to a new one in my case an ROA.

 

Thanks in advance

 

Hochbauer

[Sedalia Dave]

A vice and an old fork work well.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

I use a small pair of needle nose pliers.

[J-BAR #18287]

I secure the hammer strut in a vise pointing straight up between two pieces of wood. Then hold the mainspring seat, that little piece with the slot that the strut slides through, in Vice-Grip pliers.  Slide the mainspring seat down on the spring far enough to insert a finish nail through the hole in the strut.

[Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329]

I use a fork -- the area between the tines is just about right for the strut to fit through.

--Dawg

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

And the fork works better for compressing the installed spring while working within the confines of the grip frame, too, while sticking a nail in the retention hole of the strut.

 

good luck, GJ

 

 

[John Barleycorn, SASS #76982]

32 minutes ago, Sgt. Hochbauer, SASS #64409 said:

Does anyone know of a tool to compress the spring when you are changing to a new one in my case an ROA.

 

Thanks in advance

 

Hochbauer

I have an old fork I use

[Preacherman]

A chainsaw saw sharpening chain depth Guage works good too.

[Warden Callaway]

Wear safety glasses incase things go flying.  

[Sedalia Dave]

13 minutes ago, Warden Callaway said:

Wear safety glasses incase things go flying.  

 

^^^^ THIS ^^^^

[Assassin]

Old or new fork. They're basically the same thing. 

[Dusty Devil Dale]

If you're not where a vise is handy, grasp the strut in a pair of vise grips, laying on a table with the strut pointing upward.  Then grasp the seat by its ends in a second pair of vise grips and simply do what comes natural.  It's easy once you have all the parts solidly captured in vise grips.   I quit using pliers, because I tired of crawling around in dark corners looking for the launched seat after my grip slipped.  The VGs work much better. 

[Sgt. Hochbauer, SASS #64409]

I have tried the fork thing but think that I need a heavier duty one....But will try the vice grip method. The main issue I had was that when I did have the spring compressed passed the hole I needed another set of hands to put a nail to hold the seat in place.

Thanks for the info

 

 

[Badlands Bob #61228]

Its kinda hard to do without a bench mounted vise.  

[Trainwreck, SASS #104592]

This works pretty well.  Real Avid bench block.  Compress the spring using diagonal cutters with the beveled side down.  Cut one of the factory trigger springs to make a spring retainer (assuming you are replacing it of course).   This one had an internal lock instead of the mainspring seat but it works the same with or without.

 

[Three Foot Johnson]

5 hours ago, Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 said:

And the fork works better for compressing the installed spring while working within the confines of the grip frame, too, while sticking a nail in the retention hole of the strut.

 

good luck, GJ

 

 

?  I'm not following you. Pull the hammer back, stick something through the hole, let hammer down.

[Hendo]

2 hours ago, Sgt. Hochbauer, SASS #64409 said:

I have tried the fork thing but think that I need a heavier duty one....

 

 

Don't use a plastic fork. 

 

I've used the vice grip method. You don't have to crank down on them, just enough to hold it.

[Three Foot Johnson]

2 hours ago, Badlands Bob #61228 said:

Its kinda hard to do without a bench mounted vise.  

A bench mounted vise takes up room and is always in my way. I welded a 7/8 x 14 *something* (Dillon powder funnel?) to a small plate and bolted a small vise to it. When I need a vise, screw it into the Rock Chucker - everyone has a Rock Chucker, right...? 

[Sedalia Dave]

I have the Quick Change Strong Mount from Inline Fabrication. Maximizes bench space and provides an easy way to store items when not in use. 

 

 

 

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

16 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said:

A vice and an old fork work well.

+1

[Sedalia Dave]

20 hours ago, Assassin said:

Old or new fork. They're basically the same thing. 

 

Your better half may have a different opinion.

[Rafe Conager SASS #56958]

Wes  Fargo used to sell a tool,  it was a fork with one of the tines bent.

Rafe 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

When I worked on Rugers, I grabbed the Strut with Long Nose Vice Grip, shoved the other end thru the Seat then a decaying pin thru the strut.

 

CAVEAT:  I don't own Rugers.  Ergo:  I don't have that task anymore.

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

I hate springs!

 

I started tying a thin christmas package ribbon to the parts that might go flying, makes it easier to find (sometimes).

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

It's HOT and I am bored so some trivia.  In my post, which is the third one down. can anyone identify what the pin I am using is from?  (It is a gun spring to narrow it down a bit.)

[Eyesa Horg]

Well, I was gonna guess that it was the pin to change a combination lock slightly bent! They work good too!

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

3 hours ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

It's HOT and I am bored so some trivia.  In my post, which is the third one down. can anyone identify what the pin I am using is from?  (It is a gun spring to narrow it down a bit.)

Looks like a fire extinguisher pin

OLG 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

It is the spring for the selector switch out of a WWII M2 Carbine.  Basically a full auto M1 Carbine.