Stuck slide stop pin

[marky]

After putting the gun away and thinking about it for a while I decided to go ahead and cut the slide stop.



I took Greg’s suggestion and cut out the little retaining pin holding the tab to the larger pin. After I cut it out I still needed to use a punch to separate the larger pin from of the tab. If I had it to do over I would have tried using the punch earlier on. I may not have needed to cut as much as I did.

Here is the slide back on and no pressure being applied. You can see I only need to retract the slide a quarter inch for the pin to go through the opening in the barrel lug.



I think what happened was, I tried to put the pin in by lining up the notches. You can see in this position that the front of the barrel lug is centered in the opening.



I imagine I was trying to work the pin in and pulled back the slide a little more which put the lug completely behind the opening and allowed the pin to easily go in. I then compounded the error by pulling the slide back even farther so the flange went in through the slide-stop cut-out.

I tried putting the pin in wrong again and it was all too easy to do. Except for pulling the slide back so far, it took no more effort than if I had done it the right way. It’s the little flange on the tab that caused the problem. It was catching on something when I tried to retract the slide, although I couldn’t tell what. With just the pin in I could pull the slide all the way back. I don’t see any damage.



I may not even replace the slide stop unless I start carrying it again. The pin and tab still have a tight fit. I had to use the punch to get them apart again after I replicated the problem. I think I might just put some JB Weld on it.

I decided to do this since I was confident I hadn’t damaged anything by forcing the pin in. I have fired the gun and it does fine. I have no explanation for why this can’t be duplicated by others. Thanks for everyone’s help. I hope my experience helps someone in the future.

[Scoundrel]

Glad to hear you got it apart without paying for shipping, and that the important parts don't seem to be damaged!

I may not even replace the slide stop unless I start carrying it again. The pin and tab still have a tight fit. I had to use the punch to get them apart again after I replicated the problem. I think I might just put some JB Weld on it.

I have fired the gun and it does fine.

At $20 or so for a new slide stop pin, it seems to me like it would be a no-brainer to have it back the way it is supposed to be from the factory.
I'd be worried that the JB Weld would come loose and the pin would do something I didn't want.

[jocko]

indeed replace the slide stop pin, for $20 not worth it . I canassure u, U will never do that again.. U did well in what u did to...

[marky]

Yes, I'll probably go ahead and order a new slide stop. Maybe I can think of something else I can order at the same time.

[jocko]

Marky. I wonder if even u could have driven that slide stop pin out without even cuttig the retaining pin. A good pointed punch just on the pin and a good solid hit, do u think it might have road past that little retaining pin..

[Scoundrel]

Marky. I wonder if even u could have driven that slide stop pin out without even cuttig the retaining pin. A good pointed punch just on the pin and a good solid hit, do u think it might have road past that little retaining pin..

If he'd done that, the little flange on the front of the lever might have damaged something on the way out. Cutting the lever to weaken its grip on the pin before punching it out was best, IMHO.

[marky]

Jocko, I originally typed in that someone might want to try the punch first but I erased it for fear of giving bad advice. You can see the lip on the large pin that the little pin sits under is not that wide. But that lip would have to bend for the large pin to be punched out of the lever. I don't know how hard that would be. I actually ground off the lip that was over the little pin. I wanted to show an in tact view of the lip so you could see how wide it is. The punch idea would require both ends of the lever being supported. Supporting the pin end would be tricky. The stress would be on the plastic frame. Unless someone planned to reuse the slide stop, I think cutting would be safer.

Anyone with a drill press could probably drill out the retaining pin. It's maybe brass?

[marky]

indeed replace the slide stop pin, for $20 not worth it . I canassure u, U will never do that again.. U did well in what u did to...

Thanks Jocko! You bet I'll never do that again. It's a good example of what happens if you put your toys away and never play with them!

[jocko]

ust inquirng, but ur probably right, alot of stress would beon the polymer frame.I guess the best advice is TO PAY ATTENTION. I gotta give u alot of credit, u did what GB and others suggested and made it work. beats sendingit back but please do get a new slide stop lever..

[marky]

Will do, Jocko, Thanks!

[yqtszhj]

Excellent fix. Congratulations. I had been wondering how it worked out.