SA Ultra Compact Recoil spring removal

[RiverRat]

SA Ultra Compact Recoil spring removal seems beyond me. I have read their instructions and haven't discovered the secret. I haven't been able to figure out how to get the rod and spring out. I thought the SA Champions were difficult....

My Colt New Agent (also 3.5') wasn't any more different than my SA Champion Operator or loaded Champion. Just more spring pressure. The Ultra appears the same until you try to get the rod unstabbed. Can't get it above the ring on the back of the barrel.

Anyone have an SA Ultra Compact .45 and figured out how to get the barrel / spring assembly apart and out of the slide for cleaning? I'm sure it's something simple, just too simple for me. Thanks.

[flintknapper]

The Ultra Compact has a dual captive recoil spring. It must be captured (compressed) before removing it from the slide.

Some recent models came with a plastic clip that holds the spring in a compressed (shorter) state, older ones had a small hole in the guide rod that you can insert an paperclip into in order to hold it. After that... its just a matter of wiggling it out at an angle to clear the barrel.

If you don't/didn't compress and capture the spring (keeping it short), then it will take a Herculean effort to remove it.

Let us know how it goes, or post pics....and we'll take it from there.

[Excaliber]

SA Ultra Compact Recoil spring removal seems beyond me. I have read their instructions and haven't discovered the secret. I haven't been able to figure out how to get the rod and spring out. I thought the SA Champions were difficult....

My Colt New Agent (also 3.5') wasn't any more different than my SA Champion Operator or loaded Champion. Just more spring pressure. The Ultra appears the same until you try to get the rod unstabbed. Can't get it above the ring on the back of the barrel.

Anyone have an SA Ultra Compact .45 and figured out how to get the barrel / spring assembly apart and out of the slide for cleaning? I'm sure it's something simple, just too simple for me. Thanks.

It's not clear from your post if by "SA" you mean "Springfield Armory" or "single action." If your gun is a Kimber or one that uses the same recoil spring system, the solution is pretty easy.

With the gun fully assembled, retract the slide and lock it back. Then look at the recoil spring guide rod for a small hole about an inch and a half back from the muzzle. If it's there, that's your key. You use a piece of spring wire bent to a 90 degree angle to insert in the hole. Then when you remove the slide stop pin and you move the slide forward to relax the spring, it stops at the spring wire and leaves the spring partially compressed. This keeps the spring assembly in a more compact configuration that allows it to be removed when the slide comes off. The wire stays in place during reassembly until you've remounted the slide on the frame and put the slide stop pin back. Then you pull back the slide to relieve tension on the spring wire tool and remove it to complete the reassembly process.

This Kimber Manual gives a good description of how to do it on page 30, and preformed spring wire tools are available from the Kimber store. You can also make them yourself very easily with a bit of spring wire from a hobby shop and the diagram from the Kimber manual.

[RiverRat]

It's a Springfield Armory. I'll try the retraction /pin method as soon as the Grandkids leave......the instructions are not descriptive at all....I've had 4 others read them, also with no resolve. Thanks Flint and Ex.

[flintknapper]

It's a Springfield Armory. I'll try the retraction /pin method as soon as the Grandkids leave......the instructions are not descriptive at all....I've had 4 others read them, also with no resolve. Thanks Flint and Ex.

It will work, I just cleaned one last weekend.

[RiverRat]

It was semi-circular tube-like fixture included in a ziplock that they are calling a break down piece. It doesn't get much easier than that. I wish they had identified the piece somewhere in the manual. The photo appears to be the rod bushing.

It's much easier than using my fingernails......I was in a full rolling sweat when I got it out Thursday night.

It was a "dumb monkey" test and I failed. Thanks gents.

[Excaliber]

It was semi-circular tube-like fixture included in a ziplock that they are calling a break down piece. It doesn't get much easier than that. I wish they had identified the piece somewhere in the manual. The photo appears to be the rod bushing.

It's much easier than using my fingernails......I was in a full rolling sweat when I got it out Thursday night.

It was a "dumb monkey" test and I failed. Thanks gents.

It sounds like the technical writers who produced the manual could have done a better job.