1911 Spring Guide Rod Gets Longer

Waitone

New member
Second time its happened.

Kimber Classic Model 1911. Upon field stripping said pistol I find the spring guide rod has unscrewed ever so slightly from the follower piece (yep, I don't know the lingo). In that condition I can not use the bushing wrench to remove the slide. I have to remove the slide first, push the spring down away from the spring plug, then worry it out. Seems the rod backs off 2+ complete turns effectively lengthening the guide rod.

1>is this a problem to be rectified with a new rod?
2>why start now,
3>will Loctite blue juice in the red bottle help things.

Any advice is appreciated.
 
I'd consider either lock-tite to make sure the thing doesn't come unscrewed, or a new guide rod. I have a couple of 1911's with one piece full length guide rods, but they're one-piece affairs, and they never come apart.
 
I traded into an older 1911A1 that had had one of these patented two-piece gizzies installed. It would loosen up into two pieces, which ain't worth a hoot for reliability. Easy fix: Go with the original design.

These two-piece thingummies and all that sort of stuff just violate the heck out of the KISS principle. No bueno p' nada...

Art
 
I have said several times that the main purpose of a full length guide rod is to aid in extraction - the extraction of money from your pocket and putting it into the pocket of the guide rod seller.

I agree with Art - go with the original design and forget that POS.

Jim
 
Update

I recently view a picture of a two piece guide rod. The two pieces appear to be joined in the middle of the rod.

My guide rod has the joint just below the follower, in essence the follower can be unscrewed from the rod.

Does my guide rod still qualify as a two piecer. In any case is the solution a one piece guide rod, or does something else need to be done.?

Help is appreciated.
 
Chuck the FLGR

Waitone, I wouldn't sweat the worry about the FLGR. They really are the equivalent of chrome curb-feelers. Other than preventing a "kink" in your recoil spring (has ANYONE ever seen this?!?!?), they have no good use, and indeed have plenty of bad ones. Such as preventing you from field stripping your pistol, which you have experienced. Set the lovely guide rod in the box, and blast away.

Best regards,

Bob
 
While I agree that the stock setup works just fine, your comment about a FLGR preventing you from stripping the pistol is incorrect for a decent rod. A truly one piece FLGR won't come apart and prevent you from taking the gun down normally.
 
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