I over crimped my plunger tube (1911)

[Ledbetter]

and now the safety is almost impossible to flick off because the plunger is too tight in the tube.

Any tips to fix this problem? Or good 1911 smiths in central California?

Thanks,

Mike Ledbetter

 

[Dfariswheel]

The best option is to remove it, buy a new tube, and start over.

You can try inserting a tapered pin and expanding the tube.
Brownell's sell a tube support pin that should work, or you can use the REAR end of an appropriate size drill.
Taper the end of the drill shank and don't put it in so far or tight that you can't rotate it or pull it back out.

The idea is not to CUT the tube, but to "iron" it out.

 

[brickeyee]

You can use a series of number size drill bits (but end) to try and expand it back.
Works sometimes, others not.

 

[James K]

Unless it is really crimped, it can be drilled out from the back to one size then from the front to the other. I don't recall the drill sizes right now, but can find out if needed. Unless the tube is crimped so much the drill runs out, drilling will work OK.

Depending on where the tube is crimped and how long the drill is, you might not even need to remove the tube if you are careful. Just don't run the rear drill in too far; you have to keep the smaller size part the same length.

Jim

 

[HSMITH]

Get the reamer from Brownells, give it a couple turns, and be happy. You aren't the first or the last to do this, and tools are made to straighten it out.

 

[Ledbetter]

Reamer from Brownell's sounds like the way to go. After all, that's where I got my plunger tube crimper.

Glad I'm not the only one to do this. Wanted it to stay on good this time. Hah.

Thanks to all who replied. Special regards to Jim Keenan, Hi Jim.

 

[James K]

I knew about the reamer, but for a one-time shot, I thought the drill would work as well and most folks already have the drill. I don't use a power drill, just put the drill bit in a hand vise and give it a couple of turns, like using the reamer.

Jim

 

[Ledbetter]

Out of stock

Well, the reamers are out of stock at Brownell's, so if anyone knows the right drill bit sizes, I would appreciate it. I will try Midway.

Thanks again,

Mike L.

 

[James K]

Try a No. 36 first, then go to a No. 35. A 7/64 will work also if you have it.

I recommend hand turning the chuck or using a hand vise, rather than turning on the power. You don't want to drill all the way through as the front end of the hole is deliberately smaller than the rear part.

Jim

 

[Ledbetter]

Well, I did it

I put this off because it sounded difficult. In fact, I tried a different thumb safety that I knew worked in another pistol, but had the same problem.

So I got out my 7/64 drill bit and it went in a little way, then became hard to turn by hand. So I chucked it into my Dremel, which I left unplugged. Then I turned it a couple of times and tried the punger tube again, which then entered the tube without any resistance.

I reassembled and the problem was gone. Safety works smooth as can be.

Here is a pic of the pistol. No smart remarks.