I have a similar problem. The experts will chime in I’m sure. I have had the link go into overtravel as I call it. I’ve suspected that there wasn’t enough height to clear coming out.
Not even two cents worth.

 

I have a similar problem. The experts will chime in I’m sure. I have had the link go into overtravel as I call it. I’ve suspected that there wasn’t enough height to clear coming out.
Not even two cents worth.

Appreciate the response. That's my current "best guess" at the moment is it has something to do with the link size causing it. My suspicion is exactly as you stated & based on the same reasoning.

But it's just my best guess after screwing around with it this evening. To be fair- It seems to work normally once it's assembled but I've just not come across this particular scenario (and was able to repeat it) before.

-LD

 

This is quite odd. When you relieve spring pressure the barrel can technically only go back. For a shot in the dark do you have hard link contact on the SS pin? In lockup the barrel pin is about .050 in front of the SS pin, unlocking the barrel needs to slide back on the lugs and pin another. 050 for the link to pull the barrel down unlocking. Only thing I see at the moment is the link is shoving the barrel into the slide at the 12:00 camover but the spring pushes it through assembled. Like I said a stab in the dark. When you pull the plug do you pull the bushing too? I don't turn the bushing until the barrel is in linkdown, not in lockup.

 

So this is becoming "a thing" for me...

I just stripped down 3 different Colt Government models in 45 ACP that I own and tried to replicate what I'm talking about here with them.

No joy- it's just that one pistol exhibiting this nuance. If it's not the barrel link I'm out of ideas.

-LD

 

I'm not 'pulling anyone's leg' with my previous remark-quite literally 3 separate Colt Government models in 45 ACP.

-LD

 

only 3?

 

ok….. it’s a problem child and I’ll give ya tree fiddy for it just to ease your tensions.

kidding!

well …. Maybe not. 🙄

 

Ive had two guns in past that did the same.I chucked it to tolerance stacking when link straightens out and the bottom inside of frame while top lugs of barrel hang up on top.If you get it just right it all binds up.
When installing slide assembly the link is dragging with bottom of link trailing so you wont see the binding.When removing the slide -due to the link being slightly forward it will straighten and if not enough clearance on bottom of link it will bind.
A couple of non Colt 1911's i have actually have a small slot machined under barrel link inside the frame for link clearance.
I never did anything to repair that issue,just shook the gun after removing the slide stop to get link to shift to a different position then removed slide.
Hope this makes sense.

 

rather than machining the frame, wouldn't it have been easier to
file a little off the bottom of the link ?

 

rather than machining the frame, wouldn't it have been easier to
file a little off the bottom of the link ?

That would work,the guns i had with the machined area under link came like that from factory.
But some dykem or a sharpie to blacken area in frame under link to find area where its hanging up would help to relieve
the link from locking up.

 

Does it happen with the gun upside down during the process? That should narrow it down.

 

It does on the MKIV in question-can't replicate it on any other comparable Colts though.

-LD

 

As a quick disclaimer- I've got more 1911's than any sane person should own (as I'm sure applies to most of the folks here, hence us being addicts). Primarily my collection consists of Colts and also has a good representation of Ed Brown's, Dan Wesson's, Les Baer's and a Tisas's thrown into the mix.

I say that only as a reference point that I'm far from "new" to the 1911 pistols. That said- I have one (and just one) that's "acting" unusually for me & within my self proclaimed "vast" experiences.

On to the behavior I'm trying to diagnose- I have a recently purchased Colt Mark IV Series 70 that's completely stock internally at this point but does have aftermarket "medallion" walnut grips. So that's what I'm working with here.

The "behavior" that's screwing me up is that while assembling/disassembling it the slide locks up after relieving recoil spring tension by first taking out the recoil spring plunger. And I mean it locks up completely.

I'm 100% certain after playing around with it at this point is the barrel is moving... ("out of battery" doesn't sound right given the assembly/disassembly process but it's absolutely the barrel "moving" and that's how I was able to work through this to get it both taken apart & put back together.

So I figured out "what" is happening and "how" to work through it, but for the life of me I can't figure out the "why" this is happening. I have way more 1911's than Snow White had dwarves but this is the 1st time I'm seeing this.

Could it be the link size causing this?

Again- I've got her taken apart & put back together but this is the first time I've run across this... "eccentricy" Has anyone else seen this?

-LD

Take the slide stop out first. Ease the slide off, capturing the recoil spring in you weak hand.

Sorry in 48 years I cahn't remember doing it your way

 

Take the slide out first. Ease the slide off, capturing the recoil spring in you weak hand.

Sorry in 48 years I cahn't remember doing it your way

As they say there's more than one way to skin a cat & disassembling the 1911 is no different.

I know & have used several methods over the years/decades but have settled with taking the 1st step of relieving the recoil spring pressure as the easiest approach. Nothing fancy, it just lets me slide the slide without tension& remove the bushing where it hasn't been fitted is all.

-LD

 

Maybe try a barrel setup from a known correct operational gun to prove your link theory.

 

Borrowed a picture from a different post on the site.
If you look at these frames you'll notice the machine area under the barrel link to prevent hanging up.
That would be the area to clearance slightly.Or to look for a mark after dykem or black sharpie was used.

 

now you posted a pic of the area, I'm sure at least some of my 1911's have that area machined as well. Noticed it when cleaning the frame, but never gave any thought why it was machined like that. Thanks... now I know why it's there.

 

I think I had a similar thing occur on a custom gun once when removing the slide stop first. When I asked the extremely talented smith about it his response was don't take it apart that way. Which was fine as I had decided at that point that removing the plunger was the simpler way to do it anyway. Never happened again.