V spring

[flanman]

What is everyones favorite trick for getting one of these back in after disassembly and cleaning?


flanman

[capstan]

I get a toothpick and long nosed hemostat/jeweler pliers or whatever they are called. I push the little hammer stirrup back out of the way. I depress the v spring with my fingers and get the back end of it into the frame slot, depress it enough to get it between the top of the rebound lever and the underside of the butt frame. Then I get those long nosed hemostat pliers and I have the bottom jaw of the pliers covered with masking tape. I put the bottom jaw just behind the trigger guard and put the top jaw on the v spring,close to the spring fingers. I get the toothpick in my left hand- I then depress the v spring just enough so with the toothpick I can flick the hammer stirrup up on fingers, then I let the pressure off the pliers.

[haggis]

I have some right-angled needle-nosed pliers that I use for the task. I ground the jaws smooth and broke the edges so as not to nick the side of the spring. I know of at least one example where the v-spring failed at a deep scratch on its edge.

Buck

[dfariswheel]

With the "D" frames you pretty well have to use the smooth jaw needle nose pliers to install and remove.

I usually find that I can remove and install the "E&I" frame spring with just my fingers.
I hook the strut into the spring, then press the lower leg up until it slips onto the rebound.

[RDak]

FWIW, I do like Capstan and dfariswheel suggest.