Changing main spring in Mark II

Will Blastem · Post by **Will Blastem** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:58 pm

I'm new to the forum...It's GREAT...chocked full of excellent info!

Changing the mainspring in my Ruger Mark II it quite a PIA...Knocking the pin out and removing it was easy...I'm sure glad I took extra caution not to launch that ball bearing into the oblivions

. But what I'm having trouble with is putting everything back together without an extra pair of hands.

What's the best way to do that?

Bud33 · Post by **Bud33** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 9:46 pm

Define PIA????

recumbent · Post by **recumbent** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:15 pm

Bud33 wrote:Define PIA????

Pain In the A$$

greener · Post by **greener** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:21 am

Welcome to the forum.

Don't you just love it when those little, hard to see parts decide to move laterally off the work bench instead of dropping straight down 2" to the bench surface.

I don't consider things like that a PIA but rather an opportunity to exercise my vocabulary.

Post by **Bullseye** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:26 am

Welcome to the forum Will!

That mainspring has a lot of tension in it for sure. There are a few manufacturers that make tools for this purpose.

Marvel Custom Guns make a fixture for the Mark I and II style mainspring housing (will also work on a Mark III housing) for $44. http://www.marvelcustomguns.com/ruger_m ... g_tool.htm

Baker also makes a mainspring pusher fixture and compression tool for the Mark I/II and it will work for the Mark III. Midway USA still doesn't have them but this outfit shows them in their catalog Item #844380 Pacific Tool and Gauge for around $60.

If these are too pricey for a single use item, then you may need an extra hand with getting that housing back together.

R,
Bullseye

greener · Post by **greener** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:48 pm

The description didn't say if the mainspring latch assembly contained the spring, but $24 + shipping at Midway. I haven't looked at the other suppliers.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.e ... mid=944227

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 1:33 pm

greener wrote:The description didn't say if the mainspring latch assembly contained the spring, but $24 + shipping at Midway. I haven't looked at the other suppliers.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.e ... mid=944227

Looks like it would be a complete assembly, for that price it makes no sense to go through the grief of changing one or spending almost twice as much for a tool to do the job. Can not understand why anyone would want to change the spring as they would not wear out unless you shot the gun several million times.

Post by **Bullseye** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:17 pm

Looking at the Marvel fixture kind of makes me think a well placed 4" C-clamp and a block of hardwood could do the same job.

R,
Bullseye

Will Blastem · Post by **Will Blastem** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:23 pm

Bullseye wrote:Looking at the Marvel fixture kind of makes me think a well placed 4" C-clamp and a block of hardwood could do the same job.

R,
Bullseye

Thanks for the feedback, fellas...I agree with you,Bullseye. I copied the photo and I'm going to make my own jig...not that it'll get a lot of use but I have the time on my hands

toyfj40 · Post by **toyfj40** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:25 pm

Bullseye wrote:Looking at the Marvel fixture kind of makes me think
a well placed 4" C-clamp and a block of hardwood could do the same job.

Brilliant minds think alike...

or in my "crude shop"...
braze a nut on the end of a piece of steel,
drill a hole for the retainer-peg...
add the C-clamp and piece of wood
with a bolt in the nut... and I've got the tool...
--toy

Post by **Bullseye** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:35 pm

Why don't you post a picture, and Will can use your prototype to finish his mainspring change.

R,
Bullseye

toyfj40 · Post by **toyfj40** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:35 am

Bullseye wrote:Why don't you post a picture,
and Will can use your prototype to finish his mainspring change.

oops... not something I HAVE done...
just realizing that a quick-jig could do the trick...

after some thought... a DrillPress vise could hold the assembly
and just chuck a small bolt and press down with the spindle
and lock it in place to finish inserting the retainer-pin...
(of course those parts are hard to find when they go "sproing" )

-- toy

on another note, my latest addition to my reloading tools
is a tubing-cutter, to help remove some stubborn brass
from the neck-sizing-rod...

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:44 am

Tex, you are thinking now. got to pull the mainspring out of one of my 22/45's and take a look at it and see what I can think up. I know you are an old small engine tech also and we are known for making a lot of out own special tools.

greener · Post by **greener** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:59 pm

toyfj40 wrote:
Bullseye wrote:Why don't you post a picture,
and Will can use your prototype to finish his mainspring change.
oops... not something I HAVE done...
just realizing that a quick-jig could do the trick...

after some thought... a DrillPress vise could hold the assembly
and just chuck a small bolt and press down with the spindle
and lock it in place to finish inserting the retainer-pin...
(of course those parts are hard to find when they go "sproing" )

-- toy

on another note, my latest addition to my reloading tools
is a tubing-cutter, to help remove some stubborn brass
from the neck-sizing-rod...

Good idea. But if I were doing it, to replace a $2 spring, I'd get a drill press (gotta have something else to use with the vise), a drill press vise, new drills (to use with the drill press) all to keep from buying a $44 jig for an assembly I could replace for entirely $24. I'd be happy as a clam with the new toys because I'd have to figure out some projects to use the new drill press, which leads into more special tools.

My problem with special tools is I can't remember I have one or find it until after I've made or bought the new one. And then I don't use it (them) for so long that I don't remember where they are or that I have them before I get the new one.

Post by **Bullseye** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:08 pm

oops... not something I HAVE done...
just realizing that a quick-jig could do the trick...

after some thought... a DrillPress vise could hold the assembly
and just chuck a small bolt and press down with the spindle
and lock it in place to finish inserting the retainer-pin...
(of course those parts are hard to find when they go "sproing" )

-- toy

on another note, my latest addition to my reloading tools
is a tubing-cutter, to help remove some stubborn brass
from the neck-sizing-rod...

I had a similar idea about using a drill press vise but I didn't post it. It seems we do think a lot alike - oh well there's only so many ways to skin that cat, I guess we're going to reach some of the same conclusions when problem solving.

R,
Bullseye