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Stuck Recoil Spring on P229 Legion

773 Views 17 Replies 10 Participants Last post by organ, 2 d ago

organ

Discussion Starter · 3 mo ago

Hello,

I have new P229, with less than 500 rounds through it. I lubricated it thoroughly when I bought it, before firing.

Today, I decided to field-strip, clean the barrel and all internal surfaces before lubricating and reassembling. Something that struck me as odd: I cannot remove the recoil spring and it is firmly stuck to the guide rod. It is unusually hard to rack the pistol in this condition, I assume, because the spring will not compress.. It seems to fire OK. On my P226 and 1911, this has never been an issue and I remove the spring, with ease, for cleaning or replacement.

I don't know why the spring is bonded to the guide rod. I cannot see anything causing this. Again, the recoil spring is firmly stuck on the guide rod.

My first thought is to soak the assembly in penetrating oil overnight, put 500 rounds through it, and hope it loosens-up.

What do you guys suggest?

Thanks!

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

ThnkFrst

· #2 · 3 mo ago

Post a pic of the spring/guide rod. Assuming it's a 9mm 229.

If the RS is the braided wire type, they can be pretty tight when new. Try walking it off the guide rod by alternately compressing it by pushing it away from the rod base and then pulling it off from the forward end. Compressing it from the base forward like that will open the coils up just a bit.

Reactions: 4

aclarke333

· #3 · 3 mo ago

Please upload a picture. Sounds like the spring has been damaged. Is this the first time that you have field stripped it? Does the spring have white color on one end? Where is it binding on the rod, muzzle end, middle, or chamber end? Have you tried twisting the spring off in a direction so that it does not tighten on itself?

Reactions: 1

SigInTheHead

· #4 · 3 mo ago

aclarke333 said:
Please upload a picture. Sounds like the spring has been damaged. Is this the first time that you have field stripped it? Does the spring have white color on one end? Where is it binding on the rod, muzzle end, middle, or chamber end? Have you tried twisting the spring off in a direction so that it does not tighten on itself?

This last part. I’ve had a few of mine act difficult and usually twisting the rod like I’m unscrewing it from the spring seems to work

Reactions: 3

bblr

· #5 · 3 mo ago

Yes. This is common. As stated above, you need to twist the rod while trying to pull the spring off.

Reactions: 2

organ

Discussion Starter · #6 · 3 mo ago

organ said:
Hello,

I have new P229, with less than 500 rounds through it. I lubricated it thoroughly when I bought it, before firing.

Today, I decided to field-strip, clean the barrel and all internal surfaces before lubricating and reassembling. Something that struck me as odd: I cannot remove the recoil spring and it is firmly stuck to the guide rod. It is unusually hard to rack the pistol in this condition, I assume, because the spring will not compress.. It seems to fire OK. On my P226 and 1911, this has never been an issue and I remove the spring, with ease, for cleaning or replacement.

I don't know why the spring is bonded to the guide rod. I cannot see anything causing this. Again, the recoil spring is firmly stuck on the guide rod.

My first thought is to soak the assembly in penetrating oil overnight, put 500 rounds through it, and hope it loosens-up.

What do you guys suggest?

Thanks!

Hello Gentleman,

Following your advice, I was finally able to remove the recoil spring! I smothered it in oil. grabbed it with a cloth and just kept moving it back and forth. At first, I was only getting 1/4 inch of movement. Worked my way down to the white area of the spring, and finally got that to budge. Finally, was able to remove.

Thanks for your help! Good advice and I appreciate it.

FYI: This is what it looked like.

Bumper Automotive design Font Office equipment Automotive wheel system

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bblr

· #7 · 3 mo ago

They can be a pain. The older springs are better, though, than the newer non-braided springs.

Reactions: 1

jkallner

· #8 · 3 mo ago

bblr said:
They can be a pain. The older springs are better, though, than the newer non-braided springs.

Looks like a solid guide rod, right? Does that add to the tight fit?

bblr

· #9 · 3 mo ago

It can.

mrerick

· #10 · 3 mo ago

But... the solid guide rods are quite superior in that pistol.

Try a light grease on the rod. I use a moly blend grease - a high quality automotive grease.

Moly-Fortified Gray Full Synthetic Grease - Valvoline™ Global

Valvoline™ Full Synthetic Moly-Fortified Grease is Valvoline's best automotive grease. Formulated with full synthetic base oil, moly and other premium additives to provide the ultimate performance from high loads and extreme temperatures (-40°F to 400°F).

www.valvolineglobal.com

Moly-fortified for increased film strength
Fortified with extreme pressure additives for exceptional load-carrying capability
Helps inhibit rust and oxidation
NLGI #2 GC-LB lithium complex EP grease

Reactions: 1

organ

Discussion Starter · #11 · 3 mo ago

bblr said:
They can be a pain. The older springs are better, though, than the newer non-braided springs.

As noted, I finally got it loosened-up. I cannot believe how tight this is!

organ

Discussion Starter · #12 · 3 mo ago

jkallner said:
Looks like a solid guide rod, right? Does that add to the tight fit?

I have solid guide rod on my 226, and that is fine.
I think the spring is just too tightly wound. It took a lot of oil and effort to loosen it up.
Thanks!

RoyConley

· #13 · 3 mo ago

You might what to try a Sig replacement spring for the P229's which is not double wound.

www.sigsauer.com

RECOIL SPRING SET, P229, 9MM

RECOIL SPRING SET, P229, 9MM

www.sigsauer.com

organ

Discussion Starter · #14 · 3 mo ago

Thanks, Roy!
That's a good idea. I don't know why they made these so tight!
G-Man

RWLawrence

· #15 · 3 mo ago

Eh, those cable springs define the phase “wound too tight”. Mayhaps SIG spec’d them out not to be taken off except to replace them in mind.
I had one on a p229 that was so tight it gave a couple of kerchunks on the rod after taking it out of the slide. Kinda annoyed me with it doing so every time I cleaned it, so I rplc’d it with a flat spring, no issues.

Sol-Invictus

· #16 · 3 mo ago

It looks frayed and broken. That woven design was prone to failure. Had mine go out in less than a year. Get the new spring. I would call sog and show them that Pic. The break is clearly visible.

organ

Discussion Starter · #17 · 4 d ago

Sol-Invictus said:
It looks frayed and broken. That woven design was prone to failure. Had mine go out in less than a year. Get the new spring. I would call sog and show them that Pic. The break is clearly visible.

Thanks, again, for a helpful post!
I am ordering replacement spring from SIG.
I'll let you know how it goes.
O

organ

Discussion Starter · #18 · 2 d ago

organ said:
Thanks, again, for a helpful post!
I am ordering replacement spring from SIG.
I'll let you know how it goes.
O

I have a new P229 Legion. The woven spring felt like it was literally welded to the guide rod. I contacted SIG @ TALK and was told this was not uncommon, bath in penetrating oil, work the spring back and forth. One suggestion was to simply replace with the SIG unbraided replacement spring. So far, this has been the best solution.

Good Luck!

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