Removing the firing pin - how to?

[Cap.]

I was pushing the firing pin in with a tooth pick and I got some of the tip of the tooth pic stuck in there.

Now the firing pin is flush with the firing pin retainer.

Anyone have any advice on how to get this assembly apart so I can clean it out?

The standard 1911 approach isn't working. That firing pin retainer appears to be an extremely tight fit.

Any advice (besides send it back to the factory) would be appreciated!

Please don't troll my thread and post anything other than helpful suggestions or "You're an idiot." (although this would just be 'preaching to the quire').

Thanks!

[Richard S]

Cap:

I've never removed the firing pin assembly on my R9, so I'm "flying blind" on this one. However, given your description of the problem, I might try squirting in some lubricant and then using a small brass punch to try to push out the obstruction from the other end. If that doesn't work, I would give the factory a call and get their recommendation as to the removal process.

Good luck, and please let us know how it is resolved. That would be good to file away for future reference.

[tracker]

Is firing the gun not possible because of the stuck pin or did you already try that?

[Cap.]

It would probably fire. I just want to get it out of there becuase I know that it's in there and may cause an issue later on.

I put in a call to the R factory just now and they said someone would be calling me back to discuss this further sometime today or tomorrow.

[tracker]

I was just suggesting firing it as a chance to dislodge it.

[Cap.]

I'm not sure it could come out easily by firing.

Imagine this:

You're slide is off.
You're wanting to test the strength of the firing pin spring.
You grab a tooth pick and push in the firing pin.
As you are removing the tooth pic, it slides to the 'side' of the firing pin whole.
You end up in a 'chinese finger trap' situation where the spring is pushing the firing pin backwards and spashing the tip of the tooth pic between the back of the firing pin retainer plate and back of the firing pin.

The correct response would be to use a metal object to push the firing pin back in, relieving the pressure on the tooth pick and removing it nicely.

Unfortunately, I 'freaked out' and just pulled on the tooth pick. This cause the tip to break off in there.

So now there is a 1/8" piece of tooth pic tip floating around somewhere around the firing pin spring.

When you push the firing pin forward, it blocks off the exit hole in the front.

Trying to describe it but it's hard to describe.

[tracker]

That is a clear description.

[Richard S]

Now I understand. My previous idea would be of no use. Please let us know what you hear from the factory.

[ACP]

Yikes. This is a new one on me. I am not particularly handy; assembly and disassembly of firearms is my limit.

I would hope never to face this matter, offer good luck to you and glad it did not happen to me.

Keep us posted.

[tracker]

Looking at the "exploded" view in the manual it looks like you would have to start from the bottom up with the magazine release pin all the way up to removing the hammer; then you could gain access to the firing pin retainer, firing pin spring, etc., to the firing pin--bottom line is I wouldn't even begin to attempt it but some might give it a go.

[Cap.]

When the slide is removed, the hammer and other frame components are not related. I think the exploded view is confusing you.  

I simply need to remove the firing pin retainer plate and the firing pin and spring. Something I commonly do on 1911s (which this design duplicates).

The difference here is that unless I'm seeing something that isn't there, there is some sort of peening or epoxy that holds that firing pin retainer plate in.

On 1911's it is simply the firing pin itself that holds the retainer plate on. You simply depress the firing pin, and manuever the firing pin retainer plate away from the slide.. the firing pin 'springs' out with the spring and you happily clean out the housing with a q-tip.

This firing pin retainer plate is either so tight that I cannot apply enough downwards force while the pin is depressed (therefor requiring a custom tool) or there is something else holding it in place such as a peened surface or epoxy/adhesive of some sort.

My money is on both.

I await a call from one of the R brothers today. I'll let you all know what I find out.

I'll make one more point.. the R9 characteristically has light firing pin strikes. Once some crud built up in there, this could make the problem worse. Becuase of that, I think it would be good to know how to dissassemble and clean this portion of the firearm. We'll see what the R Bro's say.

Thanks everyone for your support! What a great forum!

[IOM]

On 1911's it is simply the firing pin itself that holds the retainer plate on. You simply depress the firing pin, and manuever the firing pin retainer plate away from the slide.. the firing pin 'springs' out with the spring and you happily clean out the housing with a q-tip.

On both of my older R9's the retainer is easily removed just as you describe above on the 1911's.  It'll be interesting to see if they changed something on later models to make it more difficult to remove the retainer.  Let us know what you find out.  Good luck.

David