Has anyone here ever used the oversize grip screw bushing kit from Brownell's?
The other day while shooting, I noticed the left grip panel on my Kimber Tactical Pro II had loosened up. Upon disassembly, I found the bushing was stripped, and it looks as if the previous owner superglued it to dump the gun. Anywho, if anyone has experience with this kit, or has the tap laying around they are no longer in need of, help would be greatly appreciated.
Big, I have the bushing kit. It works just fine. Mine has a tap to tap the threads oversize to match the new bushings in the kit. I use just a small ammount of blue loctite on the new bushings to keep them from backing out.
It there a thread size listed on the tap with the kit?
You won't find one at the hardware store, that's for sure!
Standard bushings are .236"-60 TPI.
Oversize are .255"-60 TPI.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/sto...INGS%20&%20TAP
I was just trying to avoid spending $41.00 on a tap to make one repair. I found it at Midway for $25 which is a little better.
Keep in mind that once you go over-size, you are about out of fixes if it happens again.
The cause of it happening in the first place is two-fold.
First, a lot of manufactures no longer stake the bushings in place as designed.
Second, the bushings were too long for the grips, which allowed the screw heads to lock down and seize on the tops of the bushings.
So, they come out of the frame instead of the screws coming out of the bushings.
The fix is:
1. Red Lock-Tight when you install the new bushings.
2. Staking them as designed.
3. And filing off the tops of the bushings as necessary so the screws bottom
out in the grips, instead of seizing to the bushings before the grips are
tight.
The intent was to have the screws stop on the bushing at the same time they stopped on the grips. In other words, the screws would hold without compressing the grips. Like many other things, JMB's concept got lost in the shuffle.
Well, I just ordered the kit from Brownell's. I didn't realize the prices were different when you have an account/place an order. I'll also be adding a set of Hogue rubber grips, and I'll check the fit on the bushings when it's all said and done. Thanks for all the help.
RCmodel is 100% correct on this. The screws get stuck for a reason.
A Related Question
As I understand the Chinese Norinco 1911A1 clone uses metric bushings and grip screws.
Does anyone know if the mentioned Brownells repair kit will work on the (made in China) Norinco 1911A1 clone?
Actually the grip screw bushings are ok, what I need is a set of corrects size grip screws.
Any ideas on where can I get a set of the correct size grip screws for my Norinco 1911A1 clone?
You would have to check the size of your current grip screws. Mostl ikely with a micrometer. I would want more accuracy than a dial caliper could give me. If you are lucky the metric ones are smaller and you can retap them with the standard size grip screw tap. I think it is 1/2 the price of the oversize tap, as the oversize tap is noon standard and custom made for Brownells. Expensive, but it works like a charm.
To avoid future problems with siezed grip screws, when you begin disassembly and find one of the screws to be siezed, lay the gun on a flat non-maring surface and gently rap on the head of the screwdriver. More often the threads themselves will lock under tension and a light shock will allow them to move freely. This technique will work with most any siezed machine screw and is especially helpful removing steel screws from aluminium.
Don't use the kit - do as RC suggests. For some reason (cost?) many manufacturers are not staking their bushings and this is causing problems!