Loose Barrel Bushing Fix

original: forum.m1911.org
Retrieved: December 01, 2011
Last Post: August 17, 2009 CANDERSEN
10th August 2009

I have a 70 Series Colt. The Barrel Bushing is loose in the slide - "fore and aft" about 15 -20 thousands of an inch. The bushing it snug in the slide "left to right" and fits the barrel well.

I have determined that the problem is not the barrel bushing but rather the relief cut inside the slide where the barrel bushing tab fits. It is oversize (to wide). I have tried other barrel bushings with the same results.

I know its a crazy thought... why couldnt I permenantly fit the barrel bushing into the slide using green Loctite? The only downsides I can think of are having to clean the barrel from the "wrong end" like a revolver and the added time it would take to clean the gun.


RobL
10th August 2009

Green Loctite wicks like crazy. It's virtually guaranteed to end up locking your barrel to your bushing.

Have you considered calling somebody like EGW and asking about a bushing with an oversized tab?


CANDERSEN
10th August 2009

I have considered EGW - they have done great work for me in the past. But I am looking for an easy/fast/cheap fix.

What adhesive, glue etc would be the recommended one to use?


Hawkmoon
10th August 2009

Fast, easy fix -- buy a short piece of 1/2 inch steel rod at Home Depot or Lowe's. Slide your barrel bushing over it, open up the jaws of your vise, and lay it across the jaws with the bushing between them. Tap the lug on the bushing lightly a few times to mash it out. Test fit. Repeat as necessary.


toolman
11th August 2009

Hawkmoon's method should do just fine, but if you don't want to try that method, you could silver solder a shim to one side of the lug.


CANDERSEN
11th August 2009

I like the silver solder method - would the solder be hard enough?


toolman
11th August 2009

SILVER solder should be hard enough, but not the common solder you find for electronics, etc. Be sure to flux properly, etc., I've just recently begun learning to use silver solder so I'm not the one to give detailed instructions.


CANDERSEN
11th August 2009

Does anyone know which silver solder I woud use?

Perhaps I could get the correct silver Solder at Brownells?

Do I just build up the solder on the bushing lug and then dress it down - or would I have to solder a small piece of metal to the lug and then dress it down?


niemi24s
11th August 2009

Quote:
I have a 70 Series Colt. The Barrel Bushing is loose in the slide - "fore and aft" about 15 -20 thousands of an inch.

Depending on how the tolerances stack up, a Gov't Model bushing will have anywhere from 0.002 to 0.010 inch of fore-aft play in the slide, so yours has about twice as much as "normal".

But when the gun's in use, the bushing is probably always kept in its forward position by the recoil spring and, if so, doesn't chug back & forth in the slide and cause any accelerated wear.

IMHO, your bushing situation doesn't affect the operation of the gun one bit. But, if the gap between the bushing flange and slide front is just too much to bear - fix it!


toolman
11th August 2009

You could solder a small piece of steel to the lug, Solder isn't like welding, but come to think of it, building up the lug with a small weld bead would also work.


Lazarus
11th August 2009

My 2 cents worth is that Hawk's method is the best. Why heat up the part in the first place if you don't have to? As much as I love silver soldering, this is really not one of those places where it excels. A couple of smacks with the hammer should do it.


toolman
11th August 2009

Knowing my history with both hammers and 1911's I'd be buying a new bushing after I got through with the hammer.


Bugman53
14th August 2009

I would just build it up with a welder and have someone with a lathe turn it back down should take less that 15min at a machine shop.


CANDERSEN
15th August 2009

I went to Home Depot and bought one of those MAP torches - I am going to try and weld it up and then slowly dress it down with a file.

I will have to practice on an old bushing first.


10851Man
15th August 2009

All OS bushings are NOT the same OD and I have encountered several with a wider lug. Check Brownells for a bushing made by EMC.


CANDERSEN
17th August 2009

I practiced welding up the lug on an old bushing - it was not pretty! I decided I would have sne more harm then good.

I ended up "peening" the forward part of the lug on my bushing - it now fits perfect.

I hope it lasts.


Return to 1911 Archive