Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > S&W-Smithing
o

Notices

S&W-Smithing Maintenance, Repair, and Enhancement of Smith & Wesson and Other Firearms.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-08-2011, 12:45 PM
TDrane TDrane is offline
Member
Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906?  
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Clearwater, Florida
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Guide rod wont seat on 6906?

Field stripped last night, that is as far as I went. Now, when reassembling, the guide rod sticks out a half inch or so. What could I be doing wrong?
I have worked with 1911's for 20 years, and have not had this issue on any other auto I've owned.
Even went as far as watching several videos on youtube, but no avail.
Really would be embarassing to walk into the shop for help, but I will at about 5 tonight.
Any thoughts?
Sorry, cant do photos, but will answer questions as best I can.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-08-2011, 02:19 PM
Alk8944's Avatar
Alk8944 Alk8944 is online now
Member
Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906?  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sandy Utah
Posts: 8,616
Likes: 1,554
Liked 8,612 Times in 3,452 Posts
Default

Try pulling it forward and see if it will align with it's recess when you let it back down. Don't pull and just let it go. ease it down as you feel if it is going into it's recess.

Otherwise, remove the slide again and make sure the washer is seated in it's notch properly and try again.
__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-08-2011, 02:28 PM
TDrane TDrane is offline
Member
Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906?  
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Clearwater, Florida
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Will do. Thank you!!

Cant wait for Range Day to try this out, havent heard anything bad about it.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-08-2011, 04:24 PM
Fastbolt's Avatar
Fastbolt Fastbolt is offline
Member
Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906?  
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: CA Central Coast
Posts: 4,638
Likes: 915
Liked 6,591 Times in 2,191 Posts
Default

If the rear of the guide rod assembly isn't seating so that the plunger can slip through the small hole in the frame, it can stub and stick out too far when the slide is assembled onto the frame. The advice offered by Alk8944 seems to work for most folks.

The 6906 was one of my favorite issued guns over the years. I fired a LOT of rounds through a couple of them.

If you don't mind a couple of my thoughts ...

Keeping the rails properly lubricated can help mitigate unnecessary frame wear.

Recoil & mag springs are recommended for replacement either every 5,000 rounds or every 5 years (of being left loaded in LE holsters all the time). Personally, I like to be a bit more conservative for the smaller compact guns and replace the recoil springs every 2,500-3,000 rounds, myself.

Yes, the 14/15 round 59XX mags can be used in the 69XX series, but as one of the factory folks pointed out to me one time, it's probably wise to remember at some point that the follower is slightly different for the shorter 6906 (although I couldn't see the difference by eyeball after I was told this), which has a faster slide velocity than the 59XX guns. When I carried a `15-rd 59XX mag as a spare for my 6906 I made sure the mag springs stayed relatively fresh and the mag bodies stayed clean and dry. (The 9mm 3rd gen guns seem much more "forgiving" of spring condition and slide velocity than the faster cycling, harder recoiling 40XX's.)

Avoid introducing liquids (solvents, CLP's, oils, etc) to the firing pin and extractor recesses. These areas should be clean & dry, and the accumulation of excessive liquids can lead to the accumulation of semi-congealed grunge & gunk (technical terms ) which can cause feeding, extraction & ignition problems.

The rest of the frame's "internals" do not require lubrication or the accumulation of excessive solvents, oils, etc. I've seen sears become gunked up and unable to freely move and catch the single action cocking notches on the hammers during cycling because of too much gunk in 3rd gen guns.

Keeping the breech face pointed down during cleaning can help prevent gravity from allowing liquids to run into the firing pin hole (and from which they can't easily run back out). Don't let them run into the rear of the firing pin, the bottom of the manual safety/decocker assembly or the plastic & steel plungers in front of the safety assembly ... since those openings are lead to the firing pin channel.

FWIW, a carefully directed flow of compressed air (wear safety glasses!) pointed up into the narrow slot machined into the bottom of the slide, inside the right side channel to the right of the pickup rail (which opens into the bottom of the extractor recess) can blow excess liquids out the side of the slide around the extractor.

The 6906 is a great compact alloy-framed 9mm, right alongside the 3913.
__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-08-2011, 06:11 PM
TDrane TDrane is offline
Member
Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906?  
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Clearwater, Florida
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Alk- Great, thank you, worked like a charm.

Fastbolt- Thank you also, I will follow your lead on this. Like I'd said, I'm one of those old 1911 guys, with a bit of the M9, three day armorer class, but any advice, I listen.

Thanks again, makes me happy I stumbled in here!!!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-08-2011, 08:45 PM
Fastbolt's Avatar
Fastbolt Fastbolt is offline
Member
Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906? Guide rod wont seat on 6906?  
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: CA Central Coast
Posts: 4,638
Likes: 915
Liked 6,591 Times in 2,191 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by TDrane View Post
Fastbolt- Thank you also, I will follow your lead on this. Like I'd said, I'm one of those old 1911 guys, with a bit of the M9, three day armorer class, but any advice, I listen.

Thanks again, makes me happy I stumbled in here!!!
De nada.

It sounds like you've got some good experience.

They take less lube than a 1911.

The firing pins can be removed, cleaned out and reinstalled without having to re-stake a pin.

The extractors, however, are fitted parts (as are the sear release levers).

The good news is that the extractors are fairly robust and can last a long time ... providing the owner/user loads the chamber from the magazine and NOT by dropping a round directly into the chamber.

I've only had to replace a handful of sear release levers over the years (out of about 500 early 3rd gen guns over time). It helps if the person who originally fitted the sear release lever fitted it on the "long end" of the normal range, too.

Enjoy.
__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
1911, 3913, 6906, extractor

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Wanted:S&W 6906/3913 Recoil Spring guide rod eoyguy WANTED to Buy 3 11-03-2014 01:40 PM
6906 and 3913 Same Recoil Spring and Guide Rod? kbm6893 Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols 19 06-07-2014 11:14 AM
MAG WONT SEAT PROPERLY!!! ShawtBus92 Smith & Wesson M&P15 Rifles 14 01-09-2013 12:31 AM
.357 wont seat in cylinder... wnr700 S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 11 02-28-2011 01:46 PM
Guide Rods 6906/5903 WoodLark Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols 1 04-24-2010 10:24 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:06 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)