Hi everyone. I'm working on a 40 cal I just got and wanted to open and clean it. I was able to remove the slide stop and field strip the pistol but when putting it back together, I was unable to fully seat the slide stop. It was challenging to remove and I suspect there must be some trick to get it back together. I've got the slide stop back in partially but it will not seat fully. Does anyone have any ideas on how to reassemble? Is there a trick to it?
Greg

I take it that you cannot line it up straight to get it to go into the opposite frame hole.
You got it in the first hole and got it past the guide rod plunger?
Then you are lining up the notch on the slide correctly?
While you are holding the slide with the notch in the correct place, as you are pushing it, the through post goes off center and won't go through that hole if you don't hold your mouth just right?
Can you tell what is bumping into what?
Is the spring plunger on the end of the slide stop moving freely?
It helps to lubricate the end of that through post.
Let us know what worked.

OK?
BrianD

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696-6906-457-38-3913-CS40-411

This series is very helpful for breaking it down and successfully getting it back together.
S&W 3rd gen complete disassembly video

Manual - https://www.marxcollector.com/S_W/S&...ire_pistol.pdf

Thanks to all who responded, especially Brian. After struggling with it and holding the slide such that the pin on the slide stop lined up properly, I pushed it in nearly all the way and then I was able to depress the plunger on the end of the slide stop and it slid back in fully. Whew.

After reading Brian's reply, I decided to check out the pin and see if it was rough. So I field-stripped it again and looked at the pin on the back of the slide stop. It was a little rough so I stoned it a little to remove the rough spots and now it goes in a little easier. Funny how the instructions in the manual say it goes right in.

Thank you all. I also downloaded the videos recommended.

The side plates have a tendency to get bent thru improper handling, installation or cleaning causing the slide stop to not seat easily or properly.

You might want to remove the grips again & look closer at the side plate to see if it's bent or sprung.

Check the angle that the angled contact point (1) with the slide stop is at. The plunger of the slide stop should contact its face when you try to insert it fully, not below or above it.

The upper body of the side plate (2) should look perfectly flat to the frame.

Where the forked legs of the side plate (3) go around the pin the legs should not be sprung open any & should also lay perfectly flat.

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Shorty 40, Mk.I

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Waiting for the break of day

This is very helpful by BD37. Thanks!
That plunger should pop right in without needing a third hand on it.
Can we see a photo of the gun?
We love that 4013 around here.

Kind Regards!
BrianD

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696-6906-457-38-3913-CS40-411

Thanks. See my S40?

It's a... Shorty 40 Mk.I (added LH letter)

The PC Shorty 40s were essentially the forefather of the 4013TSWs, which are, as you know, very different from 4013 non-TSWs.

I like & have several of each!

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Waiting for the break of day

Thanks for the link to your original Shorty 40 post B.D. 37.. Don’t know how I missed it then. Probably because I didn’t have any .40’s and wasn’t interested in them. Of course that rapidly changed with my first “gateway” .40 which was a Shorty 40.

Jim