need help with a spring...how to install

[mozeppa]

uncle gives me a old 38 top break....wants to get it shooting again.
too much wrong with it.
but i'd like giving it back in one piece.

this appears to be a trigger return spring....its "V" shaped and has a notch in one leg of the "V" (see pix)
i think it goes back into the area that the screwdriver is pointing to....and in the orientation in the picture.

do you have to take the trigger out and compress the spring while trying to line up the trigger pin at the same time?
is there an easier way?

any tricks to this problem?

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. This is tough to explain, but I will give it a shot.

The V spring in question is probably the hardest part to install in any S&W out there. If you look at the top of the trigger guard, you will see a channel where the spring rests. Next, in the frame, you will find a pin and the front of the spring rests against the pin. Lastly, there is a small ledge on the front of the trigger that one leg of the spring rests.

When reinstalling the spring, I normally notice that one leg is slightly longer than the other and always put that leg against the trigger. Not sure if it matters, but it works. Lay the spring into the frame and trigger with the free leg sticking up. Take the trigger guard and place it between the top of the trigger and the frame and slowly push it into the slot in the front, Check the spring once more and push down on the guard until it contacts the frame. Compress the guard without lifting it until it snaps into the rear slot and try the trigger.

Chances are you may have to do this several times before you get it back together properly, since the spring can easily move and drop off the trigger ledge.

 

[mozeppa]

thanks!....that is exactly how i figured it went. i can see a fork tongue
on one leg of the spring and the other leg is solid.

so i look inside and there is matching fork tongue "wear" on the top of the trigger ...so i'm guessing that the solid leg rides in the tiny slot in the trigger.

will try it.

thanks for clearing this up!

 

[glowe]

Sounds good. The purpose of the spring is to pull the trigger forward after firing, so it has to push up on the trigger ledge. That is where the problems lie in assembly. The spring can easily drop off the trigger ledge, so keep trying.

 

[mozeppa]

i got it!

took a while of looking at it and fiddling with it....but, i got it.

dang thing is like doing brain surgery wearing boxing gloves!