Problems installing the Apex SD Spring kit

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MGMorden

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Ok guys, just coming here for some help.

I just bought an SD40VE. Having had great results from the Apex kit in my M&P I ordered an Apex kit at the same time as this gun.

Went to install it last night though and I hit a snag. The striker-block spring and striker spring went in with no issues. I was able to remove the sear-housing OK, but I can't get the trigger pin out despite my best efforts.

In the installation video they look like the push on it from one side, lift on the slide-lock lever, and the thing literally flys out. I'm putting pressure on my pin from the same side but despite lifting on the slide lock, wiggling it, begging and pleading - the pin doesn't come out.

Am I just missing something obvious or is S&W doing something slightly different on the newer models?

Thanks.
 
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LOL Both my pins on my new SD40VE came out HARD REAL HARD did I mention HARD.

I thought I was going to bend something or break something.

I used a punch and a hammer and I had to hit it a few times ptetty HARD.

Laid frame down on a thin rubberized mat (wife's old table mat ) with a hole in it and a board underneath that with hole in it.

Make sure you remove it out on left side of frame.

Lined up pin to hole and hit it with hammer and punch.

The trigger pin has 2 grooves in it that hang up a bit on the slide lock.

The trigger pin I had a hell of a time putting back in lining up the slide lock
and trigger spring to the grooves.

Once you have these pins out a couple of times they come out easier.

3
 
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Don't be fooled by the Apex video they have probably had that gun apart 100 times. So things do come apart easier.

I had the same problem with my SW40. The pin simply didn't won't to come out from right to left as they showed in the video. I ended up driving it out the other way from left to right with no issue. When I installed the pin I did it as said in video.

Like 3 hounds said it's a pain and will take a few minutes to get back in. Take your time.
 
I installed the kit last weekend on my SD40VE. I had the same problem. It took me at least a good 30 minutes to finally push it out. Oh by the way, I used a pin punch to get it out. :)
 
Thanks guys. Mission accomplished. :) I took a drift punch and beat it into submission. Did take about 7 or 8 attempts to get that slide lock aligned back right again when I reassembled but all is back together and working now. Glad I got that spring in as after having tested it with just the other 2 in, I think that the trigger return spring by far had the greatest effect on the pull reduction.

Thanks!


I think next I'm going to swap the rear sight to a steel one. I put Warren sights on my M&P and still have the factory rear sight from that gun that I think is going to get "hand me downed" to the SD :).
 
Last edited:
MGMorden said:
Ok guys, just coming here for some help.

I just bought an SD40VE. Having had great results from the Apex kit in my M&P I ordered an Apex kit at the same time as this gun.

Went to install it last night though and I hit a snag. The striker-block spring and striker spring went in with no issues. I was able to remove the sear-housing OK, but I can't get the trigger pin out despite my best efforts.

In the installation video they look like the push on it from one side, lift on the slide-lock lever, and the thing literally flys out. I'm putting pressure on my pin from the same side but despite lifting on the slide lock, wiggling it, begging and pleading - the pin doesn't come out.

Am I just missing something obvious or is S&W doing something slightly different on the newer models?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

+1 to the LOL

They make it look so easy in the video on you tube!

It took me like 5 hours of cussing and fighting and a third hand to get that darn pin out I feel your pain.
 
I just installed the Apex kit into my SD40VE last night. You guys are right... that youtube video makes it look soooo easy! I had to beat those pins out (and in) with a small hammer way harder than I wanted to. However in the end... the results were worth it! The video is actually very good and easy to follow. Besides the pins being a little tough to get out... the install was very simple. I had taken a thick sturdy piece of cardboard, cut out 2 pieces that were about 8"x12" and taped them together... making it about 1" thick. Then I cut a hole in the middle of it and did all the work right on top... worked perfectly. I can't wait to shoot it and try it out. I just hope I don't have the "light strike" issue like I've seen from a few folks on here (although I think it was determined the problem was shooting reloads).

Anyway, thanks alot to all you guys who shared your experiences... it definitely helped me to install the spring kit. I would've never beat on the pins as hard as I did had I not seen that others had to as well!
 
Like i said mine came out very easy the opposite of what they said in the video. I really don't see why they say it has to come out in a specific direction.
 
You guys don't need to beat on that trigger pin. It is held captive by the slide catch lever in that groove. Watch the video carefully and you will see he pulls on the slide catch as he pushes the pin out with that little stainless tool they provide.

I had to wiggle the slide catch lever quite a bit, but the pin itself pushed out with little pressure once I got the catch to release it.
 
Yep, even though I made sure to work the slide catch lever etc., I just couldn't get the trigger pin to release. I had the video right next to me on my iPad to use as the manual for the project. Certain parts, I played over and over. Anyway, I wound up removing the pin in the opposite direction.
 
Like I said it comes out easy cause they've had that gun apart 100 times.
 
With a little wiggle of the slide catch, mine came out as effortlessly as in the Apex video, and mine has not been disassembled hundreds of times.
 
Armed Babysitter said:
With a little wiggle of the slide catch, mine came out as effortlessly as in the Apex video, and mine has not been disassembled hundreds of times.
Click to expand...

Consider yourself a master wiggler... or at least lucky! I had a tough time too... but not too bad, it took me maybe 35-40 minutes total.
 
My SD9VE was a pain to get the trigger pin out, and a pain to put back together, which I still have yet to do. I also had to pound the pin out with a hammer & punch after wiggling that darn slide lock lever enough to get my fingers sore. However, it's been a challenge to put back together. I can get everything but the slide lock lever in correctly. I'll cuss at it some more tomorrow night then take it to a gunsmith Friday if need be.
 
mine came out easily with a little wiggle....I watched the video once and did it, just fine.
 
So I worked and cussed at putting it together last night for well over an hour with no success. Today, I called 3 local gunsmiths & the earliest one could look at it was 2 weeks. I'm not that patient, so went I get home, of course I put it back together on the first try. I did have to use a small mallet to tap the trigger pin back in, but it works like a charm & I'm certainly pleased with the results.
 
I have a question re the trigger spring in this kit: can one use a piece of felt or do you have to use the white lithium grease? Can the felt in the original spring be transferred to the new spring? I emailed Apex earlier today as well. Thanks for any help.
 
NevadaBob said:
I have a question re the trigger spring in this kit: can one use a piece of felt or do you have to use the white lithium grease? Can the felt in the original spring be transferred to the new spring? I emailed Apex earlier today as well. Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

They must have changed it since the trigger spring in the kit I bought for my SD9VE that arrived a few days ago came with felt in it.

dsc02448vu.jpg
 
Thanks. I just got my reply back from Apex a few minutes ago and it is as you say. The video needs to be updated. Post back after your install.
 
J Rich...Thanks for your comments on removing the trigger pain. Made it very easy!
 
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