Shield Recoil Assembly

[Atticaz]

I am not going to make this recoil assembly complaint thread. All I need is some help.

First off, this is my recoil assembly. I have seen posts where members are saying that this is normal? Problem posted after picture.

When I disassemble my Shield, all goes well. When reassembling it, I run into an issue that I isolated to the recoil assembly. Upon reassembly, 90% of the time I cannot pull the slide back far enough to lock it, so that I can rotate the takedown lever. I have to remove the spring assembly and fiddle/manipulate the front end portion or just remove and rotate or reposition the assembly, just to try again to see if the slide will come back far enough so that I may lock it. It seems like some part of the assembly is seizing up. I even over lubed it at one point, to see if it was just too dry. *giggles* - I got the same rate of failure to pull back far enough to lock the slide.

I am hoping someone can help me to understand this creature some more.

 

[M4mafia]

You need to make sure the assembly is completely pressed down tight to the barrel before you try to slip the slide back onto the gun. The edge of the recoil assembly is catch the frame and hanging up the reassembly.

 

[S&WForty]

I don't think mine has appeared that wavy, but I've experienced the issue.

After having to disassemble/reposition/reassemble my RSA 3-4 times to get it back together the first two times I tore the pistol down, I got a little steamed. On the 3rd time, when it would not slide all the way back, I took out a little frustration and racked it pretty hard a few times. Whatdaya know? It went back far enough to lock the slide and flip the takedown lever back up. I haven't done that since. It seems to have realized who's boss. Go figure. I can't say I recommend that, but maybe the fast and hard racking motion caused the spring to move just the right way.

 

[snakeye]

Yea mine has a bow in it sometimes have to fiddle with the spring for it to work right...just move the spring around until the slide locks back.....S&W needs to fix this...it is problem

 

[Atticaz]

Thanks, guys. Good to know it is not just mine.

 

[nickel plate]

Atticaz,
Look in your Safety and Instruction Manual, see page 24, figures 33 and 34. The fore and aft alignment of the replaced recoil spring assembly is critical for slide re-assembly.
It too had me stymied the first time I cleaned my Shield. Hasn't happened since then as it isn't a hard to do alignment, you just need to be aware of its necessity in order to proceed with the re-assembly process.

 

[Atticaz]

Atticaz,
Look in your Safety and Instruction Manual, see page 24, figures 33 and 34. The fore and aft alignment of the replaced recoil spring assembly is critical for slide re-assembly.
It too had me stymied the first time I cleaned my Shield. Hasn't happened since then as it isn't a hard to do alignment, you just need to be aware of its necessity in order to proceed with the re-assembly process.

Thanks, But, I always have the recoil assembly in as straight as it can be. something is still off.

 

[tonesurfer]

Mine's not as wavy throughout the middle as yours. It does however have a tweeked/bent end from where it was "cut-off" I guess. Also, the first wrap on the front end seems to overlap the retainer. It hasn't come apart...yet.... No issues in operation. And I have had to fiddle a bit the get it back together a few times but by no means a chore. Remove slide, push here, pull there, put slide back on, done.

 

[Dino1]

It's not just wavy, the first couple of coils on the left side of the picture show that the spring is not seated properly on the rod. And the coils on the right side are warped bending forward, that spring is toast. You need to assemble the RSA per the instructions in the manual.

 

[nickel plate]

Atticaz,
I couldn't get your photo to load on my first posting. Now I see it so I stripped my Shield 9mm down and basically found the same waviness of my recoil spring once removed from the slide. Try this-assemble the recoil spring as normal but before attaching the slide, use your finger to gently press down uniformly on the length of the spring itself, seating the spring deeper toward the length of the barrel then attach the slide-it needs to go at least 1/4" past the slide stop lever to engage-then throw the rotating take down lever up.

 

[Atticaz]

Just an update on the Recoil Assembly...

After a few range trips, reassembly of my Shield has become easier. Does not seize up short of the slide lock notch anymore. Still gives a slight bit of resistance. But, it is WAY better. That inner spring needs to be broke it some.

The spare from S&W has not got here yet and I do not need to replace. *Shrug*. Guess I'll just have an extra.

 

[S&WForty]

When you get it, install the new one to see how it compares to the broken-in original.

 

[Atticaz]

When you get it, install the new one to see how it compares to the broken-in original.

Will do.