Slide release lever won't rotate

[dw152]

I just bought a Shield today and am having the same problem with the take-down lever. It will rotate most of the way, but not the final bit. If I move the slide slightly, it will snap back to the normal position. It just does not want to fully rotate.

I don't believe that this is operator error. I've been around guns for a long time, and I own a full size M&P, and have had no problem with that gun.

I'll take it back to the store tomorrow morning.

 

[ggibson511960]

Pull Down on the Guide Rod

I just bought a Shield today and am having the same problem with the take-down lever. It will rotate most of the way, but not the final bit. If I move the slide slightly, it will snap back to the normal position. It just does not want to fully rotate.

I don't believe that this is operator error. I've been around guns for a long time, and I own a full size M&P, and have had no problem with that gun.

I'll take it back to the store tomorrow morning.

There has been identified a common mode "failure" in Shields and M&P compacts. The takedown lever rotates a cylindrical drum with flats cut to move the recoil spring onto a shelf on the barrel. This takes a pretty firm push on the lever as you are compressing the recoil spring past it normal fully deflected position when firing the gun. There is an offending bit of MIM flash on the drum that interferes with this transfer. You can help it along by pushing down on the front of the guide rod. This makes rotation of the takedown lever easier and ensures transfer of the recoil spring to the barrel. It's easy to permanently fix it by grinding down the protruding bit, and it's not even necessary if you want to put up with slightly more difficult disassembly. Please don't do what 40 Shield did, bash on it with a hammer and punch. Like CaptRon956 says, it's not an overly complicated machine. I wish 40 Shield would read the Safety & Instruction Manual and learn the names of the parts. I'm not totally convinced about what he is trying to do. I've picked up some M&P's that could not release the slide with anything below Herculean pressure on the slide release, but they'll always easily close by pulling the magazine then the slide, no punch required.

 

[NCW Ray]

Here's a pic from the Shield Safety & Instruction Manual with the external parts labeled. Might help clear up any confusion as to what part/lever is being talked about.

 

[tbgunner88]

I just bought a Shield today and am having the same problem with the take-down lever. It will rotate most of the way, but not the final bit. If I move the slide slightly, it will snap back to the normal position. It just does not want to fully rotate.

I don't believe that this is operator error. I've been around guns for a long time, and I own a full size M&P, and have had no problem with that gun.

I'll take it back to the store tomorrow morning.

If it's rotating all but the last little bit, take a look and you will see a small roll pin. I once heard of an issue where the roll pin was protruding just enough on a shield to keep the takedown lever from going all the way into place, it was a simple fix with a punch and hammer. I remembered this issue when the op was talking about his , but he says his won't move at all so that's not the issue with his and may not be the problem with yours either, but I thought it may be something simple you can check.

 

[dw152]

I just bought a Shield today and am having the same problem with the take-down lever. It will rotate most of the way, but not the final bit. If I move the slide slightly, it will snap back to the normal position. It just does not want to fully rotate.

I don't believe that this is operator error. I've been around guns for a long time, and I own a full size M&P, and have had no problem with that gun.

I'll take it back to the store tomorrow morning.

I figured out the problem with my gun. The pin was sticking out too far on the left side of the frame, and was interfering with the take-down lever. I drifted the pin a bit to the right, and now I can take the gun apart. That pin was in there fairly tight, not like the pins on my Glocks, and I had to pound on it a bit to move it.

 

[dw152]

If it's rotating all but the last little bit, take a look and you will see a small roll pin. I once heard of an issue where the roll pin was protruding just enough on a shield to keep the takedown lever from going all the way into place, it was a simple fix with a punch and hammer. I remembered this issue when the op was talking about his , but he says his won't move at all so that's not the issue with his and may not be the problem with yours either, but I thought it may be something simple you can check.

Yep, that was it. The take-down lever was dragging on the protruding pin. A couple of taps with a punch and hammer solved the problem.

Thanks for your help.

 

[tbgunner88]

Yep, that was it. The take-down lever was dragging on the protruding pin. A couple of taps with a punch and hammer solved the problem.

Thanks for your help.

No problem, glad you got it fixed.

 

[ATF]

Probably a stupid question but have you pulled the slide back all the way until the semi-circle notch of the slide is above the takedown lever? Also the frame pin could be protruding.

 

[tbgunner88]

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Frame pin shmame pin, some help you are: