brucea4 Posted November 23, 2018 Report Share Posted November 23, 2018 Hi gang, My 28A1 bolt spring kinks up often. Last time I had it out after cleaning I reversed the spring and put the kink inside of the bolt. Once the spring is fully dislodged it is a bear to get it back in! Is there a " trick "? Anyhow, the last time I had it out we put hundreds of rounds through it without a problem. I just took it out and when I pulled the bolt handle back, the spring dislodged inside the housing. This spring is now bent all to hell! Is this common??? Luckily I have extra springs.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyDixon Posted November 23, 2018 Report Share Posted November 23, 2018 bolt spring?? do you mwan recoil spring ? so replace ir with a new one, check for correct overall length,just sayn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeRanger Posted November 23, 2018 Report Share Posted November 23, 2018 Are you partially compressing the spring and pinning it in place through the hole in the recoil spring guide before you remove it?Makes all the difference in the world. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucea4 Posted November 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2018 Yes I do compress the spring when I remove or install it. I might not have in the past and kinked the spring that came with the gun. I put a new spring in it today.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucea4 Posted November 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2018 bolt spring?? do you mwan recoil spring ? so replace ir with a new one, check for correct overall length,just sayn.Buffer pilot & recoil spring....yes.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucea4 Posted November 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2018 I will ask another question. Once the bolt, buffer pilot & recoil spring are assembled into the frame, the buffer pilot does not line up perfectly straight as it sits in the frame! Is this normal? Nothing appears bent and the recoil spring is new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted November 23, 2018 Report Share Posted November 23, 2018 Is your Thompson a West Hurley Model of 1928? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucea4 Posted November 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2018 No, an Auto Ordnance Bridgeport, Conn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1921A Posted November 23, 2018 Report Share Posted November 23, 2018 (edited) I will ask another question. Once the bolt, buffer pilot & recoil spring are assembled into the frame, the buffer pilot does not line up perfectly straight as it sits in the frame! Is this normal? Nothing appears bent and the recoil spring is new.That is normal in all the 28s Ive seen. The partially compressed main spring will push the pilot slightly off center with the bolt forward. Edited November 23, 2018 by 1921A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucea4 Posted November 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2018 I will ask another question. Once the bolt, buffer pilot & recoil spring are assembled into the frame, the buffer pilot does not line up perfectly straight as it sits in the frame! Is this normal? Nothing appears bent and the recoil spring is new.That is normal in all the 28s Ive seen. The partially compressed main spring will push the pilot slightly off center with the bolt forward. OK, that is good to hear! I put a new recoil spring in today and we will see how she runs tomorrow..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
full auto 45 Posted November 24, 2018 Report Share Posted November 24, 2018 Recoils Spring. Someone say Recoil Springs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucea4 Posted November 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 (edited) I will ask another question. Once the bolt, buffer pilot & recoil spring are assembled into the frame, the buffer pilot does not line up perfectly straight as it sits in the frame! Is this normal? Nothing appears bent and the recoil spring is new.That is normal in all the 28s Ive seen. The partially compressed main spring will push the pilot slightly off center with the bolt forward. Oh nooooo....HELP! Shot a 6 stage match today with the NOS recoil spring in my 28 Tommy and when I began stage # 6 the bolt wouldn't retract and when I got home the recoil spring had SPRUNG! What in tarnation is wrong??? Edited November 25, 2018 by brucea4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucea4 Posted November 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucea4 Posted November 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 What is wrong??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeRanger Posted November 25, 2018 Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 Did you use a cross pin in the spring guide to hold the spring in its compressed state during re-assembly? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timkel Posted November 25, 2018 Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 The pilot should be in alignment with the bolt hole. Your pilot could be too loose to stay in alignment. I would try a different pilot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted November 25, 2018 Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 Questions: Is the buffer pilot stamped with an "S" or an "AOC" manufacturer marking? What manufacturer mark is on the actuator? Can you post a picture of these two items, especially the rear hole of the actuator? Are you using a NOS GI spring? Or an aftermarket spring? timkel may be on to something, above. Can you measure the pilot end of the buffer pilot and the diameter of the pilot hole in the end of the receiver? Over the years I have noticed a slight difference of length between WWII GI buffer pilots. Perhaps you have one that is on the short side and is contributing to this problem. . The reason I asked if your Thompson was a West Hurley, above, because a very common defect for WHs is the pilot hole is not within proper specifications (too large). PK will make a dedicated buffer pilot for these WHs during his remanufacturing process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob241 Posted November 25, 2018 Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 (edited) If the last picture you posted is your receiver, it looks like the rear of the receiver has cracked, if so the pilot will never line up, See picture of the receiver in in post 14 Edited November 25, 2018 by bob241 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gio Posted November 25, 2018 Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 I agree with bob241 in the picture looks as if rear of receiver is not perpendicular to the actuator. If so that's your problem. Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeRanger Posted November 25, 2018 Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 ...but there's no visible crack. I think what you're seeing is simply a perspective error since the picture was not shot perpendicular to the receiver. My money is still on an error in the disassembly/assembly procedure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgeport28A1 Posted November 25, 2018 Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 I would try a Savage buffer pilot that is longer. Not all WW2 Savage pilots were created equal. The early Savage pilots with the dimple on the receiver end in my experience tend to be shorter both in overall length and the length of the rod portion that the spring slides over. Savage pilots will also vary slightly in diameter of the rod portion that fits through the receiver pilot hole. The diameter will vary less then the length will. If you switch to a 1921 Actuator and PK modified 21/28 buffer pilot all of your 1929 recoil spring kinking issues will go away. I had a problem with a spring kinking exactly once while using what turned out to be the shortest Savage pilot in every measurement combined with a bad neoprene style buffer that decided to disintegrate. Too much room between the buffer disintegrating and the short pilot likely allowed for stacking tolerances with enough room for the recoil spring to "escape". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawk64 Posted November 25, 2018 Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 ...but there's no visible crack. I think what you're seeing is simply a perspective error since the picture was not shot perpendicular to the receiver. My money is still on an error in the disassembly/assembly procedure.. My opinion also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucea4 Posted November 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 Did you use a cross pin in the spring guide to hold the spring in its compressed state during re-assembly?Yes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucea4 Posted November 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 I got the spring & buffer pilot assembly down. Spring was a NOS USGI. No cracks and now I'm wondering if with my luck I have a short pilot??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgeport28A1 Posted November 25, 2018 Report Share Posted November 25, 2018 How thick is the 1928 buffer you are using? The PK buffers are typically the same thickness as the WW2 hard buffers. Disclaimer: My disintegrating 1928 neoprene buffer mentioned in an earlier post was NOT a PK sourced buffer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now