A New MkIII Owner's Strategy for a Trauma-Free Field Strip

Post by **Bullseye** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:29 pm

Here's another suggestion. Dwight I cannot say 100% why this happens but because the recoil spring guide is staked at the factory sometimes flipping the half round end 180 degrees allows it to move more smoothly when installing the bolt stop. To do this you take the bolt out. Take off the recoil spring assembly. Grab both ends and turn one end one half turn. Reinstall all the parts and the bolt stop will go together more smoothly.

Hope this helps.

R,
Bullseye

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 6:24 pm

Was wondering if that little U shaped part may have been causing a problem, but could not remember just what things looked like inside the gun, had other things to take care of so could not get right at it. Well now that I have made dinner, eaten dinner, made desert and coffee and taken care of that too, after I take a little nap I will look inside one of them and venture my opinion, it may not be any good but it will be mine.

Post by **Bullseye** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 7:04 pm

The rod should move the U shaped clip out of the way when installing the bolt stop. If it isn't, then the recoil spring rod could be binding on the other end. This will cause a problem just like Dwight described.

R,
Bullseye

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 7:18 pm

Bullseye wrote:The rod should move the U shaped clip out of the way when installing the bolt stop. If it isn't, then the recoil spring rod could be binding on the other end. This will cause a problem just like Dwight described.

R,
Bullseye

OK Bullseye, just brought one upstairs to me desk to look at and I have to agree with you. Could not remember just how everything was until I looked at a pistol. The U shaped clip is riveted to the rod and retains the clip and the spring. The rod slides through the woodruf key shaped piece that sets in the slot in the bolt and the tension of the spring actually helps to hold the rod on the mainspring housing in place in the groove in the rod. So, if it did not move easily the slight chamfer on the rod would not push the clip forward so it would seat.

greener · Post by **greener** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 9:18 pm

Things you learn. I didn't know there was a right side and wrong side of that end of the spring.

You could just test it by removing the spring and assembling the pistol without the spring, or at least far enough to see if the bolt stop pin works properly.

blueridgeranger · Post by **blueridgeranger** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:54 pm

Hello Dwight45, bearandoldman, bullseye, greener and all
Wow!!! I never knew that the recoil spring was orientation sensative.
I'll be a lot more careful the next time I have any of my guns apart for cleaning.
I have found that if I keep the rod lightly oiled, I am a lot happier with the performance of the gun.
Dwight45, I sure hope that you get this taken care of...Rugers are meant to be exercised at the range.
thanks for the input
all the best to all
blueridgeranger

toyfj40 · Post by **toyfj40** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:53 pm

http://www.Ruger-Firearms.com/Firearms/N-RugerTV.html

there are several "Tech Tips" for a variety of tasks.
scroll down near the bottom for MK3: Dis, clean, Re Assemble

-- toy

greener · Post by **greener** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:41 am

Welcome to the forum, blueridgeranger.

I didn't know the spring could be 180 out because I never bothered to turn it and put it in the way it came out.

Toy: The Ruger tech tips are pretty good. Too bad I never saw them until I had done all the assembly/disassembly the hard way. I like the way he goes from will last for years in the MKIII disassembly to heirloom in the cleaning video. I suppose that means if you get it apart and clean it every now and then it will last longer.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 8:48 am

I rarely take mine apart, as if they ain't broke they really don't need fixing so I just use them for what they were designed for SHOOTING. May have to take out that spirng assembly just to take a good look at it and see if I can cause a problem.

AMBASSADOR · Post by **AMBASSADOR** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:16 pm

Google Wonder How Too Dissasemble Ruger MKIII.Videos of assembly,disassembly and cleaning.

toyfj40 · Post by **toyfj40** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:38 pm

ambassador: welcome to the forum.

the videos provided by:
http://www.WonderHowTo.com/weapons/guns-video/

that show Ruger MK3 "tips"
link directly back to the original Ruger "Tech Tips" webserver.
although there are Other/additional video clips that may
be helpful while visiting WonderHowTo...
-- toy

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:29 pm

Guys, thanks so much for all your help. And sorry I haven't got back to you sooner. My internet service was down in this area. I'll try your suggestions one-at-a-time, and get back with you when I find the one that does the trick. Geez, I used to work on my cars, but no task I performed on them was this trickey. Thanks again.

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:09 pm

Well I visited my local smith to have him help me put my pistol together, and he did. It seems that when I tip it back to position the hammer strut, the hammer wants to come back with it. It's a bit of a balancing act, but I got the hang of it with the smith's help.

But then when I tried to take the gun apart again, to get a little more practice, I ran into the same problem I mentioned earlier in this thread, the one that made me send the gun back to Ruger in the first place. The mainspring housing assembly didn't want to come out. The smith took the gun back to his workbench and banged on it for a half-hour before it would come out. He told me to send it back to the factory. Geez, I enclosed a cover letter with the returned gun, asking them to be sure it would come apart before sending it back to me. And after a two month wait, I'm right back to square one. At this point I with they would just give me my money back so I could buy another make of pistol.

Post by **Bullseye** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:35 pm

Oh man that sounds like you've had a time with that pistol. I'm really sorry to hear all the problems you've had with it. I got to say this is very unusual. Was your smith experienced with Ruger 22 Autos?

Let us know what comes of this pistol.

R,
Bullseye

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:45 pm

Really sorry to hear that Dwight, evidently your smiths expertise is in a different area. Never heard of one with such a problem.