Help ... is there a trick to installing the return spring over the spring guide?

[1858]

This is my first post on this board so hopefully I'll get off to a good start.  I painted my Vz.58 receiver cover last Friday and needed to bake the part in the oven (GUN-KOTE 2400) so removed both springs i.e. the striker spring and the return spring prior to painting and baking.  Now I'm having a devil of a time getting the return spring back on.  I've searched online and looked through the Vz.58 manual but can't find any information (trick) on how to do this.  It's particularly difficult since the guide isn't rigidly attached to the cover.  I need to compress the spring and reinstall the return spring locking block.  Any tips or tricks out there?

This ....


slides over this ....


resulting in this ....


Thanks.
 

[WhiskeyVictor]

Have you tried over at The High Road (THR), some of those guys are really ugly, but very knowledgeable.

[1858]

Now that's funny!     I was sent over to this forum from there.  I made a post in the Gunsmithing and Repairs section last week ....

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=518073

and then another post in the Rifle Country section yesterday ....

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=518421

I find it hard to believe that this hasn't come up before.  Oh well, I'll just have to figuire it out for myself.

 

[1858]

EUREKA!!  I thought I'd figure it out in the end.  I've had an 11" long, 1/4" diam. aluminum "screw holder" in my toolbox for years but have never used it.  It has a rotating head on one end designed to hold slotted screws so that they can be positioned in hard to reach places.  Anyway, I drilled a 1/32" hole through the rod about 1/4" from the end and filed flats on either end of the hole.  I put both "hooks" located on the end of the spring guide in the holes and slid the spring down over the rod. I was able to compress the spring, remove the rod and insert the return spring locking block with ease.   

Hopefully this will help someone else if they ever need to remove/replace the return spring. 

 

[WhiskeyVictor]

Patent that thing brother! Glad you got it up and running!

[ObiWanBonJovi]

I put it on loosely, then thread the spring on the rest of the way.  I have done many like this.

[WhiskeyVictor]

You put it on loosely? I still can't picture what your talking about!

[dusty10]

Glad you figured it out.  Just curious, what color did you paint the cover?  Did the cover have scratches etc.?

[sandstorm]

I find it hard to believe that this hasn't come up before.  Oh well, I'll just have to figuire it out for myself.

1. slide the straw over the spring retaining wire , all the way to the end of the wire, it should fit snuggly.



2. slide the recoil spring all the way in.



3. place the rear end of the top cover firmly on the table (preferrably on a non-skid pad or the wife will kill ya, lol) and using both hands grab the spring and push it down till it passes the top of the retaining wire(you can see it thru the straw). taking the next two pic was no easy task due to the pressure from the spring, luckily i kept it steady and it didnt fly away.



4. hold the spring firmly with your fingers (thumb, index ) while the remaining fingers (middle, ring and pinky) gripping the top cover, once that is done, release the other hand and pull up the straw, exposing the top of the wire.



5. with the free hand put the spring retainer piece on top of the wire to lock the spring in, easy way is to line up the two wire with the grooves on the side of the retainer piece and rotate the piece with your fingers and the wire will line up to locking position... note my fingers was turning purple due to it took longer than a minute to take pics.

[ObiWanBonJovi]

You put it on loosely? I still can't picture what your talking about!

I stick the guide rod out the side of the spring so I can put retainer block on without spring tension, then I just thread the spring on the rest of the way.  easy as pie.