Instructions: How to change the recoil/main spring on a VZ 58

[superlative]

The problem with every method I've seen on the net, is that it requires you to compress the main spring by hand which I have found extremely frustrating and very difficult, especially coupled with keeping the guide rod extended, and then finally installing the retainer cap whilst the spring is compressed.  I've developed a new method that anyone can do with only 2 screwdrivers and almost no frustration.

First terminology, since I don't know what the parts are really called.

i. Main rod: this is the rod attached to the receiver with a hole (eye) going down the middle and a "needle head" at the tip
ii. Guide Rod: this is the u-shaped long metal guide with a "cap" attached to the end to keep the main spring in place.

Equipment: 2 mini screw drivers.
Assumption: the main spring is already uninstalled from the original receiver cover.

1. First basics: insert the guide rod into the main rod and extend the guide rod. Insert screw driver A into the main rod "eye" and hold the guide rod in place, extended. This is just an exercise to illustrate what you'll be constantly doing with screw driver A - inserting it into the eye of the main rod, and holding the guide rod in place extended. Now remove the screw driver A.

2. Thread the main spring over the guide rod and main rod.

3. Now insert screw driver A into the spring and through the "eye" to hold the guide rod extended, as explained in step 1.

4. Now with screw driver B, insert it into the spring and through the "eye", near A, and then pull the spring down. Pulling the spring down usually brings the guide rod with it, however, if you position it correctly and shake it a little, the guide rod will slide back out to the extended position. Only when the guide rod slides back out to the extended position, proceed to step 5.

5. Whilst holding B in place, remove A from the eye and reinsert A as explained in step 3. Now you can see that you've compressed the spring within the main rod area a little. Remove B from the spring.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the spring over the guide rod area can be easily compressed by hand so you can reinstall the cap.

Doing this takes about 15-30 minutes.

[JAPartridge]

LOL, I just did this exercise in pain and frustration a couple weeks back... I came up with the exact same solution!  Don't know how many times I tried by hand, and had the spring slip!  My fingertips were raw by the time I had my eureka moment with the screw drivers!  Should have posted it then, but got busy with the next item on the list!


+1 to you for taking the time to put it on record!

[superlative]

Yep - exactly the same thing that happened with me.  My finger tips are sore as I write this.  It was such a Eureka moment that I had to immediately post the solution.  I googled this and this method was not written down anywhere else that I could find, so hopefully this will be a permanent record on the net.

[Victor Zulu 58]

Thanks!
I used dental picks instead of screwdrivers to "milk the mainspring".  Worked like a charm.

[felix]

HMmm...Makes one wonder how the Czech armory boys accomplish this  or does it take American redneck ingenuity to come with a unique way of getting it accomplished  ?

[JAPartridge]

HMmm...Makes one wonder how the Czech armory boys accomplish this  or does it take American redneck ingenuity to come with a unique way of getting it accomplished  ?

either way, at least now it's recorded so the next poor guy doesn't end up with raw fingers!     If the Czech boys had a way to do it... I wish they would let us know!  LOL

[Victor Zulu 58]

It would be nice to see tips like these pinned, and maybe a list of differences between manufacturers too.

[ObiWanBonJovi]

I poke the guide rodout the side of the uncompressed spring, hook on the retainer, then thread the spring all the way on.  Very easy to do.

[JAPartridge]

I poke the guide rodout the side of the uncompressed spring, hook on the retainer, then thread the spring all the way on.  Very easy to do.

ObiWan, and where were you a couple months ago?  LOL   

[RogerCZ75Bfan]

This should be a STICKY!

[cciman]

I poke the guide rodout the side of the uncompressed spring, hook on the retainer, then thread the spring all the way on.  Very easy to do.

This I don't get.  How do you thread the rest of the spring onto the guiderod?

The other technique I understand with the 2 screwdrivers or punches-- that is probably why there are ridges built into the underside of the receiver.

[RSR]

See this thread: http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=49943.0

[Bizio]

Good afternoon all.

Thank you for this thread.
I had same problem today after I disassembled the recoil system just to replace ipthe main spring. 
I found a quick and dirty solution to assemble the main spring again.
I used a small size long nylon paracord to keep the guide rode extended.
The paracord is inserted under the "U" ending part of the guide rod, in the exact point where the main rod is, then the paracord is gone through the whole lenght inside the recoil spring. Once both the ends of the paracord are out from the spring, I used my teeth to keep the paracord tight and the guide rode extended.
Once I could compress all the spring and I could insert the end cup on the guide rode, I removed the paracord from inside the spring with the help of one of those sharp hook tools used by the dentist.
The complete reassembling process it took about 5 minutes.
I hope this helps.
I do apologize for my English but it is not my native language, I'm Italian.

[Laufer]

Who cares how old this is...

OP: thanks for the info.

Bizio: If I can avoid using my teeth ($$ crowns on some of the teeth) I will read again about your technique.
When the new recoil spring arrives, only Then will I understand what you guys are taking about.
* Excellent English, by the way.

 ...Today a buddy noticed very tiny (vertical) cracks in my Czechpoint Sporter's dust cover, which begin from the bottom edges of the dust cover.
3,700 rounds total, since the rifle was NIB (new-in-box).  --------The function is still perfect---------

The new recoil spring will ship soon and this will be my reference. Maybe just the recoil spring will limit further stresses.