Mark III Recoil Spring Assembly Problem

[gordon999]

Just want to put this out there in case someone runs into same problem. A very long story (several hours of disassembly, testing & reassembly) I will cut short. Brand new Mark III Competition model – 1st time apart. On reassembly, mainspring housing lug would not completely install. Tried everything. Just about ready to throw in the towel when I came upon problem. With bolt in slide and these 2 parts up side down, I noticed that the lug would not pass the clip (butt end) of the RS assembly. Normally, the RS spring & rod would compress slightly to allow lug to pass. I tried to put a small screwdriver between the lug and clip, to find the two were together so tightly the lug couldn’t pass. The problem? On the opposite (muzzle) end of the assembly (past the half-moon clip that inserts into the bolt) the rod is stamped. I noticed this stamping was about 1/8th of an inch – more than needed to hold the assembly together. After grinding it down (approx. to 1/16nd of an inch?) I reassembled bolt & barrel to frame & the lug installed with absolutely no problem.