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January 18, 2015
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Newb of newbs here....
I am brand new to dan wessons. And I got a Dan Wesson handed down to me. Its a beautiful Dan Wesson 15-2 that has a 2" Barrel and the hogue rubber grips.
Now before you start berating me over the grips that what I have a question over.
The grips them self wiggle and seem loose. When I go to tighten the grip screw the hammer
will not lock back. Through some research I discovered that my grip screw starts to tighten my Mainspring.
When I take off the handle the mainspring falls out and please forgive me as I don't know what its called.
The thing that pushes against the hammer and the mainspring sits around it. I saw a schematic and noticed also that
I do not have a a mainspring seat. Is this comment with then hogue grips? If I get a new set of wooden grips am i in trouble because I do not have the mainspring seat?
Thank you for help!
Newb of Newbs
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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My guess is that your mainspring seat is backing out with the grip screw. Can you remove the grip screw from the grip, or does it seem "trapped" in the grip?
And pictures always help to diagnose a problem.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
January 18, 2015
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Thank you for the quick reply.
The screw does feel trapped and does not come out of the handle.
Pictures are a good idea. I will see if I can get some in here.
Newb
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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First off, Welcome to the friendly Dan Wesson place on the net!
Sounds like the mainspring seat is coming out with the grip screw. The seat was usually staked in place, but can be secured with some locktite, I prefer the blue. Pics will tell the tale here.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
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January 18, 2015
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I have a potato for a PC so i will have to attach the pictures one at a time. Sorry. Buthere they are!
January 18, 2015
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January 18, 2015
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January 18, 2015
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Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Yes, it looks like the mainspring seat is backing out. You need to try and unscrew it from the grip screw and re install it on the frame, either locktite or peened back in place. You may end up needing to get a new one from DW.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
January 18, 2015
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Ahaaa!!!! I got it out!
I thread-locked it using blue loctite and let it sit for a hour. Then i screwed in the handle again and it backed out.
Am i just tightening the screw to much? Or do i need to let the lock tight sit more.
Thank you again for helping me.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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I'd start again, loctite the mainspring seat and give it a day or so. It is possible that you are over tightening the grip screw, my rule of thumb is that the grip screw is there to keep the grip from sliding off and does not need to be cranked all the way in.
Another possibility is use loctite blue, a more permanent solution. I have never needed to remove a mainspring seat, they are normally peened in place to secure them very firmly. I'm not telling you to use the blue, but I'd at least consider it.
I have only owned one of that particular grip, and I found the supplied grip screw to be a little long.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
October 1, 2012
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Hello,
IMHO-I suggest using loctite red and make sure that the threads of both pieces are totally free of any oil residue. Even a little will prevent it from locking. Install the mainspring seat with about 1- 11/2 threads sticking out. Let it dry for 24hrs. It will never back out again. The rubber grips you have really dont have a solid stop to them. It is very easy to thread in too far and interfer with proper operation. It is common for the rubber grips to be a bit loose. Good luck
February 29, 2012
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Not much to add to what has been previously said here, but if it was me...
I would either stake it back in like the factory does, or clean the oil off threads with alcohol, and apply a dab of red loc-tite to hold it in place. It isn't the kind of thing you want moving around, or will need to remove. If needed, you can remove red loc-tite by applying heat locally to the area, (with a soldering iron/propane torch or whatever) and since it is under the grips it won't ever show.
The previous advice is spot on telling you that you need about 1 and ½ threads sticking out. While not the best picture, you can probably see it screwed in here on the bottom of my 714.
Another thing I will add that has also been previously mentioned is that you don't need to really crank the grip screw/bolt in very tight. I have even shot my 357 without the grip bolt. When I install it, I don't torque it down super tight.
If you (or some previous owner) really over tightened the grip bolt down with a rubber grip, it can crush the bottom area of the grip where the bolt head sits. As you have noticed if you screw the grip screw in too far it interferes with cocking the gun. If the grip bottom is crushed in, it's even easier to thread the grip screw/bolt in too far.
To prevent the screw from being turned in too far, I add a few extra washers to the grip bolt, and I don't over tighten it. I have yet to have a Dan Wesson grip ever fall off while I was shooting.
Everyone's advice will probably get you set up and ready to go again. I predict you will enjoy your Dan Wesson after all this, as well as being a bit more familiar with what makes it tick
- Bullwolf
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