Alternative to retainer spring?

[kruuth]

Well I've taken my Max 31 upper out and managed to bend the retainer spring. Is there a way to bend it back? If not, I was starting to wonder if there was an alternative, like there is with the shepherds crook metal piece for the inside of the AK receiver. Any ideas? Right now it's sticking up from the receiver and I can't get it back down.

Didn't have this proven with the Max 11. Quite possible the pin was already messed up. It was sitting pretty loose in there before.

 

[Jmacken37]

I would use the EXCELLENT MAC-11.info FCG guide to dissasemble the lower and get an idea of what you're dealing with. Lage Mfg is my go to source for parts.

https://www.mac-11.info/fcg.htm
https://www.max-11.com/M11Parts.php

 

[Slowmo]

Is this the part you need?
Spring

 

[kruuth]

Is this the part you need?
Spring

Yeah that's the one. My concern is getting something that isn't going to bend all to hell. It looks like the front end should sit tightly against the bottom part of the receiver and not stick up

 

[Slowmo]

Yeah that's the one. My concern is getting something that isn't going to bend all to hell. It looks like the front end should sit tightly against the bottom part of the receiver and not stick up

A picture might help explain what you are experiencing, but to my knowledge, this is not a super common problem that would warrant some design alteration. Accordingly, I’d just replace the bent part with a new one or take it out and bend it back to its original shape.

 

[kruuth]

A picture might help explain what you are experiencing, but to my knowledge, this is not a super common problem that would warrant some design alteration. Accordingly, I’d just replace the bent part with a new one or take it out and bend it back to its original shape.

I'm try to snap one a little later. Basically it looks like the front of the spring has been pulled up so that it sticks out at almost a 90 degree angle from the receiver

 

[root]

Sounds like you caught on something swapping or removing uppers.
I had to go look at mine last night.
In the M10 that little piece of spring wire just kinda lays in there holding the selector in its place.
I compared it to Concord's site ( RIP ) and that seems to be all it really does is lay there and hold the selector from falling out in his color coded parts layout.

 

[kruuth]

Sounds like you caught on something swapping or removing uppers.
I had to go look at mine last night.
In the M10 that little piece of spring wire just kinda lays in there holding the selector in its place.
I compared it to Concord's site ( RIP ) and that seems to be all it really does is lay there and hold the selector from falling out in his color coded parts layout.

Yeah. I think that's that issue. Just a lousy design IMO. I'd have thought somebody would have come up with something that at least sat better.

 

[root]

Possibly chuck up the selector in a lathe then put slide a E-clip on it.
Or use a dremmel
Lot of work for system that already seems to work well enough though.

 

[kruuth]

Going to order another spring and try my luck

 

[DINK]

There are two flats on the selector that work with the spring to keep your selector in either the "semi" or "full" position. If you don't have sufficient spring tension, the selector will rotate as you are firing and keep you from reliable full-auto operation. The spring doesn't just retain the selector in the gun like the AK "sheperds's crook" so you do need it. Fortunately they are inexpensive so you can order a spare or two.

 

[Gaujo]

I would use the EXCELLENT MAC-11.info FCG guide to dissasemble the lower and get an idea of what you're dealing with. Lage Mfg is my go to source for parts.

https://www.mac-11.info/fcg.htm
https://www.max-11.com/M11Parts.php

I backed up Concord's site, but we should find a home for those magazine scans soon because it's going to disappear one day.

 

[Jmacken37]

I wonder if we can host them here on UT?

 

[Offmarksman]

I print the assembly and disassembly guides off. Put them in sheet protectors. But having a permanent home for them would be great. It is a great resource, and I hope it can continue for future Mac owners!!!

 

[kruuth]

Yeah they were pretty helpful. Here's what happened to the spring

 

[Jmacken37]

Hmmm...I wonder why that didn't work?

Concorde's site is really helpful. Thanks for those that have saved it for the community!

 

[kruuth]

Hmmm...I wonder why that didn't work?

Concorde's site is really helpful. Thanks for those that have saved it for the community!

Heh yeah. I think the spring that was in there was already shot and barely hanging on. The LAGE one fit a lot more snug in there.