Baneblade
Member
I just purchased a used Kimber Custom II 1911 from a friend and it needs a little work. Overall the gun is in good condition but needs refinishing, plunger tube restaked, and two grip screw bushings are stuck with the grip screws. The refinish and plunger tube shouldn't be a problem, but the screws are.
When I detail stripped the gun two of the grip screws (hex key style) ended up being stuck, one on each grip panel. The bushings readily came out of the frame and are not stripped. I bought this as a "learning" gun and need to figure out how to fix it myself. The grips are nice custom grips that I don't want to destroy so I would like to get the grip screws removed from the bushings. I already ordered new bushings so I am not worried about ruining them.
I tried placing the grip in a padded vice and using taped vice grips to hold the bushing in place without damaging it. I used a hex key and tried to loosen the screw... and ruined the bushing. But it didn't loosen. On the undamaged bushing I tried screwing it back into the frame and tightening it down as far as I was comfortable with and then backing the screw out... no go. Still stuck.
So I am stuck with nice grips that have permanent grip screws and bushings. Worst case senario I ditch the grips and put new ones on with new bushings. However, I would like to keep the grips. So this was the long way of asking, how do I remove grip screws that are stuck in the bushings?
I don't really use other forums, so please don't recommend one unless you include a link for specific instructions.
Thanks for the help.
When I detail stripped the gun two of the grip screws (hex key style) ended up being stuck, one on each grip panel. The bushings readily came out of the frame and are not stripped. I bought this as a "learning" gun and need to figure out how to fix it myself. The grips are nice custom grips that I don't want to destroy so I would like to get the grip screws removed from the bushings. I already ordered new bushings so I am not worried about ruining them.
I tried placing the grip in a padded vice and using taped vice grips to hold the bushing in place without damaging it. I used a hex key and tried to loosen the screw... and ruined the bushing. But it didn't loosen. On the undamaged bushing I tried screwing it back into the frame and tightening it down as far as I was comfortable with and then backing the screw out... no go. Still stuck.
So I am stuck with nice grips that have permanent grip screws and bushings. Worst case senario I ditch the grips and put new ones on with new bushings. However, I would like to keep the grips. So this was the long way of asking, how do I remove grip screws that are stuck in the bushings?
I don't really use other forums, so please don't recommend one unless you include a link for specific instructions.
Thanks for the help.