P89 slide won't come off

[JLawson]

Yesterday I bought a used P89... no external wear or damage of any kind. After reading the manual I attempted to field strip the pistol for a good cleaning. The problem is that the slide won't come off of the frame. I've re-read the instructions and tried several times with no luck. It's not the ejector because I'm rotating that forward and down until it locks in place. I noticed that with the slide locked back you can grasp the guide rod and slide it back and forth a 1/4" or so. Also, with the slide in battery, sometimes the guide rod extends beyond the muzzle by about the same distance and you can just push it in.

Does this mean the guide rod is broken? I've never had a guide rod break so I'm not sure what the symptoms are. What else might be wrong? Any suggestions on how to get the slide off?

 

[Pinecone]

JLawson, Welcome to the forum. Is the hammer in the fired position and have you been able to push the slide latch all the way out to the left to allow the slide to move off the frame? If so, then the guide rod/recoil spring unit is somehow hanging the slide up. You may have to shake the gun around to get the slide off. If you can't get the slide latch all the way out to the left, (not totally removed) then you need to work on that problem "first"!.....................Dick :wink:

 

[JLawson]

Yes, Pinecone, the safety is engaged, the hammer fully forward, and the slide latch pulled to the left until it clicks in place. What do you make of the "floating" guide rod as described above? That doesn't seem normal.

 

[Pinecone]

Evidently, there is definitely something amiss with the guide rod assembly. As I mentioned above, try to manipulate the guiderod assembly with a dental pick or similiar object while "shaking" the pistol. Put the safety in the off-safe position. If possible, try to move the slide back and forth as you do this. It may sound like a three handed job but it can be done. These kinds of problems require a lot of patience. If all else fails, take it to a local competent gunsmith. By all means, "DO NOT" force anything!.................Dick :wink:

 

[JLawson]

Success !!

Pinecone, thanks for your help. I posted the same cry for help on the DownrangeTV forum and a helpful soul posted the link to a YouTube video showing the field stripping of a P89. During the video, the presenter had the same problem with the slide not removing freely as it should... and he just pushed "a little harder." During his re-assembly, he stated that the recoil spring can be installed with either end toward the guide rod collar. That advice, however, contradicts the instruction manual that states the smaller diameter end should be installed closest to the collar.

I decided to try gentle tapping with a rubber-tipped hammer and off she came! Guess what I found... the recoil spring was installed backwards. My theory is that the larger diameter end of the recoil spring was actually slipping over the collar and binding in the frame's guide rod channel. This also explains the "floating" guide rod because once the collar slips into the body of the spring there is nothing to prevent it's movement forward.

Long story short - I think the problem was an incorrectly installed recoil spring. With the spring installed correctly, the slide goes on and off just like it's supposed to.

Thanks again.

 

[roylt]

I have found about 30% of the springs on the gun I have bought used are on wrong and cause issues. Glad you got it fixed. The 89 was my first Ruger and it got me hooked. I now have too many if you ask my wife.

Post a pic if you get time. Gun porn is good and I can see it at work!

 

[Pinecone]

JLawson, Glad you got it straightened out. Again, welcome aboard the forum. There are a lot of good, knowledgeable people on this forum whether it be on the fixin' end or collectin' end. Enjoy your new piece!......................Dick :wink: