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Trigger Guard Latch

 

Assembly of a brand-new (never assembled) trigger guard can be difficult.  The spring requires a great deal of tension and the parts don't provide a good footing to hold the parts in place.  To say that the installation is frustrating would be an understatement! 

I have developed a method that works with a relatively minimal amount of effort.  Total installation time is around 30 minutes.

 

WARNING:  WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHEN INSTALLING THE SPRING!!!

The spring is under a great deal of tension and if it slips off, it could cause a serious eye injury! 

If it slips and doesn't hit your eye, it will probably be difficult to find.  I recommend draping a towel or barrier in the direction the spring could fly "just in case".

WARNING: Patience is required for this particular task!  You may not get it on the first attempt :)

Tools Requiried:

  • A punch about 1/8" in size
  • A larger punch about 3/16" in size, as close to the size of the pin hole as possible
  • Hammer (small hammer is fine)
  • Blade screwdriver
  • Vise Grips whose jaws are no wider than the width of the latch
  • Vise (or 2nd set of large Vise Grips, or even C-Clamps)
  • A small piece of round bar approximately 3/16" diameter
  • 2 pieces of flat or square bar approximately 3/8" - 1/2" tall
  • A small shim of wood or steel bar

 

The components.  Before you begin, note that the rivet (or cross pin, if you prefer) will normally have one side with a raised edge.  The other side *should* be smooth and have no lip.  It is important to identify the smooth side due to the close tolerances between the pin and the latch.  The smooth side is the side that will be pressed in first.

   

 

 

Trim the round bar to the width of the latch.  Orient the spring in the latch and squeeze in the vise (or the large vise grips) so that the latch and spring are captured on the pin.  I used part of an old dremel cut-off bit that was missing its screw:

   

Use the screwdriver to pry up the side of the spring that will press back against the trigger guard.  This will load the front arm against the latch:

   

Use the vise grips to capture the spring arm and squeeze it down.  You'll probably have to attempt this several times in order to get the proper tension adjustment on the vise grips:

   

Remove the now-secured latch and spring and set aside.  Be careful not to jar it!  If the vise grip slips off, the spring could fly away.

 

Take the steel bars to squeeze the front and rear of the trigger guard's latch area in the vise.  Locate the trigger guard out far enough from the vise to give you room to work.  Use the shim to secure the back side of the bars to keep the pieces from moving.  C-Clamps could also be used for this.  The goal is to secure the trigger guard from moving very little, if any.  I used parallels from my milling machine:

   

Locate the latch into its ready position:

       

This next step may require an assistant.  I was able to gingerly place the vise grips on the parallels and support it with a piece of wood.  The goal is to keep the latch lined up with the holes.  Precise alignment isn't necessary, but the holes need to line up.

When the holes are aligned, situate the punch so that you can drive it through all holes like this:

   

Secure your blanket or "spring barrier" in case the spring flies out. 

Take the hammer and sharply tap the punch.  The momentum will drive out the round bar.  If all went well, the action was fast enough that inertia held the latch and spring in place.  I did this on my first try. 

If it doesn't go well, the spring may slip from the vise grips and fly out.   If so, try, try again! 

At this point, the punch is now holding the spring and latch in the same spot that the pin was. 

   

Ensure the punch is far enough in that the spring is captured.  If not, wiggle it in until the spring is secure.  When it is, remove the vise grips.

   

Next, you will install the rivet.

 

Orient the work so that the tip of the punch is sticking out. 

   

Identify the smooth side of the rivet.  This smooth side will be inserted first.

   

The latch will tend to push away from the trigger guard hole due to the force of the spring.  Gently fasten the vise grips so that the latch is secured against the steel bar.  This will isolate the latch from moving on its own:

   

Gently wiggle the punch downward to make some room for the rivet pin.  Not too much!  Just enough so that the two holes can be seen:

   

Now gently hammer the rivet into place using the small punch.  You may have to strike it sharply to get the rivet started in the holes:

   

When the raised edge of the rivet is installed to this point, the pin is through both sides of the latch and the punch can be removed.  The vise grip will keep the latch in place.

Although the vise grips are holding the latch, the spring has enough force that it will still push away.  Use the punch to pry the holes into position while sharply, but gently, tapping the rivet in further.

   

When the rivet is tapped through all the holes, the raised edge will be driven inside the holes:

   

Complete.  Peen the ends of the rivet with a center punch and either a larger punch, C-Clamp, ball bearing, or any other way you can to peen the edge.