REPLACING A HAMMER SPRING 

Discussion: 
From Joel Blatt   joelblatt@aol.com 

Replacing the hammer spring is relatively easy if you have three hands. If you don't, make up a dummy pin with beveled ends as long as the hammer is wide - a piece of a Lyman brass punch works (0.186" diameter x 0.362" long). You will need this pin to hold the spring captive in the hammer when assembling. First take the grip off but do not take the barrel off. Put tape over both sides of the small pin below the hammer pin. The sear pivots on this small pin - you don't want this pin to slip out. Look carefully at how the hammer and spring are assembled. Using a brass punch and a bench block, push out the hammer pin and remove the hammer and old spring. If the spring is broken, be sure you get all the broken pieces out of the action. It is easy to see the difference between a good and a bad hammer spring - a good spring's legs are offset but parellel, a bad one will have the legs at an angle. Assemble the hammer and new spring with the dummy pin. Insert the hammer in the frame being sure to get the tail of the hammer inside the slot on the frame and the tail of the spring in the frame next to the set screw that locks the trigger guard screw. Turn the safety switch to either rimfire or centerfire. Start the hammer pin into the frame, and turn the frame over and hold it so that the hammer pin is pressed against the bench block. While pressing down on the frame putting pressure on the hammer pin, use a brass punch or screwdriver to line up the dummy pin in the hammer-spring assembly with the frame hole, then push the frame down on the hammer pin to push out the dummy pin.

Disclaimer:  I am not responsible for the use or misuse of this
information.  I probably didn't even write this. These opinions are my own and are not the opinions of my employer.  He wouldn't write it either.