Hi,

Would you please explain further, as I am having difficulty visualizing what you are doing?

thanks!

Sieger

I'll try to describe:

Gun frame upside down on table. The already inserted, but not hooked up, spring assy has a small screwdriver inserted through the hole of the spring guide rod. I hooked two fingers of my right (strong) hand on each side of the screwdriver and bore downward. Takes quite a bit of force, and the frame wants to scoot away if you don't balance the force correctly. Once the spring is compressed, I inserted a spacer - in my case it was a bit from another screwdriver - between the end of the guide rod (with the hole that the little screwdriver is through) and the bottom end of the gun frame - which in this case is on top because its upside down.

That holds the hook of the guide rod in far enough to hook the recoil lever onto it, then you can remove the spacer, allowing the spring assy back to its rest position.

Clear as mud?

This step took the place of Thor's under the bench maneuver as that wasn't an option for me at the time. Thor's method is probably better as the recoil lever has gravity working with it, instead of against it as in my method.

All the usual safety caveats apply!

Also on a P-38 handgun with it's 2 recoil springs.

I wish I'd thought of that when I ordered my Wolff/Nambu spring 'kit'...My P-38 is a VoPo refurb, but a new set of springs wouldn't have hurt... :(

I have "A" P.38 recoil spring, NOS. Anyone can have it for the postage!

I guess I got lucky. I was ready for such a struggle when changing my Luger spring. Ready to make tools and stuff. I used a punch and it hooked on first try. I will probably not be able to do that again. It was just too easy.
Gun is hundreds of rounds since now and cycling great.

Yea, it really wasn't that bad - and I was prepared for a real thrash! Maybe even a broken nail or two...