S Link noise
 

I had field stripped and cleaned a p08 1918 erfurt ( recently purchased and 1st owned ) and was planning on going to the range this week. I thought I followed all instructions carefully. However, last night just by chance I noticed that if I turned the gun upside down or shook it up and down that I could hear a loose part rattling around. I assume it is the S-link moving around.
Is this normal to have that movement?

Appreciate any help

No, it iis not normal. Engaging the s-link onto the mainspring transfer lever is tricky and new Luger owners frequently are not able to do this on the first try. Even though you followed the instructions carefully, there is a good chance you missed...give it another try and good luck!:)

Ron
Thanks..........I am stripping it now to check

Herr MCNJ..If the link is not engaged with the mainspring hook the whole toggle will be loose.

Jerry Burney

Without the S-hook engaged, the only pressure to close the toggle is the firing pin spring... not enough to load cartridges from the magazine or to safely fire anything you managed to chamber... The upper assembly would also be loose and be able to slip forward and backward about half an inch with little or no resistance.

GOSH that Jerry is fast on the keyboard!

Ron
I went through the motions, but can't see exactly what was wrong. The s link was dropped forward of the recoil.
It is all tight now and operates.

The only thing I noticed ( and I watched the video 3 times ) was that before putting the side plate on.....when I put the mag in and pulled the action up, the top end slid on the frame. I finally pushed it as far back as it could go and it "seemed to lock it". I was then able to install the side plate and it seems fine.

Does that final push back of the top end on the frame lock the s-link?? And if I did not do that the 1st time, could that have caused it??

Any ideas ?? Am I noticing some wear??

Thanks John and Jerry.........I did not see your reply when I responded.

Herr MCNJ..When reassembling the pistol, I put the muzzle on a flat surface, graspthe pistol and push down on the muzzle. This pushes the top cannon back and allows the proper installation of the sideplate and locking lever. Once these are in place the top cannon will be pushed forward and in it's proper place by the tension of the mainspring as you release the muzzle from the table.

Jerry Burney

After installation, I tend to work the action by hand some 2 or 3 times, just to make sure the hook connects properly. That usually does the trick.

jerry
So pushing fully back on the cannon activates a locking mech?

I am trying to understand what I may have done wrong.

So if I did not fully push it back, but managed to get the side plate on the 1st time...........could that stay unlocked and have given me the s-link rattling like I had?

Thanks

Really appreciate everyones help! Jerry, John, Vim and Ron

One last question...............Semi related..
While I just had this apart I noticed one additional marking. All the component parts including the grips match the ser#. However, I just noticed that under the sideplate , on the frame, there is a 12 stamped on a curved machined surface. This is not the last two digits of the frame itself.

Thoughts??

The 12 is just an inspector's mark and has no relation to the serial number of the gun.

Thanks all................Everyone is very helpful!

Herr MCNJ So pushing fully back on the cannon activates a locking mech?

No..When you put the top cannon onto the pistol and slide it towards the back you can observe the toggle connecting link slip UNDER the hook of the main spring. Sliding back the cannon and pushing on the muzzle firmly connects these two under tension. If they are NOT connected you should know immediately as the toggle will be loose and often will break upwards as there is no link to the mainspring to prevent it.
You can disassemble the pistol and reassemble it without pushing the top cannon back. I just tried it. It's more difficult to do however.

Jerry Burney

Jerry.....Thanks for trying to recreate it. I assume that is what happened the 1st time I assembled it and the link rattled around.

I will get to the range this week and try it out ( 1st time) Hopefully, I will not have any problems.

Mike