P08 Trigger Problem

Lugerdoc · 03-08-2012, 09:32 AM

Walt, If your luger is a mismatch shooter, probably the easiest fix would be either a different FP or sear with less overlap between them. It's also possible that some judicious bending of the side plate arm could improve things. Finally, if all else fails, replacement of the trigger lever in the side plate or heating & bending, so that the disconnecting pluger in the trigger bar can push it more easily out of the way to recock, would be the last resort. TH

wisgro123 · 03-08-2012, 10:41 AM

Thanks again for the advice. I'll clean it up first and see what I can do.

ithacaartist · 03-08-2012, 11:02 AM

I'll throw in with Tom Heller's suggestions/observations here. Here's another thing to check, to see if the side plate is held rigid by the takedown lever: Unloaded gun, of course, hold your finger on the juncture line of the frame and the rear edge of the sideplate, where its lip tucks under the frame. Flex the trigger and you will be able to detect any rocking/movement displayed by the sideplate when the trigger is pulled; you'd be feeling the sideplate's movement relative to the frame. As Tom mentioned, it's possible to tighten this up by careful bending of the sideplate's arm, which is what is clamped firmly by rotating the takedown lever over it. I recommend you spend the best $7.95 ever, for a copy of Gerard Henrotin's e-book Luger Function at http://www.hlebooks.com/ . If you read the pertinent chapter, you'll understand the parts and functioning of the trigger system, which would be good. It might help to check that the trigger spring, behind the trigger, is robust and functional and not wimped out by age and use, to be sure that the trigger itself is returning to proper position and not causing the bar in the sideplate to return to where it should.

I'm thinking the sideplate may be loose enough that its bar can't consistently escape its interaction with the sear's plunger, and might still hang up on the plunger's tip even though the trigger is released. If it were hanging up this way, flexing the trigger would only cause the tip of the bar to scrub across the face of the plunger's tip, not letting it pop out, so that the bar would be unable to press the plunger's side, as needed to rock the sear and release the fp. Jiggling it back to its full rest position--or at least the point where the lever's end allows the plunger to pop out again--may be what is accomplished by the repeated trigger pulls. The mechanical system may have right been on the edge of proper function all along, then pushed erratically across that line by use and continuing development of play within the system.

Ultimately, there can be no "mysteries" within a mechanical system. Its operation is all according to the laws of physics and mechanical interaction. If the mechanics are complicated, as are those within our beloved Lugers, this increases the number of variables geometrically because of the exponential growth of the number of different combinations of parts' interactions involved. Be patient... we'll get you through this if we can..and Lugerdoc is the ultimate backup resource!

David Parker

wisgro123 · 03-08-2012, 01:26 PM

Thank you for the excellent advice.

03-08-2012, 09:32 AM	#1
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	Walt, If your luger is a mismatch shooter, probably the easiest fix would be either a different FP or sear with less overlap between them. It's also possible that some judicious bending of the side plate arm could improve things. Finally, if all else fails, replacement of the trigger lever in the side plate or heating & bending, so that the disconnecting pluger in the trigger bar can push it more easily out of the way to recock, would be the last resort. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

03-08-2012, 10:41 AM	#2
wisgro123 User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 24 Thanks: 16 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks again for the advice. I'll clean it up first and see what I can do.

03-08-2012, 11:02 AM	#3
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,374 Thanks: 7,447 Thanked 2,613 Times in 1,380 Posts	I'll throw in with Tom Heller's suggestions/observations here. Here's another thing to check, to see if the side plate is held rigid by the takedown lever: Unloaded gun, of course, hold your finger on the juncture line of the frame and the rear edge of the sideplate, where its lip tucks under the frame. Flex the trigger and you will be able to detect any rocking/movement displayed by the sideplate when the trigger is pulled; you'd be feeling the sideplate's movement relative to the frame. As Tom mentioned, it's possible to tighten this up by careful bending of the sideplate's arm, which is what is clamped firmly by rotating the takedown lever over it. I recommend you spend the best $7.95 ever, for a copy of Gerard Henrotin's e-book Luger Function at http://www.hlebooks.com/ . If you read the pertinent chapter, you'll understand the parts and functioning of the trigger system, which would be good. It might help to check that the trigger spring, behind the trigger, is robust and functional and not wimped out by age and use, to be sure that the trigger itself is returning to proper position and not causing the bar in the sideplate to return to where it should. I'm thinking the sideplate may be loose enough that its bar can't consistently escape its interaction with the sear's plunger, and might still hang up on the plunger's tip even though the trigger is released. If it were hanging up this way, flexing the trigger would only cause the tip of the bar to scrub across the face of the plunger's tip, not letting it pop out, so that the bar would be unable to press the plunger's side, as needed to rock the sear and release the fp. Jiggling it back to its full rest position--or at least the point where the lever's end allows the plunger to pop out again--may be what is accomplished by the repeated trigger pulls. The mechanical system may have right been on the edge of proper function all along, then pushed erratically across that line by use and continuing development of play within the system. Ultimately, there can be no "mysteries" within a mechanical system. Its operation is all according to the laws of physics and mechanical interaction. If the mechanics are complicated, as are those within our beloved Lugers, this increases the number of variables geometrically because of the exponential growth of the number of different combinations of parts' interactions involved. Be patient... we'll get you through this if we can..and Lugerdoc is the ultimate backup resource! David Parker

03-08-2012, 01:26 PM	#4
wisgro123 User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 24 Thanks: 16 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you for the excellent advice.