PO8 Problems???

Patton · 02-14-2003, 12:42 PM

I inherited this PO8 from my father-in-law(brought it back from WWII).
First time to the range it fell apart in my hand. Missing locking bolt spring. Parts went everywhere.
Second time this is what it does--
The gun fires,ejects,and loads the second shell perfectly, but pull the trigger for the second shot and --nothing.
I can manually **** the gun,ejecting the unfired second shell and loading the next shell and it will again fire but no repeat shots. Could this be a mainspring problem? I've tried all kinds of 124g ammo-no difference.
I've got a new mec-gar magazine,repo sliding trigger plate(was missing when I got it),and the aforementioned locking bolt spring. All else is original as far as I know.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Edward Tinker · 02-14-2003, 01:17 PM

Patton, I am not sure, although there are some good knowledgable folks on here that WILL know instantly (well pretty darn quick) what is wrong. My first impression is the trigger plate / slide plate, as these cause problems when replaced, they were hand fitted. But that is just a feeling, no experience with it myself. If it fires, ejects and loads, wouldn't it be cocked? Again, no help here.

BTW, do you know the story of this bring back, I find the stories very interesitng and have compiled about 30-odd different stories on all sorts of guns.

Roadkill · 02-14-2003, 02:34 PM

I tend to think its a mainspring problem. Next time out manually load and fire one round without magazine. Then push the toggle down and pay close attention, more feel than see, if the bolt moves forward. If it does then its not cocking for the next round. Since it ejects its more likely a weak mainspring than one that is too strong, but one that is too strong will do that also, but they usually cause a failure to eject and won't chamber and reload. The bolt is at the end of its forward momentum when it picks up the round from the magazine and chambers it, when at its weakest point the spring has the most resistance to overcome. I trimmed too many loops off one and had the same problem. Hugh sent me some replacement springs and I fixed it right up. (He was trying to make up for taking advantage of a new guy - me - on a magazine trade, but that was over a year ago and I've almost forgotten all about it) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> And welcome to the forum.

rk

policeluger · 02-14-2003, 05:19 PM

The problem could also be, in part, in the repo side plate, if that is what you mean by "sliding trigger plate". You can always try a Wolf spring kit, most large gun smiths will carry one, or they are available from Brownell's.......you know when I say "large gun smiths", I mean gun smiths who have a good inventory of supplies, not over weight gun smiths.....can you try a good original Luger mag, and see if that works?

lugerholsterrepair · 02-14-2003, 07:47 PM

Our Esteemed Luger Forum Member Thor is experienced with this problem. I am shipping him a Mauser that has the same condition for him to fix. He tells me it is fairly common and knows what the problem is. He is an expert when it comes to this type of thing so I will trust he can fix mine. Jerry Burney

Lugerdoc · 02-15-2003, 03:20 AM

Patton, Your PO8 problem with a replacement repro side plate, is most likely the trigger lever inside. On most repros these are too long and must be trimmed. Also it may have to be bent (don't attempt to bend an original lever, as it will break before it will bend) to allow it to go all the way back into the cavity inside the side plate after the trigger is released.

policeluger · 02-15-2003, 04:09 PM

Take the entire top off your Luger and re-install the repo side plate, see if your trigger return spring is strong enough too return the lever. Watch how it works, then install the top, but stripped of the toggle unit and see if your lever is interacting correctly with your sear bar, sometimes a little lube and a little cleaning is all it takes. Sometimes it needs a lot more, then you may need too seek out a gunsmith who knows their away around Lugers

Patton · 02-16-2003, 07:09 AM

Wow, Thanks for all the great advice.
It is a repo trigger lever. I got it from you Lugerdoc if your "Hellerarms". I traced the original profile on a piece of paper and then proceeded to bend the lever so it would fit better inside the trigger plate cavity.It seems like a very small margin of engagement for operation of the trigger as I bent it back and forth very small amounts and it would not operate. Ended up close to the original profile.

The gun dry fires perfectly.I can pull the toggle back a small amount,maybe 1/2 inch and you can hear the "click",release the toggle and pull the trigger and the firing pin releases,"click".I don't think I fixed anything though as this is how it functioned before.

I did as you said Policeluger. The spring pushes the lever back correctly.I lubed that area also.

I'm interested in the mainsprings. On the Wolff website they specify the springs are for the "new" lugers. Brownells part # is the same. Are these parts interchangeable?

I'm going back to the range on Monday and I'll check the bolt and position Roadkill. Thanks Guys.

Edward, I don't know too much other than my father-in-law was in the Army infantry and took it off a dead German soldier near Bodin at the end of the war. The holster has what looks like bullet holes in it. I'll ask my mother-in-law and his brother to see if I can get more info.

Lugerdoc · 02-16-2003, 07:47 AM

Patton, I suggest that you remove the trigger lever from the side plate and with a file or dremmel, increase the angle of the bevel on the rear of the top leg to about 45 degrees and smooth it up. Also check the pressure of the spring in the trigger bar, to make sure that the disconnector is not sticking.

policeluger · 02-17-2003, 07:23 AM

Yes, the Wolf spring kit is what you want, be sure and save your original springs.

02-14-2003, 12:42 PM	#1
Patton New User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	PO8 Problems??? I inherited this PO8 from my father-in-law(brought it back from WWII). First time to the range it fell apart in my hand. Missing locking bolt spring. Parts went everywhere. Second time this is what it does-- The gun fires,ejects,and loads the second shell perfectly, but pull the trigger for the second shot and --nothing. I can manually **** the gun,ejecting the unfired second shell and loading the next shell and it will again fire but no repeat shots. Could this be a mainspring problem? I've tried all kinds of 124g ammo-no difference. I've got a new mec-gar magazine,repo sliding trigger plate(was missing when I got it),and the aforementioned locking bolt spring. All else is original as far as I know. Any advice would be appreciated.

02-14-2003, 01:17 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,915 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,506 Times in 2,080 Posts	Patton, I am not sure, although there are some good knowledgable folks on here that WILL know instantly (well pretty darn quick) what is wrong. My first impression is the trigger plate / slide plate, as these cause problems when replaced, they were hand fitted. But that is just a feeling, no experience with it myself. If it fires, ejects and loads, wouldn't it be cocked? Again, no help here. BTW, do you know the story of this bring back, I find the stories very interesitng and have compiled about 30-odd different stories on all sorts of guns. __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

02-14-2003, 07:47 PM	#5
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,761 Thanks: 4,863 Thanked 3,101 Times in 1,427 Posts	Our Esteemed Luger Forum Member Thor is experienced with this problem. I am shipping him a Mauser that has the same condition for him to fix. He tells me it is fairly common and knows what the problem is. He is an expert when it comes to this type of thing so I will trust he can fix mine. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

02-15-2003, 03:20 AM	#6
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Patton, Your PO8 problem with a replacement repro side plate, is most likely the trigger lever inside. On most repros these are too long and must be trimmed. Also it may have to be bent (don't attempt to bend an original lever, as it will break before it will bend) to allow it to go all the way back into the cavity inside the side plate after the trigger is released. __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

02-16-2003, 07:47 AM	#9
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Patton, I suggest that you remove the trigger lever from the side plate and with a file or dremmel, increase the angle of the bevel on the rear of the top leg to about 45 degrees and smooth it up. Also check the pressure of the spring in the trigger bar, to make sure that the disconnector is not sticking. __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

02-14-2003, 02:34 PM	#3
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	I tend to think its a mainspring problem. Next time out manually load and fire one round without magazine. Then push the toggle down and pay close attention, more feel than see, if the bolt moves forward. If it does then its not cocking for the next round. Since it ejects its more likely a weak mainspring than one that is too strong, but one that is too strong will do that also, but they usually cause a failure to eject and won't chamber and reload. The bolt is at the end of its forward momentum when it picks up the round from the magazine and chambers it, when at its weakest point the spring has the most resistance to overcome. I trimmed too many loops off one and had the same problem. Hugh sent me some replacement springs and I fixed it right up. (He was trying to make up for taking advantage of a new guy - me - on a magazine trade, but that was over a year ago and I've almost forgotten all about it) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> And welcome to the forum. rk

02-14-2003, 05:19 PM	#4
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	The problem could also be, in part, in the repo side plate, if that is what you mean by "sliding trigger plate". You can always try a Wolf spring kit, most large gun smiths will carry one, or they are available from Brownell's.......you know when I say "large gun smiths", I mean gun smiths who have a good inventory of supplies, not over weight gun smiths.....can you try a good original Luger mag, and see if that works?

02-15-2003, 04:09 PM	#7
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	Take the entire top off your Luger and re-install the repo side plate, see if your trigger return spring is strong enough too return the lever. Watch how it works, then install the top, but stripped of the toggle unit and see if your lever is interacting correctly with your sear bar, sometimes a little lube and a little cleaning is all it takes. Sometimes it needs a lot more, then you may need too seek out a gunsmith who knows their away around Lugers

02-16-2003, 07:09 AM	#8
Patton New User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wow, Thanks for all the great advice. It is a repo trigger lever. I got it from you Lugerdoc if your "Hellerarms". I traced the original profile on a piece of paper and then proceeded to bend the lever so it would fit better inside the trigger plate cavity.It seems like a very small margin of engagement for operation of the trigger as I bent it back and forth very small amounts and it would not operate. Ended up close to the original profile. The gun dry fires perfectly.I can pull the toggle back a small amount,maybe 1/2 inch and you can hear the "click",release the toggle and pull the trigger and the firing pin releases,"click".I don't think I fixed anything though as this is how it functioned before. I did as you said Policeluger. The spring pushes the lever back correctly.I lubed that area also. I'm interested in the mainsprings. On the Wolff website they specify the springs are for the "new" lugers. Brownells part # is the same. Are these parts interchangeable? I'm going back to the range on Monday and I'll check the bolt and position Roadkill. Thanks Guys. Edward, I don't know too much other than my father-in-law was in the Army infantry and took it off a dead German soldier near Bodin at the end of the war. The holster has what looks like bullet holes in it. I'll ask my mother-in-law and his brother to see if I can get more info.

02-17-2003, 07:23 AM	#10
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	Yes, the Wolf spring kit is what you want, be sure and save your original springs.