Need 1911 Gunsmith: Stripped Bushings

[Marcus99]

Long story short, I thought I needed to replace the bushings on my 1911 with new thin ones because I had some custom thin .125" grips made. I was able to remove two of the bushings, I stripped the head on the other two. I was very careful and used a proper size flathead screwdriver but the bushings were very soft and basically the head just fell apart. The threads on the frame are fine, and I stopped before I started scratching the frame, it's just the bushings that are the problem. I have replacement thin bushing and screws, just need a gunsmith/expert.

Does anyone here have any real experience removing stripped bushings on a 1911? I'm not looking for idea's, I need someone whose dealt with this before and knows exactly how to remove them. I can drive to anyone located anywhere in between the Lakes Region of NH and Boston, MA. I'm cool with someone who isn't a professional gunsmith but has a ton of experience on 1911's. I've already spent a shit ton on the grips so it'd be great if someone is willing to help me out for a 6pack of good beer, but I can pay too.

Thank you very much

 

[bill o]

There's no gunsmith voodoo involved with this task. Take a vice grip or pliers and twist them off. If there's loctite, heat it first.

 

[Marcus99]

There's no gunsmith voodoo involved with this task. Take a vice grip or pliers and twist them off. If there's loctite, heat it first.

Yeah I've tried that and they aren't budging.

 

[meth0d]

http://www.derrprecision.com/

 

[Business End Customs]

I & would think most Smiths use the right driver for grip bushings not a screw driver . Are they staked on?

 

[ivarr]

to get the broken tabbed bushings out just requires a screw extractor.l you can get them at a good hardware store made by vermont american or several other good drill bit makers.

http://www.vermontamerican.com/Products/ProductCategory.htm?CID=4109

http://www.vermontamerican.com/Products/ProductDetail.htm?CID=4111

 

[Marcus99]

to get the broken tabbed bushings out just requires a screw extractor.l you can get them at a good hardware store made by vermont american or several other good drill bit makers.

http://www.vermontamerican.com/Products/ProductCategory.htm?CID=4109

http://www.vermontamerican.com/Products/ProductDetail.htm?CID=4111

Yeah, I read about the EZ-outs and they less professional trick of tapping a slightly oversize torx bit into the bushing and then turning it out. My concern is messing up the frame threads which would only make things worse. So I am going to pay a visit to a local 1911 gunsmith. I figure having this much trouble just changing grips then I should probably get to know the 191 gunsmith because I'm gonna need his help in the future, lol.

 

[45collector]

I & would think most Smiths use the right driver for grip bushings not a screw driver . Are they staked on?

This. Most standard screw drivers are not thick enough to properly engage the slots of a 1911 grip screw bushing.

I don't think I've ever seen the bushings staked on. Is that common with some manufacturers?

 

[Marcus99]

George Spaulding out in Northwood took care of this for me earlier today. Saw my gun and knew exactly how to take care of it. Awesome service, thanks Geroge!

 

[Rob Boudrie]

It's worth the short money to have a smith with the skills and experience to not bugger up the threads do this. There are "oversized threaded" bushings, but you get only one chance to re-tap for these before you have to resort to uglier fixes.

 

[Marcus99]

It's worth the short money to have a smith with the skills and experience to not bugger up the threads do this. There are "oversized threaded" bushings, but you get only one chance to re-tap for these before you have to resort to uglier fixes.

Totally agree. I saw some of the "fixes" people mentioned online, but I didn't want to strip the frame threads or dig a deeper hole for myself. Definitely pays off to have a professional like Mr. Spaulding do it.

P.S. Anyone have a set of stainless thin hex grip screws?