Question regarding spring and guide rod

[mullanman]

I recently bought the 24# spring and guide rod for my XD-9. Do these springs need to be cut, i noticed that the spring is binding near the chamber end. The spring is nearly slipping over the guide rod. It is also chewing up the rod as it has a couple of dings in it. The spring to me seems too wide for the rod itself. Is there a narrower spring?

Should I:

Cut the spring? If so, how much?

Get a new spring?

I got the new spring as the gun was hard chromed from the factory, and since i've had it back it does not go into full battery once in a while. It also tend to have light primer strikes as well.

[Don]

Make sure you have the closed loop end of the spring against the head of the guide rod, or on the chamber end of the rod. If it still wants to slip the closed loop by the edge of the head you could file or sand a flat on the closed loop. This will give a broader load bearing surface on the spring and it will not want to squish out.

Cutting the spring would give you more room in there with the 24# spring as it is tight, but it should be fine without it. Even cutting off 1/2 a coil would give you 0.023" more room. There would be little to gain by cutting more, and you will not change the compressed force much at all (nothing you would be able to feel).

The guide rod will get lots of wear marks. I sometimes think I shouldn't polish any of it but the tip, since it makes us more aware of the scrapes

The heavier spring will help it into battery far better than the factory spring. Not going into battery and light sprimer strikes sounds like the chrome is rough and causing drag. Industrial chrome is hard, and it will be slick once it is smooth, but it is not as smooth as a show chrome would be. It may need some hand work to smooth it out again. You could talk to the shop that did the chroming for suggestions or else ask in the main forum.

Let me know if you keep having spring/rod problems.

[mullanman]

Thanks Don.