I have a 1911 gremlin HELP ME OBIWAN!

ndb86

ndb86

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HEEEEELP!

I got a really good deal on a tanfo 1911. I think I found out why.....
Shot about 50 rounds then starting having hammer follow. I adjusted the leaf spring at the range, but still couldn't fix it.

I then went home and took the hammer, sear, disconnect and spring out and put the hammer sear disconnect from my sti into it. Still has hammer follow.

I took the hammer sear disconnect and spring out of my para and dropped them into the tanfo. Still has hammer follow.

I took the tanfo hammer sear disconnect and spring and dropped it into my sti. Functions flawlessly.

I took the tanfo hammer sear disconnect and spring and dropped it into my para. Functions flawlessly

by this troubleshooting the problem is NOT hammer, sear disconnect and spring related.
That leaves the trigger bow? or is there something else I'm missing? I'm at a loss as to what to try next.

To explain the exact problem. If I rack the slide with no finger in the trigger hammer stays cocked. i pull the trigger. Hammer falls as expected. I hold my finger on the trigger and rack the gun. The hammer does not stay back and follows the slide down.
 
The trigger bow may have been bent, or honed incorrectly. You could potentially try a trigger from one of your other 1911's in the Tanfo. It could also be the alignment of the pivot pin holes for the hammer or safety aren't correctly aligned, could be the safety(ies) too.
 
SuperYeti said:
Sounds like the trigger disconnect is failing, or the trigger bow may have been bent, or honed incorrectly. You could potentially try a trigger from one of your other 1911's in the Tanfo, and or the trigger disconnect. It could also be the alignment of the pivot pin holes for the hammer or safety aren't correctly aligned, could be the safety(ies) too.
Click to expand...

I never thought about swapping triggers. I'll try that too. I don't "think" it's a pin hole misalignment, but I really don't know how to test that. How could it be the safety? I'm not sure how that falls into things? During my testing I reinstalled everything, aside from the grip and thumb safety and had the very same issue as when they were installed.
 
Question?

With the slide locked back, no magazine in the well, push the slide release down and ..... 2 scenarios .....

1. With trigger not pulled back initially, does the hammer follow?

2. With trigger pulled back initially, does the hammer follow?

If the slide follows in scenario #1 it is typically the sear spring pressure (two left tangs, sear and disconnector). Or in a worst case issue someone may have tried to polish the sear and hammer notches themselves .... not a good idea.
The 1911 design is such that if you pull the trigger with the slide racked back and push the slide release down, the hammer will NOT follow (scenario #2). If this happens, my recommendation is to have a gunsmith check it out.

Good luck .....
 
I know when I was having issues with my Norinco that we buffed a bit too much of the sear off, that the hammer would follow when you took off the safety, if you'd messed with the trigger with the safety on. It was probably just tripping the sear, and the safety was preventing it from following until it was deactivated, but if it's out of alignment, since it bisects the sear and disconnect, it could be preventing the sear from fully engaging. For pin hole alignment, there are extended pins you can get that allow you to assemble the hammer and sear on the side of the frame so you can check contact face alignment, this is one of the ways you can check fit-up when doing 1911 trigger jobs.
 
SubVet49 said:
Question?

With the slide locked back, no magazine in the well, push the slide release down and ..... 2 scenarios .....

1. With trigger not pulled back initially, does the hammer follow?

2. With trigger pulled back initially, does the hammer follow?

If the slide follows in scenario #1 it is typically the sear spring pressure (two left tangs, sear and disconnector). Or in a worst case issue someone may have tried to polish the sear and hammer notches themselves .... not a good idea.
The 1911 design is such that if you pull the trigger with the slide racked back and push the slide release down, the hammer will NOT follow (scenario #2). If this happens, my recommendation is to have a gunsmith check it out.

Good luck .....
Click to expand...

1. no
2. yes


I don't want a gunsmith to check it out if possible. I prefer to work on my own guns whenever possible. I like learning. The gun was really really cheap, so it's a perfect gun for me to learn on.
 
SuperYeti said:
I know when I was having issues with my Norinco that we buffed a bit too much of the sear off, that the hammer would follow when you took off the safety, if you'd messed with the trigger with the safety on. It was probably just tripping the sear, and the safety was preventing it from following until it was deactivated, but if it's out of alignment, since it bisects the sear and disconnect, it could be preventing the sear from fully engaging.
Click to expand...

Nope It does it with or without the safety installed, so I can't be safety related. Since it works perfectly in my other guns I'm not sure how it could be the hammer or sear.


SuperYeti said:
For pin hole alignment, there are extended pins you can get that allow you to assemble the hammer and sear on the side of the frame so you can check contact face alignment, this is one of the ways you can check fit-up when doing 1911 trigger jobs.
Click to expand...

I have done that already and they seemed to be aligned properly, but to be honest I'm not certain what I'm looking for.
 
ndb86 said:
Nope It does it with or without the safety installed, so I can't be safety related. Since it works perfectly in my other guns I'm not sure how it could be the hammer or sear.




I have done that already and they seemed to be aligned properly, but to be honest I'm not certain what I'm looking for.
Click to expand...

I'd try swapping triggers if they'll fit.
 
Check the clearance between the frame and the leaf spring. If the spring is binding against the frame, you will get hammer follow regardless of tension. If you relive/taper the ends of the spring it may solve the problem. (Also., as was stated above, check the trigger to ensure it moves freely.)

The condition you describe is similar to one I had with a 2011. Stoning the ends of the spring (and the frame in my case) was the solution.

Good luck.
 
Last edited:
ndb86 said:
I'll try swapping ONLY the springs and see what happens. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Changing springs between guns won't solve the problem if the spring channel on the Tanfo frame is too narrow. You have to assemble the gun without the grip safety in place and look for interference/rubbing between the sear "finger" of the spring and the frame. If it hangs up at all you will get hammer follow.

1911 trigger/sear springs are dimensionally similar between different manufacturers. It may be that your Tanfo frame is out of spec. Changing out springs may (likely) result in exactly the same problem.
 
1riot1ranger said:
1911 trigger/sear springs are dimensionally similar between different manufacturers. It may be that your Tanfo frame is out of spec. Changing out springs may (likely) result in exactly the same problem.
Click to expand...

indeed it did! Now to get the spring to fit properly to solve the problem. Thanks guys! I'm getting to the root of it slowly, but surely.
 
Fitted the spring better so it's no longer binding. In dry fire it seems to work. I'll head out to the range tomorrow to find out for sure! Thanks guys I never would have thought of that.
 
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