Please help! CQ-A1 ambi safety selector stuck

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Adam F85

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Ok, so I'm definitely a bit green when it comes to AR's but this has got me so stumped and frustrated for something so simple. I was upgrading to some magpul parts for my Norc CQ-A1 and as I was replacing the grip the safety selector retent pin fell out. I put it back in place and ensured the spring in the grip lined up before I tightened the new grip to the lower. Now, the safety will not switch back and forth from safe to semi and I have retried the whole process over a dozen times with the same result every time! I even took the safety apart and reinstalled it making sure the retent pin was lining up properly inside the safety. does anyone know how I can fix this? I've watched a bunch of videos on YouTube but I can't get it right. I replaced the grip on my SW MP15-22 with not issues at all, but am I missing something so simple or is something wrong? I could leave it in semi but I would be much more comfortable with a functioning safety.

Any constructive advice is much appreciated

TIA
 
Are you using something like the MOE grip with the extra curved lip at the back of the grip?
If so it is most likely the curve bit forcing it out of alignment once you tighten the grip screw.
If it is forced into misalignment, the pin cannot go in and will stop you from switching the safety.
If you still want to use the same grip, you might have to shape the curve bit slightly till it fits.
Hope that helps.
 
Have you tried reinstalling the stock grip to see if the problem remains?

:agree: with norlandgeese, to check alignment, remove the safety, detent and spring, install the grip without screw. Use a small hex key or toothpick and insert into the detent spring hole in the receiver to ensure it and the spring hole in the grip are aligned.
 
It was the MOE + grip I was attempting to install.

I have not yet tried the original A2 grip again but will definitely do that. If it is just the grip I think I will take a bit off of the curved part and see if it helps, if not I'll stick to stock. It's just so damn comfortable andxlooks better IMO.

I also tried to put the polymer enhanced trigger guard in and the holes aren't lining up. May have to file that down too
 
Try to loosen the screw just a touch and see if that makes a difference. It seemed to work for me when I had that problem. I'm not a gun plumber and I don't have much experience with working on ARs yet, but that seemed to be solution when I changed out the grip on my Norc
 
the spring might be to long. loosen the grip and pull it back but keep the spring in its place and see if it works. i have had grips were the hole for the spring wasent deep enough and when you screwed it in there was too much tension for the selector to move.
 
Silly question but... Did you charge the AR first before trying to engage the safety ie pull the charging handle back to pull back the BCG and #### the hammer?
 
Adam F85 said:
It was the MOE + grip I was attempting to install.

I have not yet tried the original A2 grip again but will definitely do that. If it is just the grip I think I will take a bit off of the curved part and see if it helps, if not I'll stick to stock. It's just so damn comfortable andxlooks better IMO.

I also tried to put the polymer enhanced trigger guard in and the holes aren't lining up. May have to file that down too
Click to expand...

I am most positive the A2 will work, and almost certain the following will be the case, try it to validate my theory:
(1) Put the MOE on, line it up like you have done before BUT do not tighten it completely, i.e. leave a slight gap. Try different degree of "looseness" if needed.
(2) The safety should work.
(3) Tighten it completely, it will stop working.
 
norlandgeese said:
I am most positive the A2 will work, and almost certain the following will be the case, try it to validate my theory:
(1) Put the MOE on, line it up like you have done before BUT do not tighten it completely, i.e. leave a slight gap. Try different degree of "looseness" if needed.
(2) The safety should work.
(3) Tighten it completely, it will stop working.
Click to expand...

I tried loosening it up a bit and did leave a slight gap. It seems like it want to engage but still won't switch over to safe.

Does it matter which way the safety is sitting when you put the detent pin in? I don't believe the pin is upside down (pointed end in the receiver first)
 
I just put the A2 grip back on and it works but it will only go into safe when the hammer is cocked. It switches to and from safe and semi when charged but will only remain in semi when it is not cocked.
 
Adam F85 said:
I tried loosening it up a bit and did leave a slight gap. It seems like it want to engage but still won't switch over to safe.

Does it matter which way the safety is sitting when you put the detent pin in? I don't believe the pin is upside down (pointed end in the receiver first)
Click to expand...

Adam F85 said:
I just put the A2 grip back on and it works but it will only go into safe when the hammer is cocked. It switches to and from safe and semi when charged but will only remain in semi when it is not cocked.
Click to expand...

Like the guy said, the A2 behaviour you described is normal. But question is, is the MOE behaviour different? from your description it sounds like the MOE behaviour is still what I guessed. Sounds like even with a slight gap the MOA grip is still misaligned for you, which is possible.
 
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Whiskey Gulf said:
Try to loosen the screw just a touch and see if that makes a difference. It seemed to work for me when I had that problem. I'm not a gun plumber and I don't have much experience with working on ARs yet, but that seemed to be solution when I changed out the grip on my Norc
Click to expand...

THIS is what happened to me when I put the PINK Calvary Arms furniture on my wife's Norinco M4. I guess the factory screw seats deeper when using the Cav Arms grip... I added a couple washers, ground to size onto the bolt inside the grip & poof, problem fixed!

Cheers
Jay
 
Jay said:
THIS is what happened to me when I put the PINK Calvary Arms furniture on my wife's Norinco M4. I guess the factory screw seats deeper when using the Cav Arms grip... I added a couple washers, ground to size onto the bolt inside the grip & poof, problem fixed!

Cheers
Jay
Click to expand...

Very old thread I know...but I just wanted to update that the washer does fix this. I just added a MOE grip to my Norc and experienced the same safety seize up. Found this thread and added 1 washer under the original Norc bolt...no need to grind the washer in the larger interior of the MOE grip...and the safety functions perfectly again. Thanks!
 
The reason why your safety seized up is because when using the stock norinco grip screw it seats it's self too deep and is touching the rear portion of the trigger. This prevents the safety from rolling over and moving the trigger "tang" down. A simple fix to this is as berger said, a cheep washer. Please Don't tighten the screw too much without a washer as you WILL break the tang off the trigger and won't have a safety at all.
 
berger said:
Very old thread I know...but I just wanted to update that the washer does fix this. I just added a MOE grip to my Norc and experienced the same safety seize up. Found this thread and added 1 washer under the original Norc bolt...no need to grind the washer in the larger interior of the MOE grip...and the safety functions perfectly again. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Lol, when you resurrect an old thread like this, there will still be people posting replies to the thread title and not realize the OP posted this 3 years ago, hahahahahaah!
 
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