I did the "impossible" - I changed the mainspring of a VZ 58 !!!

S

superlative

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Just received in the mail a railed receiver cover, and spent over an hour trying by hand to put the main spring onto the new receiver. Finally I figured out how to do it. Here's instructions for those brave enough to try:

First terminology, since I don't know what the parts are really called.

i. Main rod: this is the rod attached to the receiver with a hole (eye) going down the middle and a "needle head" at the tip
ii. Guide Rod: this is the u-shaped long metal guide with a "cap" attached to the end to keep the main spring in place.

Equipment: 2 mini screw drivers.
Assumption: the main spring is already uninstalled from the original receiver cover.

1. First basics: insert the guide rod into the main rod and extend the guide rod. Insert screw driver A into the main rod "eye" and hold the guide rod in place, extended. This is just an exercise to illustrate what you'll be constantly doing with screw driver A - inserting it into the eye of the main rod, and holding the guide rod in place extended. Now remove the screw driver A.

2. Thread the main spring over the guide rod and main rod.

3. Now insert screw driver A into the spring and through the "eye" to hold the guide rod extended, as explained in step 1.

4. Now with screw driver B, insert it into the spring and through the "eye", near A, and then pull the spring down. Pulling the spring down usually brings the guide rod with it, however, if you position it correctly and shake it a little, the guide rod will slide back out to the extended position. Only when the guide rod slides back out to the extended position, proceed to step 5.

5. Whilst holding B in place, remove A from the eye and reinsert A as explained in step 3. Now you can see that you've compressed the spring within the main rod area a little. Remove B from the spring.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the spring over the guide rod area can be easily compressed by hand so you can reinstall the cap.

Voila!!! Doing this takes about 15-30 minutes.
 
It took me may be 20 minutes but I did it. Price of the mount was worth the trouble. I heard next shippment will come with newly manufactured springs.
 
Easy version: slide a drinking straw over guide rods, install and compress spring, remove straw which draws the wire retainer out, install retainer cap and gently release the spring.
 
supernova said:
Easy version: slide a drinking straw over guide rods, install and compress spring, remove straw which draws the wire retainer out, install retainer cap and gently release the spring.
Click to expand...

I thought of that, but it's too hard for most people. The issue isn't keeping the guide rod extended, but keeping the spring compressed whilst you install the cap. My method will work for anyone and is by far the easiest method and the least frustrating.
 
supernova said:
Easy version: slide a drinking straw over guide rods, install and compress spring, remove straw which draws the wire retainer out, install retainer cap and gently release the spring.
Click to expand...

I ceracoated my CZ and had to reassemble the damned thing, I remembered seeing the drinking straw method on a post on here and lo and behold it worked very easily.
 
So is the $295 worth the price? Thats almost half the cost of a new CZ after shipping and taxes.

I'm still on the fence about this peice of kit.
 
Travis Bickle said:
I ceracoated my CZ and had to reassemble the damned thing, I remembered seeing the drinking straw method on a post on here and lo and behold it worked very easily.
Click to expand...

There's 3 problems that need to be solved:
1. Trying to keep the spring compressed
2. Trying to keep the spring compressed and the guide rod extended
3. Trying to keep the spring compressed, the guide rod extended, and then reinstalling the retainer cap.

It's extremely difficult! I work in an office, but I'm no wimp - I can do 45 chinups for reference, but I couldn't do it just using my hands. Even if I had the straw, I couldn't keep the spring compressed with one hand whilst fiddling with the retainer cap with the other hand. With my method, I could use two hands to install the retainer cap - one hand to hold down the spring with little force (because the majority of the spring was already compressed and held in place by screwdriver A) and separate the end of the guide rod, and the other hand to fit on the cap.

I can imagine someone who does manual labor for a living probably has the finger strength to accomplish it just with their hands, but my method is full proof and will work for anyone.
 
Yeah - I had to do the same thing on my CZ858 - what a pia. Finally got it done with the screwdriver method. Helped having it in a vice to do it.

IMHO yes, the price is worth it (got mine from Corwin) as it makes it really simple to mount a scope and you don't have to do anything with the scope when you need to take the top cover off.
 
superlative said:
I thought of that, but it's too hard for most people. The issue isn't keeping the guide rod extended, but keeping the spring compressed whilst you install the cap. My method will work for anyone and is by far the easiest method and the least frustrating.
Click to expand...

Travis Bickle said:
I ceracoated my CZ and had to reassemble the damned thing, I remembered seeing the drinking straw method on a post on here and lo and behold it worked very easily.
Click to expand...

Like I said, easy method...

superlative said:
There's 3 problems that need to be solved:
1. Trying to keep the spring compressed Easy with one hand
2. Trying to keep the spring compressed and the guide rod extended Not an issue as the straw covers it, once the spring is compressed you pull the straw out and the sharp ends of the wire guide rod grab the straw so it gets pulled out all the way leaving lots of room to get the cap on.
3. Trying to keep the spring compressed, the guide rod extended, and then reinstalling the retainer cap. Again, quick and easy cos the straw takes care of the wire guide rod entirely.

It's extremely difficult! I work in an office, but I'm no wimp - I can do 45 chinups for reference, but I couldn't do it just using my hands. Even if I had the straw, I couldn't keep the spring compressed with one hand whilst fiddling with the retainer cap with the other hand. With my method, I could use two hands to install the retainer cap - one hand to hold down the spring with little force (because the majority of the spring was already compressed and held in place by screwdriver A) and separate the end of the guide rod, and the other hand to fit on the cap.

I can imagine someone who does manual labor for a living probably has the finger strength to accomplish it just with their hands, but my method is full proof and will work for anyone.
Click to expand...
 
supernova said:
Like I said, easy method...
Click to expand...

It's not easy!!! Very few people can keep the spring compressed with one hand, whilst somehow installing the retainer cap! How on earth does the straw help to install the retainer cap - you'd have to remove the straw to access the pincers, separate the pincers and then install the cap - pretty hard to do whilst one hand is holding down the entire force of the spring.

So stop saying it's easy. Many people have tried to compress the spring with just their hands, and they all say it's difficult. The "straw" method just solves the "guide rod extension" problem - it does not solve the problem of the spring being very difficult to compress by hand, and you need two hands to install the retainer cap. The screw driver method solves all 3 problems for ALL people - not just for the select few who have the ability to compress that spring with one hand.

Frankly I find it kind of arrogant you keep insisting that just coz you can do it, it's "easy". Even the guys at the gun range couldn't do my gun, that's why I had to go home and figure out how to do it myself.
 
kb007 said:
Yeah - I had to do the same thing on my CZ858 - what a pia. Finally got it done with the screwdriver method. Helped having it in a vice to do it.

IMHO yes, the price is worth it (got mine from Corwin) as it makes it really simple to mount a scope and you don't have to do anything with the scope when you need to take the top cover off.
Click to expand...

If I had to do it all over again, I probably would have bought the "Gun Expert" version with quick detach:
P1060977_1.jpg


It's 300 Euros as opposed to US$300, but it's worth it for the quick release. I'm not fond of the hex bolts of the one on Zahal/Corwin.

Having said that, the Gun Expert version does not come with springs, and I am in no mood to try and reinstall springs any time soon!! Maybe I'll change my mind in a month when I've recovered from the mental trauma.
 
I'm a noob on these 858's. Just so I understand if you want to mount an optic its best to buy the railed cover and that is the reason to change the mainspring? I put down a deposit for one of these.. just waiting for them to come in :)
 
Honestly you're the first person I've met who couldn't compress and hold that spring. I've done it with just my hands and no tools and I don't have unusually strong hands. Just try a little harder and you'll get it. Its not easy to do without the straw, easy to do with it. That's my point and the reason I'm so persistent. Try it, you'll see. Others agree its the fastest and easiest way. With the straw you just compress the spring without the wire grabbing the coils. When the spring is compressed you pull the straw out which draws the wire out. Now your holding the spring with the wire fully extended. Snap the cap in and release the spring. Done, easy, 20 seconds. I find it arrogant that you're not open to other suggestions and keep insisting that your way is somehow better than a simple 20 second procedure that no one else has trouble with. Anyone can do it if they just try a little.

superlative said:
It's not easy!!! Very few people can keep the spring compressed with one hand, whilst somehow installing the retainer cap! How on earth does the straw help to install the retainer cap - you'd have to remove the straw to access the pincers, separate the pincers and then install the cap - pretty hard to do whilst one hand is holding down the entire force of the spring.

So stop saying it's easy. Many people have tried to compress the spring with just their hands, and they all say it's difficult. The "straw" method just solves the "guide rod extension" problem - it does not solve the problem of the spring being very difficult to compress by hand, and you need two hands to install the retainer cap. The screw driver method solves all 3 problems for ALL people - not just for the select few who have the ability to compress that spring with one hand.

Frankly I find it kind of arrogant you keep insisting that just coz you can do it, it's "easy". Even the guys at the gun range couldn't do my gun, that's why I had to go home and figure out how to do it myself.
Click to expand...
 
Both the guy at the gun range and myself tried to compress the spring without the guide rod extended, which is what you're suggesting - and we both found it difficult to do - the spring would go sideways and then slip from the fingers. That's just common sense given the length of the spring (there's nothing to prevent the spring going sideways). Many many other people have tried doing this, and they all say it's difficult. The straw does nothing except draw out the guide rod - that's not the issue. The issue is trying to keep the spring compressed whilst fiddling around with everything else. Given that everyone I've spoken to (except for the two people on this thread who said "it's easy") who say it's tough, and from my own experience, then it IS arrogant to keep insisting that something is "easy" when most people find it tough. You're belittling us.

Turning it around and saying I'm arrogant for not trying the damn straw method is disingenuous. Even if I could magically draw out the guide rod with my mind (therefore not needing the damn straw), I would still find it difficult keeping the spring compressed whilst installing the retainer cap. I've tried to compress the spring with my hands, as has presumably everyone else who says "it's difficult".

Again - I repeat - the straw does not make it easier to compress the spring and the spring compression IS THE TOUGH PART. Maybe you and the other guy have a good technique, but MOST OF US find it very difficult. All it takes is for a slight movement, and the spring would decompress sideways.
 
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Lmao you're getting very childish. Belittling you? I'm being nice. You should try the straw method before saying it doesn't work. You're compressing the spring wrong which is why its not working. You can't just push down on it from the end, you grab it in the middle and compress part of it then grab a little higher with your other hand and keep working it down until its all compressed. Common sense, as you mentioned. The straw helps a little too by providing a mandrel above the guide rod to help keep the spring straight, should you hold it too high up. It is easy, you just weren't doing it right. Try this method and I guarantee you'll find it easier. Sitting there telling me its not easier gets nothing accomplished except to annoy me prompting more responses with further instruction detail. When you take what I've said and actually give it a try you'll see for yourself how easy it is. If this offends or belittles you then you need to harden up a little. You have been trying to do it wrong and I have been trying to help you.
 
superlative said:
If I had to do it all over again, I probably would have bought the "Gun Expert" version with quick detach:
P1060977_1.jpg


It's 300 Euros as opposed to US$300, but it's worth it for the quick release. I'm not fond of the hex bolts of the one on Zahal/Corwin.

Having said that, the Gun Expert version does not come with springs, and I am in no mood to try and reinstall springs any time soon!! Maybe I'll change my mind in a month when I've recovered from the mental trauma.
Click to expand...

Where did you find the "Gun Expert" version? I googled it but didn't see where I could buy it...
 
If you would like the gun expert model please go to sa58.cz Shipping is bit high but it is the only place to get them. We were going to bring few but due to high cost we declined
 
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