Cannot remove Ambi Safety on 1911, HELP

[GRAVES219]

I was in the process of completely stripping my 1911 for polish and plating. Everything went smooth as could be until I got to the Ambi safety. I’ve followed all videos, forums I could find. Tried exactly what they say to do, and this will not budge. Comes up enough to get a Ziptie under, but won’t come out.

SDS/Tisas model 1911

Excuse the oil, it was just a drop to prevent marring the finish as much as I could.

Thank you all

 

[GRAVES219]

Sorry if this belongs in gunsmithing mods

 

[deo62]

Flip it up then wiggle it out

 

[GRAVES219]

Flip it up then wiggle it out

I’ve been doin that for about 4hrs

 

[deo62]

Do you have the other side off?

 

[GRAVES219]

Do you have the other side off?

YES, I tried it with the other side in, and with it out

 

[GRAVES219]

Finally! I got it.

 

[mmpsteve]

Finally! I got it.

So what was the trick, or what did you do to make it work?

.

 

[printcraft]

Flip it up then wiggle it out

I tried that, but what about the gun?

 

[GRAVES219]

So what was the trick, or what did you do to make it work?

.

Jimmy'd two zipties under the safety and slid my buck knife into the seam on the left side. it was quite hokey

 

[GRAVES219]

Now imagine the safety lever on top haha

 

[drillsgt]

Oh okay, I thought you were having trouble getting the right side lever out, the left side lever should not be that hard to take out?

 

[GRAVES219]

Oh okay, I thought you were having trouble getting the right side lever out, the left side lever should not be that hard to take out?

Right side came out in two seconds. Left side took about 6hrs

 

[MrSmitty]

Pictures or it didn't happen.....I haven't had a 1911 in years, but I'd like to know....just in case...

 

[churchmouse]

Prying should not be required. The clearance between the safety and the sear is where you had issues. Funny as this sounds you have to hold your mouth just right. There is a sweet spot where it should come apart with just a bit of resistance. Prying should be a very last option. The contact points in the ignition controls are critical.

 

[churchmouse]

Oh okay, I thought you were having trouble getting the right side lever out, the left side lever should not be that hard to take out?

Yeah, I can see something is amiss here.

 

[GRAVES219]

Pictures or it didn't happen.....I haven't had a 1911 in years, but I'd like to know....just in case...

I posted a pic of my method of removal ^ up there

 

[GRAVES219]

Prying should not be required. The clearance between the safety and the sear is where you had issues. Funny as this sounds you have to hold your mouth just right. There is a sweet spot where it should come apart with just a bit of resistance. Prying should be a very last option. The contact points in the ignition controls are critical.

I did not pry at all. All the videos I watched, instruction manual, says not to pry, which I understand the reasoning.

What I did was wiggle the safety as far as I could, slide two zipties into the space, wiggle some more, slid my knife into the new space and wiggle some more. It finally came free.

But I tried all night after work to get it, and then most of my work day the next day.

Because I was trying not to ruin it or scuff the frame. Which, I did scuff the frame a bit.

This gun is brand new, and never had the safety out. So I chalk it up to new parts with fresh coating etc. just staying put.

 

[deo62]

Next question-did it go back together?

 

[GRAVES219]

Next question-did it go back together?

I haven’t tried yet. I sent all the parts off for plating