TM Hicapa 5.1 - Slide Jam After Metal Slide Swap

[ao_tenshi]

Hey guys,

Relatively newbie to gbb pistol. Recently installed a Shooter Design metal slide on a stock TM hicapa 5.1 with new 140% recoil spring and hammer spring.

Not sure if the slide is not to specs or what, but here are the two major symptoms I'm experiencing:

1) Almost 1 out of every 5 shots, the slide will stay stuck at the rear position. I almost have to shake the gun for it to return to normal position.

2) Unless there is force of spring to return the slide to normal position, it gets stuck at about 1/4" position and will not return to full standard position.

I understand new metal slides will have fit issues, but if I move the empty metal slide on the frame, it seems to move rather smoothly. So this is leading me to suspect (though i could very well be wrong) its something in the chamber that is causing the issue.

Hoping someone who experienced similar issue or know these upgrades can suggest a method to either fix the issue or at least find out what's the cause.

Thanks in advance!!!

[Slono]

Are you still using the same plastic barrel? Shooters design slides have slightly different dimensions to accommodate the lugs of their own metal outer barrels.

Try this:

Take your recoil rod and spring assembly out. With nothing exerting force against the hop up chamber and outer barrel, slide it around until it settles into the grooves of the slide. Take note of what it looks like.

Now, try the same thing with your stock plastic marui slide. Once the barrel and hop up chamber settles into the grooves does it look the same? Is it sitting farther forwards or backwards than what you observed with your shooters design slide?

[ao_tenshi]

Thanks for the suggestion Slono.

So I've tried your suggestion, and noticed that the outer barrel in the metal slide is about 1mm forward compared to TM by the fact that the back end of the outer barrel leaves a 1mm gap at the end of the bullet case ejection port.

What I've also noticed is the "steel casing" (dont know the name of that part) around the loading nozzle that screws in at the rear is rubbing fairly tightly against the frame... any chance this can be a cause?

Btw, everything Im using is stock TM 5.1, except the new slide and recoil+hammer springs.

[Slono]

The steel casing you're referring to is called the blowback unit. To solve this problem you will have to file the bottom where it makes contact with the frame of your gun. Once it is sanded so it fits flush along the bottom of the slide, then it will slide with less resistance. A little bit of grease will help too. I use white lithium grease because its easy to find and a small tube will last you years. All you need is a tiny amount on your finger to spread on the parts that make contact.

With regards to the outer barrel lugs not lining up properly against your slide, this could create a couple issues. Because your loading nozzle is designed make a seal while mating with the hop up rubber, if the whole hop up assembly is sitting farther forward it would potentially ruin the seal between the hop up rubber and your loading nozzle. This means that the path of the propane that eventually hits the BB is going to be inefficient and will result in power loss. Think of it like a garden hose that's sprung a leak... the pressure at the end of the hose will be less than if you had a garden hose that did not have a leak.

One other issue that may be causing your jam is the bump on the underside of your blowback unit. If this bump catches TOO MUCH on the tip of the hammer it will prevent your slide from returning to its normal resting position. To fix this you can either file the tip if your hammer at an angle to help it overcome the bump on the blowback unit or you can file the bump on the blowback unit. Either way you want to file or sand it just enough that the slide can do the rest of the work itself. If you file too much material off your gun won't function properly.

If you post a video or some pictures it would definitely help with this process.

[ao_tenshi]

I've done some further testing and "seem to have" pin pointed the issue to two issues:

1) blowback unit is very tight when it travels forward and reach the top of the two mid-frame rails

2) outer barrel is hitting the slide somewhere (noticed excess wear at particular points)

Assuming these are correct, any suggestion on fixes?

[Slono]

Take the blowback unit out and file the base of the legs at the point where it starts to get tight against the mid frame rails. You are talking about the slide getting tight as it recoils right?

Also there's no fix for your barrel situation except to buy a shooters design outer barrel.

[ao_tenshi]

Yes, I will try to sand the blowback unit legs and see if that will smooth out the slide movement and report back.

[ao_tenshi]

Just reporting back on progress... installed SD outer barrel (Thanks Slono!).

The slide getting tight issue has been resolved by both sanding down the blowback unit legs and loosening the screw on it (seems like the tight it gets screwed it, the more friction it creates).

The issues still remaining are:
a) the slide will occasionally get stuck at the full backward position after firing (seems like something on the outer barrel and the slide is not aligned - shaking the gun a bit will allow and the slide to return)
b) with an empty mag inside, pulling the slide back will not always cause it to lock in the backward position, and the slide at the backward position inserting a full mag will not return the slide to forward position as it normally should.

Problem b) is not a big deal to me at the moment, but if there are any suggestions on problem a), would be much appreciated!

[Slono]

I'm not sure what the problem could be. I would have to take a look at it or if you uploaded a video we may be able to work through this together. There are many things that could cause this problem and having a visual may help.

[ao_tenshi]

Good news, the sticky slide issue seems to be improving. After running a few mags through, Its occurring much less frequent now. I suppose it took some time to fit itself in the groove. Thanks for all your help Slono!

[Slono]

Sweet, I'm happy I was able to help.