Broken Barrel Pin!

[RA_Bakken]

Hi everyone.

I'm the proud owner of R411.  I've been on the forum since nearly the beginning, but this is my first post.  There have been several issues w/ my early R9, but I recently received it back from the factory (that's another story).  

Went to the range a couple days ago, and tonight was my night to take the pup out and clean it.  Could not really get the pin to move much past 1/2 way.  Applied more pressure, till finally it sprung out -- IN TWO PIECES!  Grrrr!  More than that, the R9 will NOT disassemble!  I've tried and tried, and don't want to force it...so it's BACK to the Brothers R!  Double Grrrr....!

Duane, I hope that pocket holster for my Kimber Ultra CDP arrives tomorrow so I can pocket carry my OTHER small gun!  :-o  No Rohrbaugh this weekend really stinks!

Anyone else experienced this?  I know there was a material change some time ago in the pin, but honestly hadn't heard of any pins shearing.

At the range, I did experience some FTF's, and had one mag malfunction - base plate shifted back, so I couldn't remove the mag to reload.  Was shooting Gold Dot 115's.

On a separate note, it's a pleasure to read and learn from this forum.  You're a great group of dedicated folks.

-- Spectro

[Richard S]

Spectro:

Welcome aboard!

Here is the link to an early thread on the broken pin problem.  

http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/YaBB.cgi?board=R9S;action=display;num=1091830427

As I understand it, the problem was limited to a few of the earlier pistols, and a different grade of steel is now used to fabricate the pins.  I would contact Maria at the factory to have one of the new pins sent to you.

[RA_Bakken]

Thanks for the link, RS...very informative.  As you can imagine, Monday can't come quick enough.  Will keep y'all posted on the process.

[R9SCarry]

Hey Spectro - welcome aboard  

Sorry to hear of your pin failure - a pretty rare event, tho thinking about the pin function it is a pretty stressed part.  Very important IMO to have a fairly generous lubing around barrel lug so pin gets some too - but of course it still has quite some forces to deal with.

[theirishguard]

Welcome Spectro, Happy to have you here. Sorry about the pin. None of my customers have had any problems at all. Speaking of customers, I just made some guys happy campers today when they picked up their new R9s.                       RJ, only one got a stop stick. Maybe the others will be back to get one after they clean their guns.     Tom

[RA_Bakken]

In thinking through this, I can't figure out why the slide would not move forward, if the barell pin sheared...only conclusion is that there must be some internal damage?  What do you guys think?  When Shelb had the problem nearly a year ago, did we ever hear why the disassembly wasn't able to happen normally?

Obviously, I'm not monkeying around w/ it...gonna leave that to the factory.  

[R9SCarry]

Spectro - thinking on this - hmmmm - well, I think this must have to do with the way the barrel lug slot rides the pin.  If pin complete as normal then barrel can easily ride up it during that latter stage of forward motion, as recoil springs a relaxing - into full lock up.

I have to imagine that the pin fracture puts it just enough out of alignment to make this difficult without forcing.  Excessive force also would place potentially damaging stresses on the holes in the frame - as the pin would no longer be thru those straight and perpendicular to them.

That's my thinking so far - I'd need a bust pin to check and see for sure - but will hold off on that!