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Posted: 5/18/2011 5:21:16 PM EDT
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I am having a problem with the safety selectors on my Spike's Lowers. I noticed my safety selector on the first one was mushy in the fire position. It didn't lock into position like the safe position. I pulled the parts and noticed that the detent had gouged a channel between the two recesses on the selector. I pulled the parts and slapped in new ones and problem solved (so far) on #1.
Now on my second Spikes lower the safety selector will lock in the fire position and can not be moved. I pulled the parts and noticed that the detent fits tightly into the hole of the selector and has cut a groove in the area of the safety selector between the detent recesses like the above mentioned lower. I ordered new parts (safety selector, spring and detent) and the new parts are the same way. Once installed the safety selector will lock in the fire position and I have to disassemble the lower to remove the parts. I even tried trimming the spring slightly to lessen the tension on the detent and got the same results. Even went so far as to file the sharp point off of the detent to keep it from cutting into the selector but again nada. Should the detent fit that snugly into the recess of the selector? I have no idea what brand the replacement parts I got are. I ordered them from Citizens Armory so I would assume that they are USGI or at least mil-spec. How do I fix this? Order another set of replacement parts from another source? |
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There's no harm in forcing the selector to rotate if it's obstinate and won't budge at first. Two metal parts coming together, the detent and the selector's detent hole may not always be mated very well, rotate it a few times and it'll smooth out.
As others pointed out, the detent groove is supposed to be there. On a factory, MIM selector, there's the groove, then then detent holes flanking the groove. You can try a new detent, KNS's stainless steel detent is much better made than the dime a dozen factory detents. Or you can try our fully machined selector, it's far smoother than any factory selector 
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| I think the whole problem is the detent when under pressure from the spring wedges into the recess tight enough where it won't budge when trying to rotate the selector. Even out of the lower, you can insert the detent into the recess and the fit is very snug. I ordered new parts from a different source. Maybe I just got a bad batch of parts. |
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One of the things we do when we help customers troubleshoot it is this:
Remove the pistol grip, and manually apply various amount of pressure on the spring. With less pressure, it should be easier to rotate the selector. If this proves to be the case with you, it can be the pistol grip too. MIAD, MOE and TD grips tend to be a little shallower than an A2, which means the spring sits taller and applies more pressure to the detent. |
I had a LBK from Palmetto that did the same exact thing, mushy in the fire position. When I pulled it back apart I found a "nub" in the recess of the "fire" position. I looks like a tool broke and it wasn't caught by QC. This is the pic I posted in PSA's forum. It is hard to see, but there is a nipple instead of a recess in the fire detent.
The selector would rest in this position as well as in the "vertical" fire position. 
As far as the selector locking up, maybe other problems slipped through QC. My replacement that PSA sent worked perfectly. |
We've installed more BAD-ASS selectors then I can recall and I can tell you that the stock detent pins are crap! So are the MIM or cast selectors!! We've seen ones that were so worn there was no tip. Just a blunt, worn down, gouged top of a detent pin. The KNS pins are the best $1 investment you could make...besides buying a more reliable safety all together! The Battle Arms safety was the best money I ever spent! You will never regret the buttery smooth transition from safe to fire, the feel of the levers is awesome, and after firing my weapon 12,000 + rounds the original KNS detent pin and the channel on the BAD-ASS look almost as good the day I installed it! Why mess around with trying to fix an inferior part when something way more reliable exists!?! 
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After seeing Safe1's post above I pulled out the "mushy" selector I had swapped out and rechecked it. Sure enough, there is a raised nipple in the recess causing the detent not to fully seat in the Fire position. I also used a little tough love and got the stuck selector to finally move from the Fire position. After a few repetitions the selector loosened up. I might go ahead and order some of the KNS detents and replace all of them.
Thanks for the help everyone. |
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The CASS-3P was to be only in the M16 version, it has a horizontally mounted dovetail interface for lever attachment, instead of the existing channel (female) on the the selector center tips, and bar (male) on the levers.
The horizontally mounted dovetail interface removes load from the mounting screw. With the CASS-3P, the screw has to be shorter, so the absence of load on the screws is a good thing. Other ambi M16 selectors don't need to grapple with the length of the screw, as only the right lever is detachable. Our selectors are modular on both sides. On the M16 selector, the auto sear relief on the left side leaves very little room for the mounting screw, so the screw must be shorter. The dovetail interface is very secure, to the point that IF the screw has been lost, the selector will still function. We always recommend a tiny drop of thread locker on the screws
This is a CASS-3P, M16 
These are our current semi auto, 90 degree selector 
The CASS-3P, Semi auto is a semi auto version of the CASS-3P, M16. We're making a limited quantity to fill the demand, estimated ship time is late August or early September 
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