Paraornance barrel link cracked

[fasteach]

I have a P14-45 and after many years of trouble-free service, the barrel link was found cracked tonight during inspection/cleaning. The gun is cleaned/inspected after each outing, so this is a recent failure. It will NOT be used again until a repair can be made. Thankfully my carry piece is still running beautifully.
Is this an "at-home" repair, or is this the territory of a Gunsmith?
Thanks. Duke

[MrMike990]

I have a P14-45 and after many years of trouble-free service, the barrel link was found cracked tonight during inspection/cleaning. The gun is cleaned/inspected after each outing, so this is a recent failure. It will NOT be used again until a repair can be made. Thankfully my carry piece is still running beautifully.
Is this an "at-home" repair, or is this the territory of a Gunsmith?
Thanks. Duke

It's a DIY fix, the cost of the barrel link is no more than 4-5 bucks.

[fasteach]

Whew...great news...now to the obvious followup: How did this happen, and is this an unusual failure?
Thanks for the info. Duke

[MCM]

I get many of my replacement gun parts and a lot of various gun products from Brownells. Here's a link to a schematic of all the parts to your gun with prices:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/schematics/schemmfg.aspx?schemid=792&m=11&mn=Para-Ordnance%c2%ae&model=14.45LDA%2fLTD%2c+16.40LDA%2fLTD%2c+18.9LDA% 2fLTD (http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/schematics/schemmfg.aspx?schemid=792&m=11&mn=Para-Ordnance%c2%ae&model=14.45LDA%2fLTD%2c+16.40LDA%2fLTD%2c+18.9LDA% 2fLTD)+

Apparently there is different sized links available for your gun - not really sure why. Maybe to compensate for wear?

[fasteach]

Wow...never woulda thunk it, unless the various sizes are to compliment various models and slide stops.
Thanks for the link, and the helpful info guys.

[MrMike990]

Apparently there is different sized links available for your gun - not really sure why. Maybe to compensate for wear?


No, varying degrees locking lug and slide fitment during initial assembly.

[MrMike990]

Whew...great news...now to the obvious followup: How did this happen, and is this an unusual failure?
Thanks for the info. Duke

ok, hang on tight

The link's job is to unlock the barrel from the slide. It also acts as a
sort of guide to keep the barrel on a straight track during the cycle, but that's secondary.

It's not supposed to bear any of the load of vertical locking. Many
people will install a longer link to effect a tighter lockup at the back
of the barrel, but it's the wrong way to do it because it doesn't do
anything to enhance accuracy, and can cause problems over the long haul.
Vertical locking is correctly maintained by the slidestop crosspin bearing
on the lower lug.

Links come in different lengths to allow the link to function correctly with
varying lower lug dimensions whenever a smith fits the lower lug to a
pistol with varied vertical dimensions between frame and slide. Hard-fit
type lower lugs are oversized to allow the fit to be precise, and the link
must be longer to function with the finished dimensions of the lug.

Additionally, the link should allow the slidestop to bear lightly on the
forward radius of the lower lug as the barrel rises into vertical lock.
When the link holds the lug away from the pin, and allows the barrel
pivot upward in that manner, it's a condition known as Riding the Link."


A shorter link corrects the condition, but then there's often an issue with
the amount of locking lug engagement in the slide, which can cause premature failure of the lugs.

On a Colt style 1911 the links are found in +/- .003 increments

[fasteach]

Thanks Mike...makes perfect sense, though i'm not aware of any alterations having been done to this firearm...i've not been it's sole owner, either.
Basically i will just have to call Paraordnance here in Ft. Lauderdale, see whether or not they'll even sell me one separately, then go from there.
Y'all are awesome...thanks . Duke

[MrMike990]

Thanks Mike...makes perfect sense, though i'm not aware of any alterations having been done to this firearm...i've not been it's sole owner, either.
Basically i will just have to call Paraordnance here in Ft. Lauderdale, see whether or not they'll even sell me one separately, then go from there.
Y'all are awesome...thanks . Duke

Keep me posted, if they won't send you one let me know.

Mike