[bengewarmer]

I feel like there are a few threads about issues with the Solo, but I picked mine up a few days ago, and while everyone seems to be having issues with their slide locking back after each shot due to incorrect reassembly, I seem to be having the opposite problem! After taking it down and cleaning it, and running about 200 rounds through it, my slide seems to not lock back after the last round about 50% of the time. I've made sure to correctly catch that little retention spring with the slide stop, but even when I insert an empty mag, rack the slide back, it has a hard time locking back, and will usually snap forward. My guess is that spring is putting too much downward pressure on the slide release. Has anyone had a similar issue, or have any insight? Thanks!

 

[Tejun]

I feel like there are a few threads about issues with the Solo, but I picked mine up a few days ago, and while everyone seems to be having issues with their slide locking back after each shot due to incorrect reassembly, I seem to be having the opposite problem! After taking it down and cleaning it, and running about 200 rounds through it, my slide seems to not lock back after the last round about 50% of the time. I've made sure to correctly catch that little retention spring with the slide stop, but even when I insert an empty mag, rack the slide back, it has a hard time locking back, and will usually snap forward. My guess is that spring is putting too much downward pressure on the slide release. Has anyone had a similar issue, or have any insight? Thanks!

Howdy from Texas Bengewarmer !
I bought a used Solo several months ago. When I first started shooting it, the slide would lock after last round about 50% or the time. I just kept shooting it and over time it began locking all the time. Nothing to be concerned with at this point IMO. Keep shooting and enjoying it !!

 

[bengewarmer]

Thank you, sir! I have no problem continuing to shoot it, it's a sweet little gun, but I can't even get it to lock back when I hold the slide back myself! Kimber said they'll ship me out a new slide release, but I'm not sure that'll do anything, I think it's the spring!


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[Tejun]

Take the slide off then reinstall the Slide stop and insert an empty mag. You should see the slide stop move up to what would be the locked position. If not, exercise the slide stop spring some by working the slide stop up and down.

You also might want to disassemble the magazine and clean/lube (slightly). Is it a 6 round mag ?

 

[bengewarmer]

I will absolutely try that tonight, thanks! And yes, it is a 6 round. I also purchased two additional mags (official) but it doesn't seem to matter which mag I have seated, they all have that issue. Thanks again.


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[bengewarmer]

So I've been exercising the spring, and it seems to have helped a little bit. It will now (barely) lock back on an empty mag for at least 2/3 of my mags. I'm now almost certain it's that spring, and Kimber is sending me another one of those. Now, do I take a chance and bring it to my dealer to see if they can swap out the springs for me, or just send the whole thing back to Kimber for a month so they can get it back out to me?

 

[wfm]

I had a problem with the slide locking back like yours with a new Kahr cm9. It was suggested that I lock the slide back and leave it locked back for several hours. It seemed to weaken up the spring enough that I had no more issues with it. Good luck with the Solo.

 

[Chuck43]

I used to be of the school that thought loading a spring and letting it sit weakened or worked the stiffens out of it. For example, load a magazine and let it sit loaded to relax the spring, I was wrong. Research into the subject of spring wear straightened me out. Compressing a spring or letting it sit relaxed has no effect on it. It's the compression and decompression cycles that weaken the spring.

 

[bengewarmer]

Well, I'm doing both now, exercising it last night, letting it stay locked open this morning, then I'll go back to exercising the spring. I just really don't wanna send it out to Kimber for a month and be without my barely week old Solo.

 

[Tejun]

Well, I'm doing both now, exercising it last night, letting it stay locked open this morning, then I'll go back to exercising the spring. I just really don't wanna send it out to Kimber for a month and be without my barely week old Solo.

Mine went from not locking most of the time to locking but just barely engaging (sometimes the slide would even return upon dropping the mag). Over time though, it has gotten to the point of locking each time as it should. I would not send it back to Kimber at this point unless you are experiencing other issues. I think locking the slide open and leaving it overnight a few times would be the way to go.

The spring is simple to change. Remove the slide stop, then the two grip screws and left grip. The spring is held by one screw. Much easier to change than the Micro 380 for sure.

 

[bengewarmer]

Mine went from not locking most of the time to locking but just barely engaging (sometimes the slide would even return upon dropping the mag). Over time though, it has gotten to the point of locking each time as it should. I would not send it back to Kimber at this point unless you are experiencing other issues. I think locking the slide open and leaving it overnight a few times would be the way to go.

The spring is simple to change. Remove the slide stop, then the two grip screws and left grip. The spring is held by one screw. Much easier to change than the Micro 380 for sure.

Alright, that should be easy enough to handle. I'll wait for Kimber to send me over the new parts and take a look at it, until then I'll settle for leaving it locked open overnight and exercising the current spring and see if that helps. Thanks for all the help, people!

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Recently picked up a never fired Solo manufactured 2012.

I believe the recoil spring assembly is at the root of a lot of issues reported by Solo owners. The larger spring was horribly dragging and catching on the sleeve. Used a thicker viscosity Wilson Combat lube and worked it a bit. A bit smoother not great though. No problems on last shot hold open with Fed 124 HST.

 

[bengewarmer]

Mine seems relatively smooth, manufactured sometime 2015. Thankfully I don't think there's any issues with the recoil spring assembly, just the slide stop spring. I've had the slide locked open for about a day now, gonna check and see how it's been doing.


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[Tejun]

Bengewarmer

What ammo are you using ?

 

[bengewarmer]

Only shot about 200 rounds through it so far, Speer lawman 147gr. range ammo.


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[bengewarmer]

Update:
Kimber sent the replacement slide stop and spring, I replaced both, and it seems to be a little better. I guess I'm just gonna shoot it some more and see how it loosens up. Thanks for all the help, folks!