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Thread: I have never seen this part break before.

  1. #21
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    We have been neuterring our autos at work converting them to semi only. Of course someone ordered DPMS kits. After about the 5th one had the selector switch locked up on semi, I started to reuse the 40 year old Colt detent and haven't had a problem. David

  2. #22
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    I'm not sure what the dime a dozen detents are made of, but all of them seem to be coated, and the coating usually wears off very quickly.

    This detent came out of a receiver that never saw a round fired, the safety was probably manipulated less than couple of dozen times.



    These detents seem to be made of cheap and inferior steel, whatever it may be, there appear to be some pitting in areas that shouldn't see wear so quickly.
    Roger Wang
    Forward Controls Design
    Simplicity is the sign of truth

  3. #23
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    Wow.
    Almost looks like its being attacked rather than worn, doesn't it.

    I wonder what the odds of a low level galvonic reaction between the pin material, spring steel, steel selector and aluminum of the reciever would be.

    I mean in unto themselves, any two may or may not create a reaction, but as a whole perhaps there's a bit of 'magic' that occurs.

  4. #24
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    There seems to be wear not only at the tip of the detent where one would expect (and there is), but also around the band at the bottom of the base.

    My suspicion is that it's such an inexpensive part that most manufacturers detent manufacturers deem good enough is good enough, it's a wear item so it should be replace periodically anyway, so little attention is given the detent.
    Roger Wang
    Forward Controls Design
    Simplicity is the sign of truth

  5. #25
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    It is for this reason I'm replacing the stock safety and detent on my LWRC lower (sigh, I bought it before I know what I knew now) with KAC ambi-selector and KNS detent. The factory LWRC selector already feels like it's gritty, and takes bit of an effort to move it to safe. I took it out and noticed there's a shiny trail cut into the groove, and it looks like metal on metal grinding.

    IMO a properly made safety and detent shouldn't have to be frequently lubed to function properly. I never lube the safety selector on my SR15 and it's smooth as butter. I hope the KAC + KNS combo will cure the problem once and for all.

  6. #26
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    A comparison between ours (milled) and a cast selector.



    The contact area is much greater on ours, it also has tall shoulders to prevent the selector from being backed out when it's rotated out of the detent holes. The cast selector's shoulders are so shallow, if you rotate the selector to 45 degrees you can push the selector out, there are folks out there that do use this method to remove the selector.

    That it can feel rough isn't just the detent's job, it has to do with the detent groove on the selector as well.
    Roger Wang
    Forward Controls Design
    Simplicity is the sign of truth

  7. #27
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    Quote Originally Posted by Duffy View Post
    A comparison between ours (milled) and a cast selector.



    The contact area is much greater on ours, it also has tall shoulders to prevent the selector from being backed out when it's rotated out of the detent holes. The cast selector's shoulders are so shallow, if you rotate the selector to 45 degrees you can push the selector out, there are folks out there that do use this method to remove the selector.

    That it can feel rough isn't just the detent's job, it has to do with the detent groove on the selector as well.
    Wow... thanks for the pics. Never thought to look at that before. I got one of the BAD-ASS selectors recently and like it a lot. Only gripe is I got it from Brownells so I didn't get all the levers, I'll have to order a thin one to try out.

    I'm gonna be looking at the selector detent channel more closely on the parts kits we're using at my shop, that's for sure.

  8. #28
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    No need to buy one, with our lever exchange program, we will send you one to try out before you send anything back. Since only two levers can be used at the same time, simply send us the one that you don't want to use.

    We pay shipping to you, and you pay shipping to us ($0.88)

    Production 45 degree, 90 degree, and the upcoming CASS-3P, SA in both 45 and 90 degree centers will have a slightly raised detent groove to retain more spring tension, but the shoulders will still be high enough to prevent its removal by rotating the selector out of detent engagement
    Roger Wang
    Forward Controls Design
    Simplicity is the sign of truth

  9. #29
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    I guess Colt and FN make good selectors and detents, because I've never seen a detent worn like that in all my years of working on the M16 series. Very interesting...
    -Steve
    Have gun, will travel...
    Certified Glock Armorer
    Iraq Vet '05-'06
    Afghanistan Vet '09-'10
    RIP- TSgt Jason Norton and SSgt Brian McElroy, KIA 22 Jan '06, near Taji, Iraq. You'll never be forgotten.

  10. #30
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    There are good reasons Colt cost more, little things are not of little importance, they just appear so

    As discussed earlier, the detent is the wear part that displays the symptoms, though itself may not be the real problem, the selector's detent holes and groove have a large part of the blame.
    Roger Wang
    Forward Controls Design
    Simplicity is the sign of truth

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