[red caddy]

After 5 years of regular carry and lots of range time, I've had my first PF9 failure.

The head sheared off the takedown pin. Should this be covered by warranty, or do I just order a new one from the Mothership?

Amazingly, I put small strips of aluminum tape over the holes on each side, to retain the pin, it still shoots...

Thanks, Paul

 

[PF9Newbie]

If you are the original owner, it is covered by the lifetime warranty. Give Kel Tec a call, explain what happened. Perhaps they will just send you a new pin, as they have done in the past.

 

[nwfenton]

Wait what? I kinda want to see pictures of this failure mode, because it sounds pretty bizarre.

 

[Steve912]

I had same problem last year.

Sent copy of purchase receipt & broken bit back to K-T,
and they mailed a new one.

 

[PF9Newbie]

Wait what? I kinda want to see pictures of this failure mode, because it sounds pretty bizarre.

If the take down retention spring weakens or somehow pops out of its slot, it can allow the pin to back out during a shooting session due to recoil. The head of the pin then can get in the way of the slide, and since the pin is a mim part, it will shear off. Not all that uncommon if not paying attention to the pin when shooting a lot. Better the pin break to prevent damage to the slide. And sometimes folks just miss pushing the pin back in until it clicks into place when reassembling after cleaning, leading to pin back out when shooting.

 

[Steve912]

It's machined, not MIM, from one of the
CNC operators during a K-T tour.

 

[PF9Newbie]

Steve, that may be true now, but I don't think it was years ago, as when my pin sheared years ago (early PF-9), looking at the pin shear point, it definitely was not forged or machined metal. Typical MIM internal structure. Even so, the part is still fairly fragile, so will shear under the force of the slide recoiling if the head backs out a little where the slide hits it.

 

[Steve912]

I'm actually fairly certain the guy said they've always been machined--
but I'll defer to your metallurgic background--I sure can't tell the difference
between broken MIM and broken machined steel, visually.

 

[haugrdr]

From what I was told...and what I've seen at the factory...the assembly pins have always been machined.

 

[PF9Newbie]

Well, I will certainly have to defer to what the factory says, since they are the ones who make these things. Just looked pretty porous when my sheared.Does not really matter, since either way, the head of the pin will shear off readily if the pin backs out enough for the slide to strike it during recoil. Lots easier to replace a small pin, than have slide damage.

 

[red caddy]

Just to close this thread, I called the mother ship. I was amazed at the level of customer service, it was quick and easy.

I'm sure the operator thought I was a bit strange, as I kept trying to give him justification and reason. All he needed was my shipping address...
the part was in my hands in 6 days, (over a weekend)

I'm really not used to that kind of service. Well done Mothership!

NW Fenton,
Nothing bizarre about it, the head of the pin sheared off clean, as it was/is my EDC, and I was a distance from home, I put the (headless) pin back in place and cut/placed 2 strips of aluminum duct tape, (strongest high tensile, tape in the truck at the time, ROFLMAO) to retain the pin. As the saying goes, "she runs like a train". Not a desirable fix, perhaps, but It got me home, adequately armed.

I can't say enough good about the customer service folks. Thanks again.

Paul