[zaitcev]

Although I did not have any issues such as receiver wear, I decided to install a new recoil spring, just to be sure. I ordered the SU16-174 part from Kel-Tec. The number 174 corresponds to the recoil spring in the old parts list, BTW.

So, imagine my surprise when the new spring turned out to be much softer than the old spring. The old spring can easily strip rounds from magazines if I let the charging handle go, but the new one old moves the carrier group half-way before it grinds to a halt.

Note that the new spring has fewer turns. It would've been stronger than the old spring if it were made from the same wire, but apparently it is not. In the picture, the 2009 spring is above and 2016 spring is below.

It is not strange for part specifications to change in 7 years of production. But my problem with this is, I do not believe that such a weak spring is a good enough substitute. Could anyone have a look at their springs and count turns? Please also post what year your gun was made in.

 

[haugrdr]

The one you need probably has a new part number....just a guess.


*Edit*

My guess was way off. Looks like there's only one part number for all models.

So....I dunno.

 

[jadesdan]

Maybe they sent you the spring for a SU-22 on accident?

 

[haugrdr]

Maybe they sent you the spring for a SU-22 on accident?

Hmmmm....could be a BINGO.

 

[Percevel]

As soon as I get back to my rifle I will photo the spring. It is less then a year old.

 

[Junkie]

I'll take a look at mine when I get home too.

 

[Percevel]

Ok this is what I now know.

My rifle was purchased in 2016.

The wire for the spring is
0.050"
The spring is 10.5" long
The number of coils is very close to 38 turns.
The distance between coils is very close to 0.351"

Hope that helps.

 

[zaitcev]

I opened a support ticket on January 5. So far there was no reaction. I guess it's time to start calling.

The greeting on 321-631-0068 line says that the whole company is without power and shut down, try calling again in a few hours.

 

[haugrdr]

Just to let you know, they only man the phones from 9am EST until 3pm EST.

 

[zaitcev]

Got a reply from Nick of Kel-Tec's support. He says it's probably PLR-16 spring. I'm not sure he's correct, but as long long as I get a replacement I'm not going to argue. He promised to tell the store to re-do the order.

 

[zaitcev]

Update: Received a spring, it's exactly the same as the wrong spring they sent before. I give up at this point. They have a bin that has a #174 on it and it's full of wrong springs at the store at this time.

BTW, what's funny they also sent me the wrong buttplate in the same order. Considering the story of the spring I really don't want to try and get to the bottom of it.

Not an unusual thing to happen, overall. A year ago I thought I'd buy a holster for Kahr P45. Ordered it from Kahr, because it's a rare gun and few stores have holsters for it. They sent me a holster for PM45 instead. The accompanying paperwork said "P45". PM45 is shorter and thus P45 does not fit into a holster for PM45. I have a feeling that these "web store" operations are not run by people who care one bit or anyone who know anything about the products they are selling. At least I hope Kel-Tec installs correct springs into guns when they are assembled.

P.S. I checked Numrich, Brownells, eBay, and Midway. Nobody has recoil springs for SU-16.