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Okay, as promised, I received my spring pack from Wolf Springs and decided to install them tonight. Let's just say that all did not go as planned, but I did get some untested improvement. I plan on taking it to the range this weekend to test the new spring (yes singular, see below) in hopes that it works well. I'll update this thread once I get back from the range.
Anyway, this is how you change springs in your M85. It is pretty much applicable to any Taurus revolver, but there are differences. I have changed the springs in my 627 with outstanding results, and it was very similar to the M85, just larger.
So let's begin
You're dealing with springy bits here. Wear eye protection. Also, make sure the gun is unloaded, be safe, don't be retarded, and be generally good.
First you remove the grips. Unscrew the grip screw and use something soft like a tongue depressor to slip under the grips
Next you have 3 screws to deal with
One of the screws is also the yoke retaining pin and is multi part (screw, spring, and pin), so make sure you don't lose it.
Next you have to remove the slide plate. Rumor has it that you can hold it like this and hit it with a mallet and the plate will pop off
Well, it does, but it will take many many wacks, so skip that part and pry up where the main spring assembly enters the frame with something that will not mar the finish. Chopsticks work wonders
This is what you are left with.
I bought a spring pack from Wolf Springs for the M85. The pack contains 2 reduced trigger springs and one reduced power main springs.
I plan to replace both springs, so I will start with the trigger (return) spring first. The trigger spring swivel holds the spring in place, so we need to remove it from the frame to get the spring out.
TRICK: if you pull the trigger back, the trigger spring center pin has a little hole that will appear when it moves through the trigger spring swivel. If you put a small pin through this hole, you can pretty much remove the swivel by hand, but for show and tell, I used a brass punch from the other side of the frame.
Okay, we have the pieces out. We will have to take the new spring and stick it on the center pin and then insert the whole mess back in the frame. This is a major pain in the ass. You will have to find a way to hold the center pin still while you put the spring on and then push the swivel on to it until you can stick a pin through the hole in the center pin to hold the 3 parts together. Be creative here. My fingers are still sore from the experience.
By the way, the swivel only fits on the spring one way. Make sure you use it.
Once pinned, the 3 parts drop right in place.
Keep your finger on the swivel and pull the pin out. The center pin will pop back into place. If it doesn't, then you can use something to pop it back into place behind the trigger.
Now on to the main spring
Compared to the trigger spring, this is a piece of cake. All you need to do is press down on the main spring plate, or cock the gun and stick a pin through the hole in the main spring center pin and uncock the gun. The pin will just lift out of there. Someone was thinking ahead when they drilled these little holes in the pins.
Now replace the spring and them use your imagination to get the spring and plate back on with out shooting it across the room.
Insert the main spring assembly back into the frame. Careful when you pull the pin on the spring as it may shoot across the room. Also make sure that you get the main spring center pin back in the right way. See pictures if you don't remember. I got hit by this
Okay, now replace the slide plate. It only goes in one way due to tabs, so don't force anything
Screw the screws back in, test and the replace the grips. All would be well if I didn't run into trouble.
Here is where it went bad
After installing the the lightest trigger spring and the lightened main spring, I found that the gun would function fine in double action, but would fail to cock the hammer back in single action. I doubled checked everything, and nothing was amiss. I took out the lightened trigger spring and replaced it with the other lightened Wolf spring that came with the pack. Same thing. Double action was fine, but single action would not allow the hammer to be cocked. I removed the second Wolf spring and installed the original Taurus spring and the gun worked fine.
After examining the springs I found that they vary in length. The original Taurus spring is in the middle
The lightest Wolf spring is the shortest one, and the second lightest Wolf spring is the longest one. It looks like a coil or two length makes a big difference. I am going to write Wolf an email asking what's up, but until then, I would avoid swapping out the trigger spring and only swap out the main spring.
With only the main spring swapped the trigger pull is much lighter and even smoother than it was. The issue is that the main spring gives the hammer its oomph. If too light, you're going to see light strikes. I need to head to the range and test it out with my planned self defense ammo If I get 100 or so rounds through the gun without issues, then I'll call it good and leave the spring. If I do encounter issues, I'll revert back to the factory springs.
The addition of the reduced trigger spring would make the trigger pull lighter, but not affect the reliability like a lightened main spring would. Hopefully Wolf will be able to solve my issue.
I'll update this thread as I get a reply from Wolf and range test the gun.
Update
Okay, I reinstalled the 6.5lb trigger spring to give it a try again. I'm able to cock the gun with some effort, and there is a sharp click instead of the normal dull click when I do so. The single action trigger pull is way heavier than normal, and the trigger hardly moves in single action when you pull it. The double action feels lighter than the single action pull, and it is smooth beyond belief. I'll be dry firing single action to see if it improves. Even if it doesn't, I might consider keeping the gun as is because the double action pull is so good. I'll try to make it to the range as soon as I can to try it out with various rounds to see if it functions well.
I also sent an email to Wolf today explaining the problem. I'll report back with what they have to say.
Anyway, this is how you change springs in your M85. It is pretty much applicable to any Taurus revolver, but there are differences. I have changed the springs in my 627 with outstanding results, and it was very similar to the M85, just larger.
So let's begin
You're dealing with springy bits here. Wear eye protection. Also, make sure the gun is unloaded, be safe, don't be retarded, and be generally good.
First you remove the grips. Unscrew the grip screw and use something soft like a tongue depressor to slip under the grips

Next you have 3 screws to deal with

One of the screws is also the yoke retaining pin and is multi part (screw, spring, and pin), so make sure you don't lose it.

Next you have to remove the slide plate. Rumor has it that you can hold it like this and hit it with a mallet and the plate will pop off

Well, it does, but it will take many many wacks, so skip that part and pry up where the main spring assembly enters the frame with something that will not mar the finish. Chopsticks work wonders

This is what you are left with.

I bought a spring pack from Wolf Springs for the M85. The pack contains 2 reduced trigger springs and one reduced power main springs.

I plan to replace both springs, so I will start with the trigger (return) spring first. The trigger spring swivel holds the spring in place, so we need to remove it from the frame to get the spring out.
TRICK: if you pull the trigger back, the trigger spring center pin has a little hole that will appear when it moves through the trigger spring swivel. If you put a small pin through this hole, you can pretty much remove the swivel by hand, but for show and tell, I used a brass punch from the other side of the frame.

Okay, we have the pieces out. We will have to take the new spring and stick it on the center pin and then insert the whole mess back in the frame. This is a major pain in the ass. You will have to find a way to hold the center pin still while you put the spring on and then push the swivel on to it until you can stick a pin through the hole in the center pin to hold the 3 parts together. Be creative here. My fingers are still sore from the experience.
By the way, the swivel only fits on the spring one way. Make sure you use it.

Once pinned, the 3 parts drop right in place.

Keep your finger on the swivel and pull the pin out. The center pin will pop back into place. If it doesn't, then you can use something to pop it back into place behind the trigger.
Now on to the main spring
Compared to the trigger spring, this is a piece of cake. All you need to do is press down on the main spring plate, or cock the gun and stick a pin through the hole in the main spring center pin and uncock the gun. The pin will just lift out of there. Someone was thinking ahead when they drilled these little holes in the pins.

Now replace the spring and them use your imagination to get the spring and plate back on with out shooting it across the room.

Insert the main spring assembly back into the frame. Careful when you pull the pin on the spring as it may shoot across the room. Also make sure that you get the main spring center pin back in the right way. See pictures if you don't remember. I got hit by this

Okay, now replace the slide plate. It only goes in one way due to tabs, so don't force anything

Screw the screws back in, test and the replace the grips. All would be well if I didn't run into trouble.
Here is where it went bad
After installing the the lightest trigger spring and the lightened main spring, I found that the gun would function fine in double action, but would fail to cock the hammer back in single action. I doubled checked everything, and nothing was amiss. I took out the lightened trigger spring and replaced it with the other lightened Wolf spring that came with the pack. Same thing. Double action was fine, but single action would not allow the hammer to be cocked. I removed the second Wolf spring and installed the original Taurus spring and the gun worked fine.
After examining the springs I found that they vary in length. The original Taurus spring is in the middle

The lightest Wolf spring is the shortest one, and the second lightest Wolf spring is the longest one. It looks like a coil or two length makes a big difference. I am going to write Wolf an email asking what's up, but until then, I would avoid swapping out the trigger spring and only swap out the main spring.
With only the main spring swapped the trigger pull is much lighter and even smoother than it was. The issue is that the main spring gives the hammer its oomph. If too light, you're going to see light strikes. I need to head to the range and test it out with my planned self defense ammo If I get 100 or so rounds through the gun without issues, then I'll call it good and leave the spring. If I do encounter issues, I'll revert back to the factory springs.
The addition of the reduced trigger spring would make the trigger pull lighter, but not affect the reliability like a lightened main spring would. Hopefully Wolf will be able to solve my issue.
I'll update this thread as I get a reply from Wolf and range test the gun.
Update
Okay, I reinstalled the 6.5lb trigger spring to give it a try again. I'm able to cock the gun with some effort, and there is a sharp click instead of the normal dull click when I do so. The single action trigger pull is way heavier than normal, and the trigger hardly moves in single action when you pull it. The double action feels lighter than the single action pull, and it is smooth beyond belief. I'll be dry firing single action to see if it improves. Even if it doesn't, I might consider keeping the gun as is because the double action pull is so good. I'll try to make it to the range as soon as I can to try it out with various rounds to see if it functions well.
I also sent an email to Wolf today explaining the problem. I'll report back with what they have to say.