[Taurus24740cal]

I have seen some posts regarding the plastic guide in the slide spring. Because my company has some what of a machine shop in the back, I was considering having our machine guy make a new one. My question is... how does one remove the springs for proper measuring and such?

 

[Taurus24740cal]

Today while cleaning my GAT (LOL)... I was checking out the rod. I decided to try to twist one end. well nothing really happened until i tried to reassemble the gun. Then I noticed that I couldnt get the slide back to the slide catch! I was paranoid! So i took it apart again, and twisted the rod back the other way, put it back and all was fine. I guess somehow I locked up the rod??