1911 Main spring tuning

Ok, changed out my flat  Mainspring housing for a new Wilson wedge, its sort of a cross between a flat and a arched. Went to put the spring and caps in the new one and its like its not as deep inside, spring was out a little farther and it took more force to get it in and the retaining pin in. Has anyone ran into something like this, or have any modified the spring? I have had a few custom built guns with non stock length m/s springs so I know some do it. Just looking for tuning tips to this very important part that doesn't get talked about much.

try a 19lbs spring.

Sound like my ILS when I went to a GI spring and cap.

Actually the spring I put in was a new 17,

Do you have a dial caliper that you can measure depth of the mainspring hole on both housings for comparison? 
Jon

Jon Eulette wrote:Do you have a dial caliper that you can measure depth of the mainspring hole on both housings for comparison? 
Jon

On closer checking the 17lb spring is just longer than a 18 and up. So I guess its not the housing its just the springs length.

Ok I ran into something very similar when I was just changing mainsprings. The original spring was a quarter inch shorter than the replacement spring and after I looked at the original it appeared to have been cut so I cut the new spring to fit and so far it's working just fine. Do mainsprings come in different lengths ? or what I have done ?

Different lengths and wire thicknesses .

So how do you know how to order a replacement spring and where ?

Skid, Are you changing mainsprings in a Springfield with the ILS?

I order my mainsprings from Brownells.com

Don't get to wrapped up over mainspring lengths. It's a small factor in the trigger job. It just basically does 2 things; ignition and keeping slide in battery during firing/recoil retarding. For a typical wadgun a 19# spring is sufficient.  But so is a 18# or 20#. Sear engagement and sear spring have more effect on trigger pull. If i had a pistol with a sub standard barrel fit that came out of battery too soon I would use heavier mainspring to try to slow the slide down. As a matter of fact I recommend that on the RO because they come out of battery pretty fast with stock barrel. 
Jon

Rob that's right but I replaced the mainspring housing all together and I bought the 20lb replacement spring from Brownells.
  Jon thanks it is a RO that I'm working on and it's going to get a new barrel.

Skid,
Just make sure you replace the ILS mainspring top cap with a GI version.  The cap for the ILS is very much taller, and that accounts for the reason the mainspring is different.

Thanks Rob I'll do that.