B Super Slide Stop: The Saga Begins

Parts have finally started really drying up for Star pistols, and we're now going to be moving into a new phase, where you have three choices:

1. Everything becomes a wall-hangar. Oh, you can take it down and click it occasionally, but don't shoot it as it might break. 
2. Get by with broken bits, but keep shooting. 
3. Repair the parts yourself. 

I have recently acquired a B Super (I didn't have one lately before this) largely with Option #3 in mind.

It has one of the key problems that some readers have sent to me, namely the follower detector on the slide stop is sheared off. This is a real problem as there appear to be no replacements around anymore.

It is my intention to repair the part then, but first, let's examine it. This is a single part number to Star, in all lists and manuals. But it's not a single piece. Look close at the back end.

There's a screw. It's staked to avoid falling out, but not very hard. Wobbling it back and forth very carefully, with a very well-fitted screwdriver will allow you to remove it. Note that the screw has no stop point, so you can twist both ways and won't be over-tightening it. This is convenient for our removal purposes.

Once you get it loose, slowly unscrew it as there is spring tension. Not much, but be careful as these are tiny parts.

Back to front there is the screw/guide, a spring, and the plunger that provides spring tension for the whole slidestop/takedown lever portion.

I was hoping this would mean the follower sensor is also a separate piece that can be simply filed to shape, but no such luck. The answer will be welding a rod on here, but at least that welding won't ruin the slide stop mechanism now that we know how to take it apart.

When I get to the next step, I'll post that also.