re-assembly the recoil spring
Rocky,
It's not you. I have the same problem and bet most do too.
The recoil spring rod is a close tolerance fit in the guide hole and doesn't want to go in at the angle at first. It is a two handed job to keep the whole thing from flying across the room.
What I do is sit down, hold the slide in my lap so it won't move, then with left fingers on the spring and rod up near the guide hole and the right hand fingers on the rest of the spring, slowly try to push it and fit it into the hole. May have to turn it a few times.
Sometimes I'm lucky and it goes in place the first try, usually not. Don't let go until you are sure the back end is in it's groove on the barrel.
Good luck,
og