Andy
07-22-2020, 10:42 PM
Looking for advice on a tricky situation. I have an 37 featherlight in the shop, and the breech block/slide is not coming out of the action by the normal method. Here is a link to a schematic so we can use the same part terms/refer to the same diagram:
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/ithacaskb/37-2/parts-list-ith-37
With the shotgun inverted (loading gate up) the "slide pin" part 15 must be slid against spring pressure to the left, doing so slides the slide pin out of the hole in the action bar. The action bar does not have its own part # but it is the only part next to #44 (forend tube) in the diagram. The action bar then should slide freely forward, allowing the breech bolt to remove to the rear of the receiver for disassembly.
My problem is that the slide pin moves freely left and right, but when slid all the way (even extremely with two picks staggered to really push it to the spring side) to the left, the action bar will not disengage from it. It is not possible to observe what is happening in the blind hole, but I speculate that the slide pin has broken off in a jagged shape, and I am therefore moving/sliding the visible part to no impact on the broken part locking the action bar to the breech bolt.
What I've tried:
- Soaked area in kroil 4 days then:
- I have tapped the receiver while holding the presumably broken slide pin to the left, hoping to make the broken part fall out of the action bar, no luck.
- Did above with strong magnet pulling in direction you want the broken piece to move, no luck.
- Did above while applying flex pressure to accessible part of action bar to wiggle it, again no luck.
- Did above & gave short raps to bolt via brass pin, no luck, this signals to me that it is a real mechanical blockage not just gunk/rust in there.
Not really sure what to do at this point so looking for tips, maybe I'll get lucky and I'm overlooking something simple. I am not an expert on these guns so it is possible there is a basic thing I am not doing right. Happy to provide photos/more info if helpful.
Thanks in advance for any help given, I hate to turn away someone with a gun that I cannot fix but I know my limits and won't force anything or do anything weird. If I can't get it free I would be open to sending it out to a repair business that is knowledgeable on this type of situation, so open to thoughts on that as well.
Andy
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/ithacaskb/37-2/parts-list-ith-37
With the shotgun inverted (loading gate up) the "slide pin" part 15 must be slid against spring pressure to the left, doing so slides the slide pin out of the hole in the action bar. The action bar does not have its own part # but it is the only part next to #44 (forend tube) in the diagram. The action bar then should slide freely forward, allowing the breech bolt to remove to the rear of the receiver for disassembly.
My problem is that the slide pin moves freely left and right, but when slid all the way (even extremely with two picks staggered to really push it to the spring side) to the left, the action bar will not disengage from it. It is not possible to observe what is happening in the blind hole, but I speculate that the slide pin has broken off in a jagged shape, and I am therefore moving/sliding the visible part to no impact on the broken part locking the action bar to the breech bolt.
What I've tried:
- Soaked area in kroil 4 days then:
- I have tapped the receiver while holding the presumably broken slide pin to the left, hoping to make the broken part fall out of the action bar, no luck.
- Did above with strong magnet pulling in direction you want the broken piece to move, no luck.
- Did above while applying flex pressure to accessible part of action bar to wiggle it, again no luck.
- Did above & gave short raps to bolt via brass pin, no luck, this signals to me that it is a real mechanical blockage not just gunk/rust in there.
Not really sure what to do at this point so looking for tips, maybe I'll get lucky and I'm overlooking something simple. I am not an expert on these guns so it is possible there is a basic thing I am not doing right. Happy to provide photos/more info if helpful.
Thanks in advance for any help given, I hate to turn away someone with a gun that I cannot fix but I know my limits and won't force anything or do anything weird. If I can't get it free I would be open to sending it out to a repair business that is knowledgeable on this type of situation, so open to thoughts on that as well.
Andy