If the worm has a good purchase on the ball you can find something heavy that will slide over the range rod close and use it like a slide hammer. Few taps should get the ball moving.
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If the worm has a good purchase on the ball you can find something heavy that will slide over the range rod close and use it like a slide hammer. Few taps should get the ball moving.
Well, you know what they say about free advice... I would first try CO2 (not compressed air), easy fast, with no cleanup. If that fails, move on to the zerk fitting and grease gun. My normal first step is FFFF under the nipple.
I just ordered a CO2 bicycle tire filler. Seems like simplest and least potential for damage. If it does work, it will be nice to have on hand, if a similar situation arises.
Maybe some rather hot water to sit in there and soften things up before trying
I’ve been soaking it with Ballistol for five days, but it hasn’t made it past the ball to drip out the nipple yet.
Try 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone
put a grease zerk in the nipple hole. if its a thompson its a 1/4 x 28. Then pump it out with a grease gun. works like a charm
Wow. (did you read any of the thread? lmao)
also if itss a CVA its 6 x 1MM
In that case "IF" he dosnt mind altering he could drill and retap.. Otherwise those old threads werent even cut the tap and dies from that period swagged more than they cut and certainly wont be near standard and likely as you mentioned each tap/die set were individually made often times
Made in 1777 , not a CVA or Thompson Center. Safest way would be to drill out the old nipple and retap to standard size . then push the ball with a grease gun.
you will need a new nipple if you plan to shoot it
If the CO2 dosent work, I’ll have to try and get the nipple out. So far it won’t budge. I am afraid to put too much heat on it. I don’t want to damage the barrel and I’m pretty sure there’s still powder inside.
The French invented the metric system and there were hundreds of thousands of these guns produced. They were some of the first to have standard exchangeable parts. If Zirks are available in all metic sizes, it’s a pretty good bet that I can find one to fit. I just need to get the nipple out and don’t want to resort to drilling etc.
If your going to try a grease gun and can't get the nipple off try a needle nose grease tip held tightly into that nipple. You can get them at any auto parts store and they come in different sizes.
https://images.app.goo.gl/GQuEzdhZZhcESpfm7
https://images.app.goo.gl/kvMuLU1V2KSthjM2A
Been thinking about this since seen and have been asking myself what would I do if I could not get ball out in this situation. I ask bore size and length, crickets. Well, the idea- why not a piece of steel tubing between 3/8" and 1/2" and longer than bore. Cut asterisk 1/4" deep with hacksaw on end, file tooth pattern on backside of cuts similar to a hole saw pattern. Wrap tube in proper direction with duct/electrical tape to bore size every four to six inches and lubricate. Take a battery drill and remove center from projectile and should come out with tube. Compressed air through nipple and blow charge if any out muzzle. Long brass 1/4" rod or so and disrupt ring and take hooked 1/8" rod and extract ring. Told ya I been thinking about it. Oh, and keep your nose away from muzzle!
Pounding on a stuck ball trying to break it loose does nothing but expand it more into the pits that are most likely formed all these years it has been in the barrel.
I pulled a tight stuck dry ball in a flint rifle for a guy once that was tight and after him using a ball puller not holding in the soft lead.
I drilled a hole in a 3/8" brass rod and soldered a #12 cabinet screw to it. A cabinet screw has deep threads that hold better than a regular wood screw.
The second rod I did the same thing as the one with the screw but I soldered a drill bit smaller than the screw so the threads will bite in the lead without expanding the ball tighter. Roughed up the drill shank and I used silver solder.
I wrapped the drill rod and the screw rod with tape to hold center. This will make a good bite in the drill hole wall to let you pull the ball.
This is a extreme for pulling a dry ball but it's better than ruining a fine old rifle drilling out a nipple and rethreading for a new one.