Re: My Latest Project is a Favorite of the family
Over the last couple weeks I have been working on the rifle to get it mechanically back up to working order. Since the Block and Lever screws were worn I knew those would have to be made as they are not available. I also found that the Pins for the Link between the Block and Lever were worn some too. I figured out that the Lever screw was a 10x24 and that is the original size. The Block screw was 1/4x 28 and that is larger than the original so it was modified somewhere in the past. I did find that Dixie advertised the screws but not if they really had any in stock, so I called them and verified with their gunsmith who looked up the sizes for me. I had already placed an order with Brownells for some 1/4" and #10 screw blanks. While waiting for them I started concentrating on how to correct the worn holes in the Block and lever. Since they are worn in an oblong shape they could not just be drilled out since the center of the hole is different due to the wear. I took a couple blocks of wood and made 2 jigs. The first one has pencil marks on it to represent the face of the barrel and the tang on the top and bottom of the action. Then used transfer punches to mark the holes where the screws would go. This just lets me see how the parts work and to help see where the wear was. The second just smaller to fit in my little table top drill press.
With the large jig I drilled the 2 holes and used 2 screws with the heads cut off to locate the parts. Once I had a good Idea of the wear, I then removed the Link, pushed the Block and lever around so that their "Screws" would be in the original positions. Once I thought I had those positions figured out, I used the Pin holes to screw the Block and Lever down. Then I filled the worn parts of the holes around the Screws (these had no threads) with JB Weld and let them sit overnight. I did this to "Test" the locations of the holes. This way I could just break out the JB Weld and try again if need be. Once it was set up good, I then installed them in the rifle with test screws that were the correct thread size. Then carefully (so as to not break the JB Weld out) checked to see if the action would now lock up tight. I got lucky the first try and it locked right up.
Now that I had "New" holes to work with, I locked the parts down on the drill jig and located them in the press with a Drill bit that just slid in the holes. I had picked up some Stainless Tubing that is pretty stout and have used as bushing material before. I was able to get some that had an ID that just fit the screws. I then started with smaller drill bits and worked up to one that was tight enough so I had to use a mallet to tap them in place. After installing them and filing them flush, the Rifle still locked up good. Next I found that a #23 drill bit was just right as an oversize pin, so I cut one up and made 2 pins from the shanks. A #30 drill bit was used as an oversize Pin for the Firing pin. After receiving the screw blanks I then had to cut and work those down to size as well as thread them with a die. Since I am not fortunate enough to have a lathe, I had to do a lot of the work in the drill press and use a file as my "cutting bit". Took quite a bit of time to "Cut Down" the large heads of the screws this way. My cousin and I used to call this "Hand Machining", though we often had to clamp a drill in a vice since we did not have a drill press.
While working on the #10 for the Lever I found that the smaller diameter hole was also worn and let the screw move when locking up the lever, but the larger hole for the head to countersink into looked ok. So I tried cutting down the head so that it just fit into the larger hole smoothly and could also support the screw. Lots of measuring and some trial and error to get that done. Actually the #10 went fairly fast but that 1/4 was a lot more trouble since the head had to be reduced a bit over .100 in diameter. :shock:
Here is the jigs, with the Block and lever assembly, you might be able to see the rings of the stainless bushings. Then there are the 2 screw blanks and the finished screws next to them.
Just the Large jig.
One of just the screws.
This shows the heads of the 1/4" screw finished next to the Blank used.
I had to do some refitting of the extractor today since its position had now changed with the new screws. I also found that the firing pin was a bit too long for my liking. I had pulled the bullets and dumped the powder from a couple 22 LR cases. I used them to "Test Fire" the rifle by placing the muzzle in a box of rags. While looking it over I found that even at half cock the firing pin was resting on the rim of the case with the hammer still under tension. I did not like that so I work on trimming the firing pin so that I had a little daylight between the hammer and the firing pin when placed in the half cock position.
I heated up the parts and treated them with Birchwood Casey Super Blue, then liberally lubed them with BreakFree CLP. So far so good, Now just need a stock set to fit and finish. Spoke to Dad New Years Day and he was real tickled that I had it locking up good. I have no doubt that he called his brother with an update too. :lol: