11-87 mis-behaving

[gcs]

Any 11-87 Guru's want a crack at this?

Occasionally, after firing the first round, the next round chambers, but won't fire, it's like you put on the safety, it's not a light hit.If you bang the side of the receiver that will sometimes get it to fire, otherwise, I unload, cycle the bolt and dry fire, reload and all is well till the next time.
This happened a couple times last year, but this season I can pretty well depend on this happening at least once per outing. I can't get it to happen manually working the bolt and dry firing.

The gun is cleaned and degreased, and sprayed down with Break Free, Rem oil, or whatever I have on hand.
The gun is about 15-17 years old and has never failed up to this point.
I expect something has worn to the point of this happening, but it's sporadic, and functions fine otherwise.

Any ideas, suggestions, greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Dixie Dude]

Have you taken the trigger assembly out and sprayed it with Gunscrubber, then a light spray of oil?  Sounds like the hammer is sticking.  Have you have taken the bolt out to see if the firing pin freely moves?  The firing pin could be gummed up and sticking inside the bolt.  Don't know if you broke it completely down to clean, just asking.   

[gcs]

No, I've never completely dis-assembled it,  , does that make me a bad person?
I do completely spray it down with a degreaser/cleaner, and then re-lubricate, everything that's supposed to move seems to.
On other advice, I'm going to remove the stock and check/clean the recoil tube and spring. I actually can still find the manual, so I guess a total tear down is in order.

[Dixie Dude]

It is not hard to tear them down.  I always tear mine down about once a year at least. 
1) Cock and release the bolt, do not fire. 
2) Take off the magazine cap and remove the forearm and then the barrel. 
3) There are two gas holes inside the ring attached to the barrel that blow back the gases to operate the action.  I clean these out with pipe cleaners.  If they are really stopped up, use a small rat tail file.  Be careful with the o-ring.  Wipe down the outside of the magazine tube to clear off all the burned powder residue.
4) Use a small punch and pop out the two pins in the receiver holding the trigger assembly.  Carefully remove the trigger assemble.  There is a lever that attaches in the side of the receiver that is a magazine shut off that will probably fall out if not it is a little gummy in there cause mine falls out. 
5) Spray the trigger assembly with some Gun Scrubber  cause it can collect a lot of mess.  After cleaning out the trigger assembly, give it a little spray with Breakfree or Rem oil. 
6) While you have the trigger assembly out, you can drop out the bolt.  It has a rat-tail type connection on it that must go back exactly like it was.  Clean the bolt with some Gun Scrubber and make sure the firing pin floats freely.  Lightly oil and re-install.
7) Reinstall the trigger assembly.  Be careful to install the little lever before you do and you have to kind of wiggle the assemble back in just right.  Reinstall the pins and the barrel etc. and it should solve the problem. 

Hope this helps. 

http://www.remington.com/pdfs/om/om_11001187.pdf

[gcs]

Thanks Dixie Dude, I just finished tearing the gun down and thoroughly cleaned, and re-assembled.
Was pretty easy following the instructions.

I was next going to remove and clean the action spring from it's tube under the stock, but can't drift the retaining pin out. I don't think it's causing a problem though as the gun cycles, just once in a while it won't fire as if the hammer hung up or the safety was applied. I couldn't get the hammer to hang up manually though.

Everything is clean and loose, so hopefully that fixed it.

[gcs]

Well, the major clean up didn't work, gun is still failing to fire on the cycled round, except it's happening more often, I'm thinking something is worn out in the trigger assembly. Any other ideas appreciated.

[Dixie Dude]

I have seen trigger assemblies at gun shows.  Don't know how much Remington would charge.  May need to check with them, or go to a gun show for parts.

[Foggy]

Take your bolt out and detail clean it. sounds like somethng besides the hammer is sticking

[island66]

If the gun is that old and the action spring is still original, that'd be my guess for a cause.  Those springs take a set over time.  A new one should slam the bolt home with more force.  Give that a shot. 

Also, make sure that the disconnector is not bent, damaged, or binding up on something. 

Also, make sure that the inside of the gas cylinder (ring on bottom of bbl) is clean and rust free.  If there's any rough areas there, it will prevent the bolt from closing all the way and prevent the gun from firing.

Check the piston/piston seal to make sure they're not bent/broken for the same reason as above. 

Check the condition of the chamber to make sure it's not rusty/rough. 

But my bet is on the action spring. 

Good luck.