Author Topic: Fitting instructions warning! (Read 1009 times)

trotterlg · « **on:** September 06, 2005, 06:44:02 PM »

After getting the hinge pin pivot honed to the correct position so that the barrel fit the receiver correctly I went to work to get the latch engagement to the specified 1/8 inch. I can tell you now with no doubt that .125 inch is too much latch engagement. This amount put the latch at the end of it's travel on a SB2 receiver. When I look at the engagement on a proper fitting factory barrel it is about .075 to .080 inch, which leaves some latch travel and provides a good lock up. OK, A nice lesson, (a little pricy) but I will start over, Just be careful with following the instructions and watch how much travel you have left in the latch release while you are doing the barrel fitting. Larry

Mac11700 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2005, 07:39:34 PM »

The general rule for doing any of this kind of work...is hone a little bit...check for fit and function.Always check before continuing honing anything on them....it's so much easier to remove metal...than it is to put it back.

Mac

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** September 06, 2005, 07:53:45 PM »

Mac is exactly right, that's why the instructions indicate approx 1/8", each rifle is different, some may be more, some less. I have many frames and barrels, not a one of em is identical to another, but they're all real close, not too many have more than 1/8", but some do, just depends on the latch shelf and and the latch itself.

I'm sure that with a little forethought, you should be able to fix the latch shelf. I theorized about this when working the shelf, thought about using a shim epoxied to the shelf, then take it down just like the pivot work. Fred has a lot about the latch shelf on his web site, maybe now would be a good time to check it out and make the modifications that he has done to make the geometry of the latch and shelf more compatible.

Fred M · « **Reply #3 on:** September 07, 2005, 03:29:48 AM »

We are all back to a comment I made some time ago,

trotterlg · « **Reply #4 on:** September 07, 2005, 03:39:56 AM »

I have no problem with the thought I screwed up, it would have been nice to have had some knowledge as to how easy it is to run out of latch travel. Watching for proper latch engagement distance is only one part of the fitting process, having enough travel left when you are done is another part that is not mentioned at all. If you want a nice near new 17 barrel it is on ebay for a $1.99, I will start with a new one and get it right. I have screwed up much bigger projects than this one. Larry

Fred M · « **Reply #5 on:** September 07, 2005, 04:39:24 AM »

trotterig.

your are running out of latch travel?

Mac11700 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 07, 2005, 05:13:51 AM »

Quote from: trotterlg

I have no problem with the thought I screwed up, it would have been nice to have had some knowledge as to how easy it is to run out of latch travel. Watching for proper latch engagement distance is only one part of the fitting process, having enough travel left when you are done is another part that is not mentioned at all. If you want a nice near new 17 barrel it is on ebay for a $1.99, I will start with a new one and get it right. I have screwed up much bigger projects than this one. Larry

No-one has said what you did was unfixable...and for what it's worth...this would be a straight forward repair..not as easy a honing a little and fitting..but a sure fire way of building it back up...

Quote

I'm sure that with a little forethought, you should be able to fix the latch shelf. I theorized about this when working the shelf,thought about using a shim epoxied to the shelf, then take it down just like the pivot work.

Just as shimming a otherwise too loose a barrel lug for proper lock up..using epoxy and a steel shim on the latch isn't that difficult to do...and will save you having to buy a complete barrel.The other way of building up the metal by tig welding it and reshaping it... while that's the absolute best way....isn't always available to most home dabblers.If you have just removed a few thousands too much off the barrel shelf..use a slightly thicker feeler gauge as a shim....cut it to fit...epoxy it on....allow it to cure....hone the rough edges down( just enough to remove the edges..not the bearing surface)...and then refit it .This will get you back to where you started I would bet that it would be less costly in time and money than sending in for a new barrel.Feeler gauges can be had for under $5.00 at Auto-Zone...and epoxy is about the same... and you can use the appropiate feeler gauge for what ever depth you need put back from taking too much off on your first attempt...you'll just need to square up the latch surface before epoxying the shim in place...and while you may feel your work is not perfect..the barrel should be perfectly usable with the new latch engagement..Fred has more permanent solutions if your wanting to take it to the next level and mate the barrel pefectly with his devcon approach...and will be the way I do it on my next project...

Good Luck

Mac

aulrich · « **Reply #7 on:** September 07, 2005, 06:11:32 AM »

It seems every time the latching system comes up it reminds me of a definition of friendship friend(some one who knows you and likes you anyway). It's not perfect but we all still own atleast one.

And with this as with all modifications, the harder it is to reverse the more care needs to be put into it's execution.

BuzzKill · « **Reply #8 on:** September 07, 2005, 06:14:08 AM »

Hey Trotter-

Hopefully you can get this fixed up so the improvements work on your firearm. I am sure these guys who do more parts tinkering (not me) will help you get to that point. Please rethink selling this barrel on Ebay if it will not work properly or safely on the next poor guys receiver. I know people sell such items everyday on Ebay, but I beleive that this is not responsible when it comes to firearms parts. If it can't be fixed, consider selling it to a forum member who is knowledgable about these workings. Good luck. BuzzKill

Mitch in MI · « **Reply #9 on:** September 07, 2005, 01:11:19 PM »

Well, it's at $51 after 20 hours on eBay, so I guess buying a new one won't hurt you much. Looks like you've made full disclosure on the barrel auction. Why not sell it with the rimfire ejector, did you modify that too?

mattparliament · « **Reply #10 on:** September 07, 2005, 03:05:42 PM »

Hey guys, I was the one who bid the sucker up to $50, I already own a Sportster in 17HMR and the plan was to take the ejector from it, put it in the ebay barrel, and spend some time shimming it up, all the while converting my original 17HMR to a 17 Remington since my sportster 17 fits perfectly on my centerfire frame. Good plan! I like it.... Anyways, since I can get another 17HMR barrel for $63 plus some shipping, I'll get a new one from the barrel accessory program if I want to pursue this project further. In hindsight, for a difference of $25 or so, it will be nice to have a stock barrel and not have to deal with shimming a barrel.....

quickdtoo · « **Reply #11 on:** September 07, 2005, 03:12:53 PM »

The $63 is inviting, but by the time you pay shipping and fitting, it's up to real close to $100...an entire rifle is $130, sometimes on sale for $110. The rimfire barrels just don't make a real bargain any more.

mattparliament · « **Reply #12 on:** September 07, 2005, 03:15:54 PM »

Maybe I'll bid to $53....

trotterlg · « **Reply #13 on:** September 07, 2005, 06:46:09 PM »

I did mod the ejector to fit the 17 remington, you have to mod it to allow it to drop down to fit the non rimmed case. I will throw in the pins and spring and other parts with the barrel when I sell it, I will get new ones with the new barrel. I am an old guy, have a lot of time to play with things to get them just perfect, so it bothers me a great deal when things are not exactly right, and I can afford to make it right so my little pea brain doesn't think about it all night. This is a great adventure, and I am having more fun than I have had in a long time. The receiver went out today for a new barrel, never even had a bullet in the chamber. Larry

Fred M · « **Reply #14 on:** September 08, 2005, 06:24:35 AM »

trotterlg

Larry.

Me, I am old too like you. I also like to play with guns and try find out what makes them tick. Sometimes I look at something for a long time, go away and do something else come back and look some more, get mad curse the rifle like I did with my 257 Roberts and not touch it for a very long time, but this problem is on your mind when suddenly a solution appears. Old brains are not like these fast computer memories and they need a lot of research to feed on.