Found this online:
CORRECTING 1894 MARLIN RIFLE JAMMING PROBLEM
Watch the action closely.
With the spent rd. in the chamber, at the very moment you start to open the action the carrier RISES and follows along the case of the fresh rd. as you are opening the action and ejecting the spent rd. The carrier has a V shape to it and should impact on the face of the head of the ctg. pushing in from the mag tube as you open the action. When it does the ctg. in the mag tube is held, and the ctg. on the carrier falls loose, ready to be lifted upstairs when you close the action.
As you start to close the action the carrier rises abruptly, crossing the face of the rd. pushing in from the magazine, to place the fresh round in front of the bolt. As you close the action the bolt strips the round from the carrier ind pushes it into the chamber. The carrier then drops all the way to the bottom of the action and the next round jumps from the magazine tube and stops against the feed gate.
JAMMING
You are unable to start to close the action.
What has happened is that the carrier has caught UNDER the rim of the next ctg. in the mag. tube instead of ON the face of the next ctg. pushing in from the magazine. Your rifle has jammed.
At Marlin this is formally called "Letting in 2". Your CARRIER is out of adjustment and must be replaced with one that is correct for your rifle. CONTACT MARLIN for a REPLACEMENT CARRIER.
If the rifle is properly in time the length of the ctg. isn't critical which is why a Marlin can be set up to fire 38Special/357Magnum or for 44Special/44Magnum.
This seems to have affected 38s the most but 41s were affected as well. I had to put 2 replacement carriers into my 41 CCL and also replace the operating lever.
Also check the operating lever carefully. The carrier cams along the operating lever in order to set it's position to hold the ctg. in the mag tube and if you've had troubles that operating lever may have a nasty little dig/gouge into it where the cam pin on the carrier has bit in.
What to do
1. CHECK the screw that holds the loading gate in place. If the loading gate is loose at all your rifle WILL JAM. Tighten as necessary. Use LOCTITE if necessary to make it sure.
If you still have trouble:
Option (1) Return the rifle to Marlin for service.
Option (2) replace the bad parts yourself.
Remove the operating lever and examine it closely for a dig or gouge in the surfaces where the cam pin in the carrier rides. If you have a dig in the lever you need a new lever as well as a new carrier.
Call Marlin and have them ship you a new carrier and lever if needed for your rifle. Be sure to tell them yours is out of time and is jamming because of "Letting in 2". Remember: You only have "Letting in 2" IF you rifle jams with the lever all the way open.
You may have to try more than once. I had to put 2 replacment carriers and one replacement lever in my 41 CCL to get it to work right. It does work right now, though. My pard Critter fired all 10 rds out of it in a speed rifle just recently in between 4 and 5 seconds and won speed rifle that day at the local match.
