Author Topic: Help! Not locking up after disassembly (Read 1023 times)

guzzijohn · « **on:** April 02, 2007, 03:08:38 AM »

I recently bought my first Handi in 243 with the 22" heavy barrel. I have not been happy with the accuracy (best about 2-3" worst around 8" depending upon the load @ 100 yrd.). I also have a varmintized Winchester Highwall in .219 Donaldson-Wasp that I can consistantly obtain 1" groups so I do not think it is me. This last weekend I removed the forearm to put in an o-ring, removed the barrel and hinge pin to check and clean the extractor, hinge area, etc. When I try to reassemble the barrel will not lock up at all. When closing it appears that the barrel sticks up about 1/16th of an inch and will not completly flush up with the back of the reciever. I cannot find any reason for this. I searched F&Qs and could not find a possible reason for this. I did not do any adjustments, filing on anything, etc. On the positive side it appears I lucked out an got an excellent trigger out of the box. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Guzzi John

PartsMan · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2007, 03:24:27 AM »

Does it have an extractor.
Some times I have to pull out the extractor on my new barrels to install them.
There is a roll pin that gets in the way if it's in all the way.
It sounds like your getting closer to lockup than that but it's worth a look.

guzzijohn · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2007, 04:17:46 AM »

Thanks for the reply. It has an ejector, not an extractor. Sorry about not being specific. If I am following your line of thought how do you get the pin back in once the barrel is in place?
Guzzi john

djw · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2007, 04:52:25 AM »

Quote from: guzzijohn on April 02, 2007, 04:17:46 AM

Thanks for the reply. It has an ejector, not an extractor. Sorry about not being specific. If I am following your line of thought how do you get the pin back in once the barrel is in place?
Guzzi john

I don't think he's actually removing the pin. Rather, he's sliding the extractor out to the extended position so that the roll pin is in the "barrel open" position. Then it is in position to properly engage the receiver as he closes the action.
Don

quickdtoo · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2007, 05:18:36 AM »

Quote from: guzzijohn on April 02, 2007, 03:08:38 AM

This last weekend I removed the forearm to put in an o-ring, removed the barrel and hinge pin to check and clean the extractor, hinge area, etc.
Guzzi John

What do you mean by hinge pin? The hinge pin is installed in the frame, you'd need a press to remove it.

Tim

guzzijohn · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2007, 05:49:27 AM »

As for the hinge pin I am referring to the large pin that the barrel pivots around. I removed it without any undo problem using a punch and then gently hammered it back in place.
Guzzi John

quickdtoo · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2007, 05:53:43 AM »

Why would you remove it?

It would need to be reinstalled in the exact same position for the barrel to have the same fit as it wouldn't take much as you found out for the barrel not to fit.

Tim

guzzijohn · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2007, 06:38:05 AM »

It appears that you may have identified my problem!. I removed it to be sure everything was clean not knowing any better. Although I bought the rifle new through a gun shop I was given the rifle off the shelf with no box or owner's manual. Guess I may be learning some things the hard way. Does this mean that I will probably need to send it in to be repaired?
Guzzi John

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2007, 06:52:03 AM »

I've never needed to remove a hinge pin, but from what has been posted here, those that have removed it, used a press, if yours came out that easy, I would be suspect of that. I would probably remove it and try to put it back in but rotate it one spline at a time until the barrel locks up good again, it will take a lot tries unless you get lucky. Too bad you didnt index it when you removed it, then it would have been a simple matter of aligning the marks.

If there's any wear marks on the pin, that should give you an idea where it was originally.

The other alternative would be to just send it back to H&R, give em a call first on their toll free line (866)776-9292, explain exactly whatcha did, and go from there.

Good luck,

Tim

guzzijohn · « **Reply #9 on:** April 02, 2007, 08:19:18 AM »

Really appreciate the help. I will give it try yet on my own before contacting H&R. I guess this is what you call learning by experience. Now the questions is if I have to send it in anyway do I want another barrel and if so what caliber? At least that is more of a fun problem to deal with.
Thanks,
Guzzi John

PartsMan · « **Reply #10 on:** April 02, 2007, 08:30:48 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on April 02, 2007, 05:53:43 AM

Why would you remove it? It would need to be reinstalled in the exact same position for the barrel to have the same fit as it wouldn't take much as you found out for the barrel not to fit.

Tim

Good to know.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #11 on:** April 02, 2007, 12:18:50 PM »

Well if you have to send it on. I would order a couple barrels. Like maybe 223, 25-06, 45-70, just to start with.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #12 on:** April 02, 2007, 12:30:27 PM »

Dale is correct, and how about a .357 Mag barrel also, after all if it's going it might as well go for a good reason!!!....<><...

P.S. - and perhaps get a free trigger job while it's there...

guzzijohn · « **Reply #13 on:** April 03, 2007, 04:37:15 AM »

I may be interested in a 45/70 barrel although I really have no good need for it. May lean more toward the 223 due to ammo cost although it appears that the 223 is losing that advantage. As for a trigger job I do not think it is needed as the trigger is really quite good. I would guess that the pull is between 3 and 4 lbs and is quite crisp. Have a Marlin 39A with a trigger job and the handi is at least as good if not better. The highwall is another matter as it has double sets with the set trigger under a pound. After shooting the highwall and then going back to the Marlin I think sometimes think that the hammers not cocked!
Guzzi John

trotterlg · « **Reply #14 on:** April 03, 2007, 04:48:26 PM »

I have an old 16 ga Topper shotgun that was loose locking up, I drove out the hinge pin, clocked it 180 degrees and drove it back in, locks up perfect now. Larry

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** April 03, 2007, 05:34:21 PM »

Larry, that thought was running thru my mind for barrel fitting, but I've never tried it, past threads on hinge pin removal indicated a press was needed to remove the pin, was it hard to remove?

Thanks,

Tim

trotterlg · « **Reply #16 on:** April 03, 2007, 05:47:51 PM »

My shotgun is probably 40 years old, but I just put it on an open vice and drove it out with a medium hammer and punch. It came out about like you would expect a pin of that size to come out. It is not anything special. I have thought of making an offset pin with a little larger diameter on the outsides, reaming the frame slightly and then just clocking the pin around until you get the lockup you want. Larry

quickdtoo · « **Reply #17 on:** April 03, 2007, 06:00:41 PM »

Well, I think I'll try it on the next barrel I fit if it's real close.

Tim

guzzijohn · « **Reply #18 on:** May 23, 2007, 10:22:15 AM »

Back in early April I had a post concerning that I had removed the hinge pin on my Handi .243 not knowing that this would screw up mating the barrel. I could not get the gun to lock up after putting the pin back in. I finally gave up and shipped it to H&R with a humble letter of how I had screwed up and asked them to repair my mistake. I also asked to see if they could do anything about sticking shell cases and occasional pop opens. I shipped the gun on May 6th by land snail mail so I assume they didn't get it until around the 14th at the earliest. To my great pleasure it was delivered back by UPS on the 22nd. There was no charges including no shipping charge. I have not had a chance to fire it yet to see if the the other two concerns were improved, however could not be more pleased with the service.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #19 on:** May 23, 2007, 10:31:52 AM »

They are exceptional about fixing their firearms for us, even under less than ideal situations, but that's the usual SOP for them, fortunately for us!!

Thanks for the feedback!!

Tim

dw06 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 23, 2007, 01:32:47 PM »

Thats good to hear!I had the same great service a month or so ago with them fixing an ejector and replacing parts,at no cost.

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #21 on:** May 23, 2007, 02:34:46 PM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on May 23, 2007, 10:31:52 AM

They are exceptional about fixing their firearms for us, even under less than ideal situations, but that's the usual SOP for them, fortunately for us!!

Thanks for the feedback!!

Tim

Absolutely. Their CS is one of the best you will find.