Marlin 336 - Main Hammer Spring going bad???

[fastlane336]

Hello-

Just picked up a used Marlin 336CS on an online auction. First trip out to the rifle range this past weekend and experienced a problem.  The hammer wasn't hitting the primer hard enough to ignite the primer, was denting it but not hard enough ignite.

Good thing the guy who did my FFL transfer was there and he only lives a few miles away, we went to his house to remove the stock.  The second the stock was off, the hammer spring and the curved metal clip(not sure the real name) fell right off.   We thought the spring wasn't even on and functioning previously, but I didn't hear anything rattling around.  

So we put everything back in it's place and it still didn't hit the primer hard enough to ignite it.  Quick fix, we added a small washer with the sides ground down so it didn't rub the stock for some additional compression.  That did the trick, gun shot great after some rigging.  This was a temporary fix, I ordered a new spring online lastnight.  

Is it common that these springs go bad?  I'm sure if you put enough rounds though the rifle something will eventually go.  

Note to self, maybe buying a rifle sight unseen and out of state isn't always the best way to go.

[VTDW]

I don't think it is common at all.  When I first got into Marlins I shortened my mainspring on my .444 trying to lighten the trigger pull and the same thing happened to me.  Not the falling out but the occasional misfire.  I did as you.  I added a #10 flat washer with the sides ground flat and still use it that way today.  Most likely someone had either shortened the spring or had heated to relieve the tension.  

Dave