Really Stubborn Spring Tube Receiver

[lemaymiami]

I'll be watching this thread closely to see how it works out. As a guy who works around saltwater I'm pretty familiar with the "hot wrench" (a propane torch applied to one of two surfaces that are locked down by a combination of corrosion and other factors...). I long ago began using the torch to heat - followed immediately by a penetrating spray lube and go through that routine several times before using a combination of wrench and tapping with a small hammer to free up stubborn fasteners. I've never worked on any firearm receivers so I'll be interested to see how you fare... good luck on your efforts.

[USGI]

I need to look in to a set of good no mar vise jaws to protect and grip.

What are you guys using?
Ever try these??

Charlie, I've made vise jaw caps like the ones in this picture from an old 1950's metal working text book. I made them out of various kinds of sheet metal. They'll fit snug and stay in place with no extra "fiddling." It works best to make a pattern first with cardboard, like from an old cereal box. - Bob

[browningautorifle]

I've made vise jaw caps like the ones in this picture from an old 1950's metal working text book.

Yes, I used muffler tube as that was what came to hand. Battered and well used, they're still in place.

[Bruce McAskill]

Charlie, First off you need to be sure to take out any play in the receiver wrench. Using tape if you have to but the wrench needs to be snug. Then as Marcus suggest make sure you have something solid like his drill bit in place of the spring tube when you try to take it off. Now I have found a nice four to five foot section of steel pipe on the handle will allow you all the torque you need to remove it. Use the barrel clamp too in the vise. Make sure the screws are tight and that it is firmly seated in the vise. Then have at it. I had an early Winchester like this and doing what I suggested made it easy to remove a bad barrel. The new barrel same time frame as the old one would not go on till I had to have a machinist remove a small amount of barrel and receiver.

[painter777]

Success !!

First, I'd like to thank my Mother who has always believed in me and to all those like me who pray for world peace and an end to hunger.

Second, To the members who had my back and spent their time sharing their techniques, knowledge, methods and advice.

Now to those who wanted me to fail.... HAH In Your Face !!

The Project, Getting a stubborn spring tube receiver off a barrel. Damn thing nearly crippled me by trying to horse on it.
Before my failed attempt I had pre-soaked this chamber area for a couple days prior to attempting dis assembly with liquid wrench. I like Liquid Wrench but felt I needed something that would breakdown old carbon deposits.
Barreled/receiver was clamped in to a vise upright. Time to try something new for a pre soak. By rubber plugging the chamber with the muzzle pointed down and filling the chamber face with Hoppes #9, the solvent would slowly weep down through/under the receivers ring, slowly at first but I'd refill it whenever seeing it was not pooled. Soon afterward the catch pan below was collecting BLACK SOOT looking residue. Keep in mind I had cleaned this carbine thoroughly before starting this project. As stated in earlier posts I had put more torque on this than I was comfortable with, way more. Finally the newly applied #9 started washing down cleaner, without having that black carbon look to it. I switched to kerosene in the chamber, after a few fill ups I watched it run right through coming out under the receiver ring. Bingo ! I knew she was ready for another try.

Made up a set of vise grips from some flat stock aluminum that's 1/8" thick by 6" wide. Cut it to fit the width of my vise and bent it over. Covered it with a thin rubber mat used for the bottom of the tool box drawers. Stuck the barrel in and put a drill bit shank in the tube area on the receiver (Thanks Marcus!)

Positioned the receiver wrench and used a bottle jack under it. Had a few draws on my pipe, got some tension on the jack...... heard that very uncomfortable creak sound again
Stopped while leaving pressure on it and took a break with the peace pipe. Might have been a quiet prayer in there at this point. Went for it, 1/2 a crank on the jack handle and seen this had passed the index line by about 1/4" .
Pulled the jack out and was able to twist it off by hand.
Threads on the barrel were black from carbine and or that Black/Dark Blue rebuild park they used.

Success, I knew it would be a piece of cake

Next I'll have to pull a rear adj sight, I've used Blue loctite on one of my shooters to keep from having to stake again. Think I'll use some heat before trying it. Then the frt sight.

Hey........... Really do appreciate the support from all. Sometimes you just get nervous......
Know what I mean?

Thx All

Charlie-Painter777

[painter777]

Using tape if you have to but the wrench needs to be snug

Hi Bruce,
I tape the contact area on the receiver and the inside of the wrench. Figured that out before doing my first one years ago. Enuff tape to make getting the wrench over/on a pain in the a$$. Really helps (as you know) to get rid of that play, getting a better fit, but most important to me is it minimizing any scarring on the receiver.

I'm still not sold on the barrel clamps. Just prefer getting more bite with the wider vise jaws than the 1"~ or so that the barrel block gives you.
Now if Matrix made a similar barrel clamp but with a wider bite, I'd jump in.

Good to hear from you, hope both of you are doing well.

Cheers
Charlie-Painter777

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Good for you.

So what kind of tobacco were you using in your pipe. Might want to save some for next time.

[lemaymiami]

Congrats... at the end of most days on the water - when anyone asks how we did... My usual response is - it was great - we didn't break anything... That can always be said about things mechanical as well.