Bipod repair ?

[John Crusher]

On my '43 Inglis the bipod kind of flops around when locked up. I was looking at the legs where they pivot in the yoke and there is a bit of wear there and I was wondering if this area can be built up with weld and reshaped to lock it in tighter. I haven't checked to see if it is cast or milled steel as that would determine the type of welding required, but would like to know if anyone has done anything to this area and what you did ? I have a foregrip on it and the legs bang on my wrist when carrying and shooting. Thanks, John.

Information

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[Brit plumber]

Have you tried tightening the screw? If that fails, I think you would find it easier to just buy a replacement joint. Kev has them (I think some are NOS) as that will save on building up, shaping and haredening the area again, plus you know its right.

[Peter Laidler]

The actual repair when the feet didn't grip the sides of the body correctly (or would just pull away easily) was to build up the relevant part of the camming surface on the top of the bipod legs and slowly file away/hand fit them so that as they ride against the cams of the bipod sleeve (the collar that rotates on the gas cylinder), this brings them in and tightens the feet against the gun body.

Once you have started the fit and are getting close to perfect, it won't take long to go too far and you'll have to start again. We did this many, many times as apprentices but now that I look back, I'd say that it was a 'character building' exercise. Not the words I used during my apprenticeship I hasten to add.............

Take heart that even a new set of bipod legs and sleeve didn't automatically make the legs fit perfectly. We used to have a gauge that we could use to get them correct. Anyone out there got a picture of the gauge we used to have?

If you were a bodger, you could just bend the outer legs! But Harry Weeks, the Bren instructor at Carlisle was wise to these old tricks and he used to check the straightness of the legs with a straightedge! No wonder we called him 'Tosser' Weeks........... Not to his face of course, that was 'SIR, spelled CUR!

[Kev G]

Take heart that even a new set of bipod legs and sleeve didn't automatically make the legs fit perfectly. We used to have a gauge that we could use to get them correct. Anyone out there got a picture of the gauge we used to have?

The jig -




ATB and best wishes for 2012 to all.

[Peter Laidler]

I just knew someone would have one. It replicated a body foir the purposes of welding up and fitting. Clever eh!

[skiprat]

when I sent my bipods/guns in to the local Armoured workshop. they had a small plate metal gauge (like a drill grinding gauge or lathe screw cutting gauge).
This was used by the welder to ensure he had put enough new metal on to the leg. and then by the class 3 armourer to remove most of the excess metal to rough out the shape.
Final fitting was done on the actual weapon my a more senior tradesman.

[John Crusher]

I'm a welder/machinist/mechanic by profession and a tinkerer when it comes to firearms (I build FALs and such) so I figured I'd tackle this one on my own and seeing there is a gage that can be fabricated and having a reference photo is the real assistance I needed. You lads just never cease to amaze me with the knowledge you share. Thanks, John.

[Peter Laidler]

I wouldn't bother making a jig if you've just got a set to do. The jig comes into its own when youve got a workshops worth to fix! Just weld up and make good a bit at a time should do you

Regarding the two screws at the top of the bipod legs, they should be so tight as to permit movement but not so tight as to bind the legs or articulating yoke.