No4 T shooters, let this be........

[Peter Laidler]

I really don't know whether to just cry or commit hari-kari. When you've seen it, done it, been there and been around the block a few times you can safely say that you've seen it all. So I thought. But today I can safely say that I have really and truly seen it all. I looked at a very nice looking No32 telescope for a friend of a friend of a...., you get my drift, because it was stringing its shots up and down which No4T's and Mk3 scopes don't usually do. He also told me in the note that he couldn't a) tighten the range lead screw locking nut and b) nor could he remove it to 'fix' the problem. Nope, nor could I!

In fact, to get the deflection lead screw locking nut out I had to take the drum off the telescope and secure it in a vice and even then, use a pair of pliers on the special forked tool I've been using since 1965 to unscrew it. It was THAT tight. But, alas, it was an omen for what was to come.

The range lead screw locking nut had to be gently rotated and coaxed upwards, bringing with it lots of brass swarf and fragments. This absolute and total clown had tightened the lead screw retained down soooooo tight over the years that said clown had sheared the threads away from the brass inner rotating spindle. The complete Mk3 drum assembly is now toast. I mean....., how fxxxxxg tight does it need to be? Well, I'll tell you. It needs to be just over finger tight, sufficient to lock the lead screw to the spindle. And NO more. If you are on the advance into Antwerp in 1944 you might just tweak it a gnats knacker more..... But they ain't jumbo jet wheel nuts!

Let that be a lesson for you all. The valuable turret assembly is knackered except for a few spare parts. I expect some of the real experts could fix it by bushing it or sleeving it* and..... Oh, don't get me going about expert shooters.

Just over finger tight - sufficient to lock the lead screw to the spindle
* no they couldn't. There's not enough meat in the thin walls he's knackered

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[Roger Payne]

And IIRC the thread is twin start, so even if someone can sleeve the centre spindle, threading it is not going to be easy.....

[Peter Laidler]

You have identified the wrong part I feel DRP. The part that is destroyed is the single start internally threaded part into which the double-start lead screw goes. What a waste, caused through clumsy heavy handedness.

[Roger Payne]

Ah! Yes, I see what you're referring to. A real bXXX ache nonetheless!

[Peter Laidler]

Yes, indeed. The central and most important part of the whole assembly no less. Haven't given it back to him via his pal. Where does he get a new Mk3 drum? Not my problem I'd say.

[Roger Payne]

Even if you're happy to, you can only repair these things so long as the necessary spares are available. I can only get these ex-Indian scopes up & running again thanks to the efforts of a good egg & fellow forummer who is making me clicker plungers, Mk3 lead screw shoes, etc., etc. Well, that & the fact that I've been stockpiling No42's & 53's for some years, so can now replace lenses as whole matched sets.

[MJ1]

Not your monkey. No grog and a steady hand before I go near the locking rings after reading the stories.

[GeeRam]

Where does he get a new Mk3 drum? Not my problem I'd say.

He could register one one of the many re-enactment forums and see if there are any of the sadly many 4T's that have been deactivated and whether anyone is willing to trade scopes or parts thereof..... ?

[Surpmil]

I'm just wondering what tool he used to do it? Perhaps he had one made up from a large screw drive or some such appliance. Something with a nice big grip that would give lots of leverage!