Mystery Belt Fed Machine Gun Top Cover

[peregrinvs]

Nearly there. I will hopefully soon move onto the dismantling phase which will begin with a long soak in penetrating oil. I was pleased to find (when I gave it an experimental tap with a plastic hammer) that the extractor spring is still strong.

Probably a long shot, but could anyone point me towards some info on how it comes apart? I am aware of a scan of the WWII German operator manual available online which contains illustrations of it taken apart. This is very helpful, but it isn’t quite a dismantling guide and still leaves some guesswork.

PS. Has anyone apart from me spotted the aviation themed serial number? The first flight of the Boeing 747 was in 1969.

[browningautorifle]

I am aware of a scan of the WWII German operator manual available online which contains illustrations of it taken apart. This is very helpful, but it isn’t quite a dismantling guide and still leaves some guesswork.

Honestly? Unless an owner pops up here, I'd order the user manual for the $30USD and go from there. If you have the whole thing it would help. I'm also guessing you have some aside mechanical ability which will help. It's going to be tough because of it's condition.

The link to the manual... German MG Manuals

[42rocker]

Look on page 28 and 29. Then look at your top cover.
John translates and reprints a great manual.

Long how well it's coming out from what it was.

Later 42rocker

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Molasses from your friendly local stock-feed supplier also works. Makes the place smell like a sugar mill, as well. Not to be used on Zinc alloy items like Carburetor bodies..........

NOTHING of my experience will "recover" rusted springs. The residual micro-pits are the potential stress risers that will result in fractures..

Always run "test pieces" in your chosen brew, before committing anything of potential value to the pot. Glass or ceramic containers work well, as do heavy polyethylene "trays" or buckets made from re-purposed chemical containers.

[peregrinvs]

Progress… A 2-3 week soak in penetrating oil allowed the rear retention screw to undo which meant I could remove the rear locking mechanism parts. The next bit to focus on is the rectangular wedge of metal in the middle that retains the belt feed mechanism. So far it has shown no signs of wanting to move.

[browningautorifle]

soak in penetrating oil

Eventually it'll come free. Not sure how well everything will manipulate after.

[Flying10uk]

It's interesting that the main part of the top cover appears to have been machined from a solid billet of steel rather than being a pressing as you might expect.

[peregrinvs]

I believe the MG81 top covers come in both milled and stamped flavours. Whether my one started as a partially finished forging or was literally machined from solid I don’t know. It is ridiculously over-engineered given Germany’s military situation at the time.

[Flying10uk]

Whether my one started as a partially finished forging or was literally machined from solid I don’t know.

My assumption is machined from a solid billet of steel.

[CINDERS]

What !!!!!!!!