safety catch problem on LE No1 MkIII

[spinecracker]

I was in the process of doing a strip down and clean of my new toy - a 1914 Lee Enfield No.1 Mk.III, and I was carefully removing the safety catch (there was a ton of crud caught up in it that no degreaser could get to ), keeping the safety lever and safety catch together, when they slipped out of my ham fingers and came apart. Now, on reassembly, the safety catch is very loose when off (wobbles forwards and backwards over about 15-20 degrees), although it does lock down on the bolt when it is on. Any tips regarding the proper reassembly of a safety catch in this case? I hasten to add that all parts are accounted for (including the safety catch washer).

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Thunderbox]

There are about six "start" points to the screw thread, when you try to screw the two halves together. Most of these are incorrect - the safety won't work at all when you install it. Only one is correct - the two halves have to be at a sort of 11 o'clock angle to each other when fully screwed up. Unfortunately, there is one other position which is "almost correct" and which gives the sort of floppy safety action you describe. You need to experiment until you get the two halves in the correct position.

The one on the right is correct:

[spinecracker]

Ah hah! I knew it! Thank you. I will try that right now.....a little better, but still slightly loose. I will experiment a little.

[spinecracker]

Got it. It would appear that the safety spring was very slightly bent back, but the tiniest amount of tweaking now gives the correct tension on the safety catch mechanism. Well, the old gal (I am referring to the rifle by the way) is 95 years old, so I should expect some sagging

[djd12]

God bless you Thunderbox, I had the same problem and your year-old posting saved me! THANKS!

[Bruce_in_Oz]

The safety catch assembly is a fascinating bit of engineering.

On a SMLE, the thread is actually an 8-start thread

Major Diameter: 0.272
Pitch (each of the 8 threads): 0.250
Thread direction: left hand.
It is indexed to gauge No. 1019

The really cool part is that the lever and threaded shaft are made in one piece.

It is not hard to understand why the No4. "Bolt, Locking" was fabricated from a lever and a threaded shaft, and assembled using a hardened steel pin. However, while they were at it, they altered the thread diameter, but kept the 8-start feature.

[bosco555]

Hi All,
yes thank you! I had the same problem when I disassembled my MKIII* to do a bit of restoration work as someone had varnished the stock and painted the metal with black paint...(Some people)!!

You really have to try and thread the the 2 parts until they appear as in the picture above. When fully threaded in the 2 pieces are indeed at 11 o'clock and you can tighten the screw as much as you want, it shouldn't make a difference to the smoothness of the bolt or when engaging the safety catch.

Thanks again and best to all

bosco

[JerryB08]

Now that is good information and probably in the future saved 6 hours give or take of me foolling around with one.