Sutherland sight dis-assembly

[RangeRover]

I'm posting this wherever fans of Sir Charles Ross' rifles seem to gather, so pardon me if you're seeing this more than once.

The Sutherland sight on my Ross Mk. II 5*, complicated beauty that it is, needs some help. The sliding/elevation portion of the sight is loose...floating freely, so that adjusting the elevation with the knob on the top of the sight rotates the tube assembly, but leaves the sight behind.

The button on the front of the sight, affixed to the v-notch is also loose. I'm led to believe there's a spring inside which may be gummed up, or perhaps missing, thus preventing a grip on the elevation tube. Soaking the sight has produced no results thus far, so I'm considering tearing the sight down, carefully to see if I can figure out what's going on. But where to start?

Any step-by-step dis-assembly explanation would be greatly appreciated (and if accompanied by photos would be above and beyond helping).

Thanks.

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.

[fenian]

Range Rover I just recently took the sight on my mkII apart. My camera is not working but I will walk through it.
If the cover plate for the elevation lever is to tight it can cause the teeth on the lever not to engage. Also there are two tiny spring plungers for the elevation lever that, if missing, can cause the spring to bind which has the same result. IF someone forced the slide to much it could have damaged the threads or teeth. And if the edges of the leaf ,on either side of the long elevation screw are bent, even a little it can prevent engagement. Once you have the elevation coverplate off you will be able to clearly see how the levers work and how any of the aforementioned could cause a problem.
1) Its best to take the sight off the rifle first. You dont have to, but it makes things alot easier.Its a single drift pin.
2) If you look at the back of the slide there ar 4 small screws.2 hold the cover plate for the elevation lever and 2 hold the cover plate for the windage knob. The cover plates hold the slide on the leaf and contain the small parts for adjustment. One side at a time.
3) Elevation side. First try just loosen a little and see if it allows the lever to engage. If not; there are 6 parts under the cover plate. 2 levers,2springs,and 2 spring plungers.***The plungers are microscopic and really easy to lose!!!!!!! Take the screws out and carefully lift the cover plate off. Try to remember how the levers look before you break it down.The levers overlap and each has a spring and plunger.**** Dont loose the plungers!!!!! If the plungers are already gone that might be your problem.
4) Windage side. Take the two screws out and remove the cover plate. You can now get the slide off the leaf. If you need to remove the windage knob you hold the windage slide and screw the windage knob out. There is a spring and detent under it which can be removed if needed.****EAsy to loose!!!!!
5) It is a pain in the $#@ to get the elevation side back together. Its not complicated just a pain.Be careful not to tighten the coverplate screws to much.
If the plungers are gone I think your out o luck. They look insignificant but they are there for a reason.
If the leaf edges are bent you may be able to straighten them. They are thin and easily bent.
I hope this helps. Sorry no pictures for you. Good luck, be patient.

[RangeRover]

Thanks Fenian...

I'm not sure my sight is the same configuration as yours, however. Here's a picture of mine, and the directions don't line up as described.

[fenian]

Range Rover Yup, thats a different beast. Sorry I cant help with that one. Best of luck though.

[Rossguy]

RR's MkII 5* is fitted with it's original Sutherland sight, and Fenian's Mk II sounds like a 3* version to me, and it came with the Canada Tool "Pilblad" sight- either the Patent-applied-for early version (Mk V with the extended elevation knob) or the latest version, with the flush knob. About the only common factor in both sights is the aperature; 0.080" (Canadians- please do your metric conversion as required by your late-lamented leader, PET). It would make answering questions so much easier if the correct variation of MkII Ross were quoted in the original question(s).