Help appreciated (LE No. 4 rear sight)

[villiers]

Have got everything together .... except the minute ball bearing that provides the elevation clicks. Suppose I could order an assortment and try out which size fits, but would appreciate a clue as to its size. And, furthermore (and more important) .... how do I get it behind the serrated wheel under the knob? (That´s how I lost the two that I had). If I can repair that rear sight, I can die a happy bunny.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Don't bother Villiers........, just send it to me and I'll do it. On the other hand, you could daub the new ball and spring with thick grease and assemble it inside a polythene bag. The ball WILL fly out of course but you'll still have it. Assembling it is an art in itself learned with lots of practice - and lost balls!

Each apprentice had his own method of doing it which he perfected. I say 'perfected' loosely. It WAS perfected until you were called out in front of Mr Ayley to demonstrate it to him, only to find that it wasn't so perfect after all!

[villiers]

Very grateful, Peter. The idea was to achieve getting it together myself. The first stage was to work out how it was done originally, and so have obviously given up on that. Second stage is not quite over. I`ve found a place that can supply ball bearings and am going there with the sight to find one that´ll fit in the spring aperture. Problem is getting the serrated knob over the ball and spring. With a plentiful supply of ball bearings, this should keep me occupied for the next few years. `Tis a bugger .... but must have been accomplished by very clever ladies at Singer on a massive scale, so it should be possible ....

[CINDERS]

Maybe you could clean it very well with acetone place the ball and spring in cellotape it in place then place the wheel on and dissolve the tape with acetone, I have never tried to assemble one but that's my take on it. Or you could use thread tape wrapped a couple of times or just once maybe not the best way but it is just an idea.

---------- Post added at 04:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:34 PM ----------

Peter whilst were are on the subject of the sights why were some of the apetures smaller on the elevating piece someone informed me this was for the snipers.

[Peter Laidler]

Just a dob of grease with both hands inside a poly bag. Press down on the ball/spring with the smallest instrument screwdriver and slip the ratchetted screw over. While it is slipping over the compressed spring and ball, gently remove the screwdriver blade. After a couple of tries you can forget about the poly bag (or pillow case!)

Nobody ever really got to why some apertures were slightly larger than others. The reason for a larger aperture is for light gathering by the eye. On that basis the best suggestion was that the large apertures were from the No8 rifle. But as the part numbers are the same (just guessing here without re-checking books.....) they have all become obscured in the mists of time.........

I can see a whole can of worms opening now Cinders!

[muffett.2008]

You blokes are making me smile.
Try using a knife blade, sit the ball on the spring with a bit of grease, screw the collar down until it just makes contact, slip your blade onto the top of the ball and and push down, adjust the collar down to compress the spring.....finish off with the locking collar.
Jobs done.

[Peter Laidler]

er........... wot locking collar Muffer?

Another tip........ ALWAYS make sure the whole lot assembles without the spring and ball first. Nothing worse that getting to the final hurdle only to find that the unthreaded end of the shaft won't fit into the hole in the leaf or......... or........

[muffett.2008]

Woops.......wrong sight principles still the same.

[villiers]

..... sounds soooooo easy!

[gsimmons]

That's why you have more than one ball.........