Ross mk2 firing pin broke tip or weak spring

[Sharpshooter1944]

Mine was a bit difficult at first, it finally broke lose after using PB blaster. It had 75 + years of gunk in the bolt body and firing pin spring.

[vykkagur]

And I don't have access to a ultra sonic cleaner .

If it's a one-time thing and you don't do a lot of work on older machinery, then the expenditure wouldn't be justified. On the other hand, if you do tinker with any smaller metal parts that are gunked or encrusted, then the ultrasonic is head and shoulders above. I used one for years in an engineering lab, and have one at home that I've used on everything from gun parts to car parts to clock parts. I even use it periodically to clean all the nooks and crevices of my eyeglasses. You can get them on Amazon for about a hundred bucks, with heater. Just make sure you put the nasty stuff in a metal container (tin can, whatever) and sit that in the water-filled tank, so you don't mess up the inside of the tank with dirt and grease.

[Surpmil]

I have several, from a few quarts to about five gallons and your best bet is to look for an older commercial machine by Branson, Quantrex, L & R, Bendix etc. The Chinese machines are reportedly not built for continuous use and won't stand it.

Never sit anything on the bottom of the tank. That is a sure-fire way to shatter or detach the transducers on the bottom of the tank. They are sized and bonded to vibrate a given quantity and weight of liquid and will fail if weight is put on the bottom of the tank and they cannot dissipate their vibrations as designed.

If buying a used machine always inspect the transducers for damage: cracks, black marks from shorts etc. I looked at one a couple of years back that had only two good transducers left out of eight!
Best thing is to make up a frame external to the machine and hang a wire mesh basket in the tank with the objects to be cleaned sitting on that. Even a hanging file frame could be adapted for smaller machines.

Some machines do come with baskets that sit on the tank rim, but even that deadens the action of the transducers to some extent; apparently not enough to damage them though it does reduce the cleaning power somewhat I believe.

if you have a convenient overhang like a cupboard or even the ceiling perhaps, you can hang objects on wire, cord or fine chain. Chain would allow the height to be adjusted easily and reliably so that as much of the object is immersed as possible without touching the bottom of the tank. A small turnbuckle in the line for fine adjustment might be useful.

The beauty of ultrasonics is, as mentioned above, the "fire & forget" aspect. But you can only "forget" if you have secured the object(s) being cleaned properly.

Glasses yes, and a great way to clean electric toothbrush heads too if they start to go funky! In a separate glass jar obviously!

Fog makers also have ultrasonic transducers so if used indoors without a fume hood, be aware that whatever you put in for solution is going to be atomized and evaporated as the solution heats up. Most of the modern soaps and detergents though very effective contain some pretty nasty chemicals.

[soonerfan66]

A quick update . I ordered a Lee Enfield firing pin removing tool from Sarco . Knock on wood I have heard some not the best reviews about them but I have had pretty good luck ordering odds and ends from them . A little slow at times maybe . And I was not expecting much from the $10 tool but it took that nut right off . The spring is good but the firing pin tip is short . Was able to compare it with another Ross I picked up . Everything seemed to show up on same day . I will keep on the look out for a cleaner and if it's good deal and good shape may grab one . I don't really need one real bad , but one would be nice to have around . Thanks for the info to check out on one when buying and how to use one cause I don't have any experience with one . Will give an update on the 1 Ross , sorry , 2 Rosses I have now later .