LEC restoration help plz

[tatou]

Mock up and fabrication is basically all done but i am having a minor trouble with the band retaining spring.
It's not ''springing'' like i thought it would be… not sure if it's missing a part under it or if the inlet of the fore end as something to do with it.
Instead of a spring motion i end up with more of a rocking motion and the part under the band doesn't get back to it's full original position.
I know i could easily install some sort of spring but my guess is the issue is the inlet itself….
Never having seen one before and online research proves unfruitful, would any of you guys have pictures of the inlet without the spring installed ? Surpmil maybe ?
Thanks again
Attachment 107204Attachment 107205

[smle addict]

I think I have an answer to your "limp" retaining band spring. No pun intended...

I pulled one of my carbines apart and the recess for the spring is angle cut. It starts very shallow towards the muzzle end, and slopes deeper towards the action.

Hope the pics help.

[tatou]

I think I have an answer to your "limp" retaining band spring. No pun intended...

I pulled one of my carbines apart and the recess for the spring is angle cut. It starts very shallow towards the muzzle end, and slopes deeper towards the action.

Hope the pics help.

Limpy … my second name
Those help a lot !!
Thanks for taking the time to disassemble one and take pics of it… that's more than i could of asked for.
I had a feeling the recess was sloped by looking at the old fore end tip i have but it is so badly sanded i could not be sure.
it will be an easy fix… i only have to glue a small piece of angle cut wood in my recess… with a careful trim it should do the trick.

[smle addict]

Also forgot to add.. The deep end of the angle cut is .105 inches. Measured with my dial caliper (which also has a depth gauge). I was unable to measure the start of the angle, as it is almost imperceptible.

[tatou]

Done (still have to glue it in place)… not perfect by all means but as long as it's functional i'm good with it.
I'm more concerned about the outside appearance.
I had a scarp of walnut that was already cut at an angle so that speeded up things.
I end up a bit more deep 0.120 but again that doesn't botter me nor will it affect anything.
I also notice that the vertical inlet has to be very tight and i'm very slightly loose.
By adding a small shim the spring isn't limp anymore and does exactly what's it's suppose to do.
Attachment 107209Attachment 107210

[tatou]

Finally done
The pics are not the greatest (fluorescent basement lighting) but i'm pleased with the result.
I started with this Attachment 108221

I lengthened the fore end, installed some brass washers and a pin that were missing. I fabricated a handguard
I also lengthened the buttstock, made a patch on the left side and a plugged hole.
The nose cap is a reproduction that i distressed with a Dremel a little, i blued it and ''aged'' it.
This was my first attempt at reproducing an ''aged'' look on metal and it took me a while to get a satisfactory look. I tried several new techniques but in the end i think it's a combination of everything that made it work.
Not perfect but it will do the job.
Many thanks to ''smle addict'' and others. for the crucial help.

Attachment 108219Attachment 108220

[smle addict]

Outstanding work and a nice save on that needy carbine!

[tatou]

Thank you and thanks again for the help. I'm very grateful. I now have a LEC, a NZ and a RIC
Next on the bench is my Mk I*** wire wrap (minus the wire) you also provided information on … to be continued

Outstanding work and a nice save on that needy carbine!

[browningautorifle]

Nice, nice looking little carbine.

[usabaker]

Getting slowly there there

Are you trying to motivate me to work on the two desecrated MK1's I have..... You are doing a fine job of it.