Can't break open rifle, any ideas?

Sabo · November 25, 2000, 00:24

I've had a heck of a time trying to break my rifle open the last couple of times. It's at the point where I cannot move the vertical frame locking lever far enough by hand and must use a tool of some type to help me move it far enough so that the rifle will "break" open. I recently changed the buttstock. The "retract" hole looked deep enough (how deep must it be?), could it be catching or binding somehow?
Any ideas on what could cause this? Do I need to take apart the locking mechanism? Would that be difficult?

Thanks,
Sabo

BulldogBart · November 25, 2000, 02:23

Sabo try moving the locking lever with the stock off for freedom of movement. If it moves ok then it is hittng inside the stock and you could open up the diameter or depth of hole in stock so it clears ok. Also try some oil were it contacts and locks the receiver. hth

Wadman · November 25, 2000, 05:43

How does the locking lever assembly move when it's already open? Is it still difficult? Also, how does it shut? If the locking plunger moves back and forth without any hitches, try closing it slowly. Does anything feel unusual?

thorlin · November 25, 2000, 10:50

Sabo...

Before you do anything else, apply pressure to the underside of the buttstock and hanguard... then try the lever.

There probably is too much shear force being applied to the locking bolt by the upper receiver.

Explained better, hold the rifle rightside up, with the handguard in your left hand. Set the toe of the buttstock on the floor. Grasp the stock right behind the receiver and push down, while at the same time actuating the lever. I'll bet that does the trick...

------------------
Mike Thorlin
Peoria, AZ
STG/R1 - 99%
R1/Blg BBL - 99%
R1A1- 50%

"It hurts where I drilled." ...speaker's identity withheld to protect the stupid.

boing · November 25, 2000, 13:25

I've got the same problem with my CAI STG, but it's intermittent...sometimes it pops right open, sometimes it won't budge. I took apart the locking lever assembly and cleaned some gunk off the locking catch surface. Put it all back together, and so far, it seems to have worked.

Since the problem comes and goes, I'll have to wait and see if it's really been cured.

BTW- I used gunplumber's disassembly advice in this thread to get the locking lever apart. It was easy.

[This message has been edited by boing (edited November 25, 2000).]

Sabo · November 26, 2000, 00:29

Thanks all!

Bulldogbart, what you suggested worked. I dremeled the hole in the buttstock a bit wider and now it works fine.
Thanks again all for the suggestions!
Sabo

**W.E.G.** · August 28, 2001, 21:56

Ahhhhhh....Dremmmmmmellllll...

racer766 · August 29, 2001, 00:35

My CAI (thumbhole stock) actually opened up on recoil a few times. Scared the crap out of me. It only happened a few times, all in the rain, and all when I my left hand was on the magazine, not the handguards. Now that I think of it, the last time I went out it didn't do this. I know this is actually the reverse of the thread, but...

BulldogBart · August 29, 2001, 13:52

Racer766 lube the locking body catch that comes out of the lower receiver & make sure it has spring pressure behind it and ck. for wear on edge that it is not rounded. When you close the upper on it snap it shut instead of just using pressure & be sure it locks in place. I would "not" shoot this rifle until I corrected this problem!!

HTH

racer766 · August 30, 2001, 12:50

Come to think of it, the times it opened up on me I gently closed the break. I have been snapping it shut since. The first thing I looked at was the locking piston and that it had a good amount of pressure, and minimal wear. The surfaces show some wear, but are still nice and sharp. The release lever doesn't go all the way forward, it stops with about 1/4" remaining in its travel and then kind of flops around. I expected it to be held forward by the spring pressure.

November 25, 2000, 00:24	#1
Sabo Registered FALaholic #: 609 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Capitol on the James Posts: 11	Can't break open rifle, any ideas? I've had a heck of a time trying to break my rifle open the last couple of times. It's at the point where I cannot move the vertical frame locking lever far enough by hand and must use a tool of some type to help me move it far enough so that the rifle will "break" open. I recently changed the buttstock. The "retract" hole looked deep enough (how deep must it be?), could it be catching or binding somehow? Any ideas on what could cause this? Do I need to take apart the locking mechanism? Would that be difficult? Thanks, Sabo

November 25, 2000, 02:23	#2
BulldogBart Registered FALaholic #: 77 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Georgia Posts: 72	Sabo try moving the locking lever with the stock off for freedom of movement. If it moves ok then it is hittng inside the stock and you could open up the diameter or depth of hole in stock so it clears ok. Also try some oil were it contacts and locks the receiver. hth __________________ ~ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ ~ “If you want peace prepare for war"

November 25, 2000, 05:43	#3
Wadman Registered FALaholic #: 1095 Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: North East Illinois Posts: 2,820	How does the locking lever assembly move when it's already open? Is it still difficult? Also, how does it shut? If the locking plunger moves back and forth without any hitches, try closing it slowly. Does anything feel unusual? __________________ The low road is frequently a four lane highway with no speed limit. Help Save the Kitties

November 25, 2000, 10:50	#4
thorlin Registered FALaholic #: 1066 Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Peoria, AZ - USA Posts: 23	Sabo... Before you do anything else, apply pressure to the underside of the buttstock and hanguard... then try the lever. There probably is too much shear force being applied to the locking bolt by the upper receiver. Explained better, hold the rifle rightside up, with the handguard in your left hand. Set the toe of the buttstock on the floor. Grasp the stock right behind the receiver and push down, while at the same time actuating the lever. I'll bet that does the trick... ------------------ Mike Thorlin Peoria, AZ STG/R1 - 99% R1/Blg BBL - 99% R1A1- 50% "It hurts where I drilled." ...speaker's identity withheld to protect the stupid. __________________ Mike

August 28, 2001, 21:56	#7
W.E.G. Administrator Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 1211 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Virginia Posts: 31,056	Ahhhhhh....Dremmmmmmellllll... __________________ . . . Ask me about the Mason-Dixon FAL Collectors Association.

November 25, 2000, 13:25	#5
boing Registered FALaholic #: 1601 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: WNC Posts: 42	I've got the same problem with my CAI STG, but it's intermittent...sometimes it pops right open, sometimes it won't budge. I took apart the locking lever assembly and cleaned some gunk off the locking catch surface. Put it all back together, and so far, it seems to have worked. Since the problem comes and goes, I'll have to wait and see if it's really been cured. BTW- I used gunplumber's disassembly advice in this thread to get the locking lever apart. It was easy. [This message has been edited by boing (edited November 25, 2000).]

November 26, 2000, 00:29	#6
Sabo Registered FALaholic #: 609 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Capitol on the James Posts: 11	Thanks all! Bulldogbart, what you suggested worked. I dremeled the hole in the buttstock a bit wider and now it works fine. Thanks again all for the suggestions! Sabo

August 29, 2001, 00:35	#8
racer766 Registered FALaholic #: 3511 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 373	My CAI (thumbhole stock) actually opened up on recoil a few times. Scared the crap out of me. It only happened a few times, all in the rain, and all when I my left hand was on the magazine, not the handguards. Now that I think of it, the last time I went out it didn't do this. I know this is actually the reverse of the thread, but...

August 29, 2001, 13:52	#9
BulldogBart Registered FALaholic #: 77 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Georgia Posts: 72	Racer766 lube the locking body catch that comes out of the lower receiver & make sure it has spring pressure behind it and ck. for wear on edge that it is not rounded. When you close the upper on it snap it shut instead of just using pressure & be sure it locks in place. I would "not" shoot this rifle until I corrected this problem!! HTH __________________ ~ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ ~ “If you want peace prepare for war"

August 30, 2001, 12:50	#10
racer766 Registered FALaholic #: 3511 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 373	Come to think of it, the times it opened up on me I gently closed the break. I have been snapping it shut since. The first thing I looked at was the locking piston and that it had a good amount of pressure, and minimal wear. The surfaces show some wear, but are still nice and sharp. The release lever doesn't go all the way forward, it stops with about 1/4" remaining in its travel and then kind of flops around. I expected it to be held forward by the spring pressure.

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