Ball stuck, usual methods not working

[Gambit88]

Last range trip the range officer distracted me while i was loading, leading to a double loaded cylinder in my remmy The usual methods of pulling a stuck ball aren't working this time around.. I cant pull em with the ball puller and the nipples are stuck on somethin fierce(stripped my wrench). Right now I have the cylinder soaking in some water to try to negate the Bp(pyrodex). What else could I try? Id like to clear it asap before it rusts real bad, and I have to play sheriff for a train robbery tomorrow.. Any wonder cures would be nice lol:banghead: Damn 454 balls.

Thanks

Gambit

 

[ofitg]

If it was me, I'd concentrate on getting those nipples loose.

I've read about people grinding a slot in a small socket wrench (5/16, IIRC) to make their own "indestructable" nipple wrenches.

EDIT - Correction - use a 3/16 socket, not 5/16. I just made one for myself, took about 20 minutes with a Dremel and a small grinder bit.

 

[Pyro]

PB blaster on those stuck nipples.
Might have to drill the balls out.

 

[Smokin'Joe]

88, take a look here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7143802#post7143802

 

[Jaymo]

If it was a mild powder charge, I'd have shot them out.

What about a CO2 discharger?

 

[makos_goods]

Gambit,
Don't stress...Use this trick that we recommend for people who have guns that get dunked or covered with water by firefighting actions.

Get some Diesel Fuel and put it in a container where you can dunk the cylinder. It won't rust and you will have as long as you need to get the tools you need to remove the tubes. The good news is that the diesel will also act as a penetrant and help with your struck tubes.

Get a new wrench or make one like ofitg suggested and remove them then use a rod from the rear to drive the balls out. It is going to be more difficult now to get the powder out if the chambers because it has been soaked. You may need to use a straw on a spray can of an oil like WD40 up the hole to spray the powder out from the rear to give to a straight shot to the balls with a rod.

The diesel works to preserve firearms that can't be dealt with until later. I tell people to take the actions out of the stocks if they can, but it is better to submerge the entire gun in diesel rather than letting the metal rust. I have been surprised how well the wood cleaned up after being dunked on one occasion. The owner filled a small plastic swimming pool with 10 gallons of diesel and threw his guns in and they stayed there for 2 days until he could take them apart. He expected he would have to replace stocks, but after drying they came apart and the wood actually didn't absorb that much.

Regards,
Mako

 

[Jaymo]

If you can find diesel that's not low sulfur, it's much better as a penetrating lube than the current low sulfur diesel.
Off road diesel is your best bet for non low sulfur.
I use kerosene and Dexron ATF as a penetrating lube because diesel burns the snot out of my skin.

 

[JohnM]

I made a real good nipple wrench from a motor cycle spoke wrench.
Found one just a little too small and ground it out to a tight fit.
Those things are made of good tool steel.

 

[moonpie]

it's an old roofers trick to treat exposed decking with diesel when bad weather approached .

 

[Jaymo]

It keeps the termites away, too.

 

[Gambit88]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think ill try to make the wrench first and go from there. About how wide are the notches to be cut out and what size socket is best for piettas as I've seen 3 different sizes? I have a cheapo set of sockets in my car and can have some one make them for me at work.

Thanks

Gambit

 

[junkman_01]

That's a 3/16th socket and it fits all my .44/.36 cal. full size revolvers. The slot measures .205+.003/-.000"

 

[Gambit88]

Thanks Ill be making one either tonight when I get off work or in the morning. If I don't have it clear in time I have a pepper box and double barrel derringer I can tuck away and be pretty set. I'll probably go robber instead.

Gambit

 

[Gambit88]

well guys i made one out of a cheap socket from a 10 dollar autozone set.. got 2 nipples off before the socket was warped all to hell. Guess that chinese steel aint too good after all. I got an old craftsman set missing most of the sockets(good think i got 2 more sets). one of them will be sacrificed to make a new tool, and if i break that im going to laugh.

Gambit

 

[Snaggletooth]

I have several that I have made. I use a hardened bolt, and grind off the threads or cut it above the threads, I then grind in the notch for the nipple. I use a 3 or 4 inch bolt. I then drill a hole through the shaft at the opposite end of the bolt from the ground shot. I insert a hardened rod thru the hole and can get leverage. I also have one on a short bolt but I left the head on it. I use a socket wrench on it to remove the nipple. Never failed yet.

 

[junkman_01]

What about a clearance hole for the cone of the nipple?

 

[zimmerstutzen]

A ball puller didn't work? Wow!

 

[Gambit88]

nope and broke a second socket. ill try making one from a hardened bolt but i think im going to have to drill out the balls, then ill soak it in pb from there for a day or two. Whoever owned it before me probably never removed em.

Gambit

 

[JohnM]

I've dry balled a few that were a royal PIA to get pulled with a regular screw.
I guess those CO2 powered things are supposed to work pretty well.

 

[Busyhands94]

i use a nipple wrench i made. i took a piece of steel, got it nice and hot in the coal forge, bent the end, let it cool, cut a notch in there that will remove nipples, then i hardened it. hasn't broken on me so far!

 

[grxy]

To remove a ball from a cylinder that won't fire I use a thin screwdriver to
make a hole in the ball, then drive a large wood screw into the ball.

Then just wiggle the screw back and forth a couple of times and pull the
ball out.

 

[andrewstorm]

nock yer balls loose

remove nipple, obtain 16 penny nail,hold nail betweenindex finger and thumb,uuse nail point to contact lead,tap head of nail with tac hammer.

 

[Snaggletooth]

I have also used the 4 inch drywall type screw to remove the ball. ant hurt to try it.

 

[Noz]

Harbor Freight sells a small impact driver that works well in removing stuck nipples, used in conjunction with small socket type wrenches.

Best thing is to remove all nipples and treat with antiseize material. Problem solved for anytime in the future.

 

[Gambit88]

I normally use a drywall screw and a pair of vice grips but that didnt work this time and i destroyed 2 tools, so I ended up drilling out the balls. Now i just need to scrub out the chambers to get the excess rings of lead off the walls. Will they scrub out with a wire brush or should i heat the cylinder a bit first? btw i think ill invest in one of them co2 thingys..

Gambit