870 EXTRACTOR ISSUE

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kBob

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So a bud asked me to look at a Remington 870 Express magnum he had issues with six years ago and tossed in a closet after trying to fix it himself.

It was "broke"

yep he tried to put it together via Brute Force and Ignorance and the bolt was locked back and not really connected to the carrier or slide rails.

Eventually I got it down to basic tear down and pulled the bolt aside to look at.

There was no extractor. The extractor plunger seems to have compressed the spring and then rusted or otherwise stuck in the depressed position.

I have a new spring, pin , and plunger, but not being able to get the old spring and plunger to budge they are useless.

Currently I have reassembled the gun with the missing extractor and had sprayed ballistoil around the stuck plunger and let it sit so the Ballistoil flows down hill. On occassion I work the action vigerously in the hopes that inertia my help loosen the plunger and spring.

I have considered heating the part a bit in case it is some sort of ancient enamel build up from some petroleum lube but fear ruining temper on the bolt.

Any advice would be welcome

Yes the whole gun was dry as a bone in the Gobi when I got it....that is why I had the Ballistoil out in the first place.

-kBob
 
Give the bolt face a good smack on a bench block, aluminum then steel. You might try tapping the plunger with a right angle pick or appropriate size allen wrench to mechanically jolt it like a impact driver. Also consider using a proper sized drill bit with hand drill set on Impact; problem is going to be the plunger is probably hardened, the bolt channel softer. IF you have a mill, bore the plunger out with a carbide bit. A strong magnet. There's always Kano Kroil "the oil that creeps". Heat will just expand the smaller plunger long before the bolt channel expands, I think making the fitment tighter.
 
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I'd remove the bolt altogether, use brake cleaner to get the ballistol out and then address the plunger with a better penetrant. Either home-made or purchased.

I like automatic transmission fluid and acetone. You might get some movement with simple white vinegar too.

Smacking a bit as noted by a5werkes but also light tapping on the side with something easy on the bolt like a screwdriver handle.

Todd.
 
If you don't have an ultrasonic, soak it in Kroil, get a taper plug tap just smaller than the spring (you already have the new spring, right?) slowly work it in and pull straight back.
 
Oh, yeah, I read that as just the spring was rusted in. Kroil or PB Blaster, tap the tip of the plunger lightly with a punch to let it sink in, wait, then tap it harder with a punch, applying heat if necessary.
 
entropy said:
If you don't have an ultrasonic, soak it in Kroil, get a taper plug tap just smaller than the spring (you already have the new spring, right?) slowly work it in and pull straight back.
Click to expand...
Another short-cut if one does not have an Ultrasonic cleaner - or doesn't want to drag it out/fill it - is to use either and electric pencil or a reciprocating electric razor to agitate the fixated bits in the bolt.

Electric pencils allow you to direct the vibrations more and the razors give a greater overall resonance to the item. Spining or rotary razors like Norelcos are pretty much useless though.

Though it may happen, don't expect immediate results. Let the item soak, agitate it a bit and come back later to repeat. In a case such as the OP's, it might be a couple-few cycles resulting in minor movement each time to get the job done.

Todd.
 
So this AM I decide to go out and get ATF and Acetone and decided to move the shotgun from the bedroom to the shop so as to not stink up the bedroom.

Low, there is the plunger fully forward!

The Ballistoil DID work...it just took 10 days.

Well shoot the plunger is out so change plans about early morning grocery visit and shoot this will take what three minutes?

Well no, it took longer than that to get the spring out. Once out the amount of crud on it made me want to clean out that hole finally felt good about everything and decided to use the new spring and plunger to install the new extarctor. Just pops right in!

Unless the greasy finger loose control and the extractor goes to work for Elon Musk and tried going orbital....and landing somewhere on a carpet that was just the wrong color. Spent more time searching for part than actually anything else this morning.

Once found, THEN it just snapped right in.

Cycled a bunch of trap loads thought it out in the yard and it seems hunky dorey.

Thanks for the help and I still plan to make up a jar of magic rust buster for next time.

-kBob
 
Todd,

the spring, plunger, and hole in the bolt featured grimey greasy black crud like one might expect from lubing with petroleum based lubes, humidity and powder and primer gasses....yep the same sort of crud one found in an M16 A1 in 1972!

I noted no redish rust at all.

I could have cleaned and put the old plunger and spring back in after cleaning and lubing but since I had the new parts just went with that.

-kBob
 
kBob said:
Todd,

the spring, plunger, and hole in the bolt featured grimey greasy black crud like one might expect from lubing with petroleum based lubes, humidity and powder and primer gasses....yep the same sort of crud one found in an M16 A1 in 1972!

I noted no redish rust at all.

I could have cleaned and put the old plunger and spring back in after cleaning and lubing but since I had the new parts just went with that.

-kBob
Click to expand...
Excellent! Any time one can keep sharpy, scratchy or bangy tools away from a gun and still arrive at the desired results is a win.

Yours highlights one of the best lessons in working on guns - sometimes patience is better than an impressive tool box.

Todd.
 
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