How to disassemble a Marlin 89-C?

[Nugilum]

How to disassemble a Marlin 89-C

Hey guys, I've got a Mission Impossible here...

I inherited a Marlin 89-C from my grandfather, and I'm trying to inspect it (really clean it) before shooting it. I unfortunately can't get the bolt out of the receiver. The bolt charging handle is preventing me from extracting the bolt. I can't figure out how to separate the bolt handle from the bolt. I've gotten the back plug out, taken out the spring guide, the two springs, and the striker.

This is usually the time I start fiddling with it and really screw something up, so I'll stop and ask for assistance before I proceed.

 

[Bentonville]

I don't know but here is a site that should help some with Marlins specifically.
http://www.marlin-collectors.com/forum/index.php

 

[Furncliff]

There is a Marlin section on Rimfire Central...

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/

And some very knowledgeable people. I'm sure you can get some help there.

 

[Nugilum]

OK, I couldn’t find anything directly from the web, and Marlin didn’t have any documentation either. www.rimfirecentral.com was able to guide me to some disassembly instructions for a Marlin 98, which is a tube fed version of the 89-C.

For future reference, I’ll dictate what I did. Hopefully this will aid others in the future.


Disassembly:

1.) Remove magazine and VISUALLY verify the rifle is empty.

2.) With flat-head screwdriver, unscrew the take down screw (the largest screw) at the fore-end of the stock. Remove barreled action from the stock.

3.) Gently yet forcibly lift the charging handle slightly away from the bolt and slide the handle forward. This will remove the charging handle from the bolt. (I ended up using cloth and pliers)

4.) Squeeze the two back-plug pins into the receiver. They are located on the left and right sides of the receiver, about 1-2 inches from the back. This will release the back plug.

5.) Remove the recoil spring seat, striker, and the two springs.

6.) Remove the bolt from the housing.


This is probably as far as you want to go. Give it a good scrubbing. Most likely, you’re the first person to take that rifle apart. Now, it’s a little more difficult to reassemble:


Assembly:

1.) There is a bar that pivots inside the bottom of the receiver. You will need to push this bar slightly to the left and down until you feel it “slip into place”. Lift up on the trigger assembly at the back bottom of the receiver. This should hold the metal piece in place.

2.) Gently slide the bolt back into place. The bolt should go in with minimal resistance. If the bolt gets stuck, the bar at the bottom moved out of place.

3.) Install the striker (long metal shaft that resembles a mini-javelin) into the bolt, blunt end facing the bolt.

4.) Install the two springs on the striker.

5.) Install the recoil spring seat around the striker and springs, flattened end facing away from the bolt.

6.) Carefully install the back plug into the receiver without bending the springs.

7.) Initially wiggle the charging handle into place (first half to one inch or so). Then gently but forcibly lift the trigger handle and wiggle it down the bolt until its back in place.

8.) Verify that the action works.

9.) Install the barreled action into the stock. Tighten the take down screw.


That should do it! Please PM me if you have questions!