Marlin 39a

[dstone]

Have a new Marlin 39a with safety.

Have followed the owners manual for takedown and reassembly. Once it is back together the lever will not operate breech bolt.

The ejector is released after having been screwed down for cleaning the bore.
The breech bolt is as far forward as it will go and in the groove.
The firing pin is as far back as it will go.
The hammer is on half cock.
The lever is closed.
The two sides go together smoothly and the takedown screw is tight.

But the lever will move the breech bolt about 1/4 inch then will go no further.

What am I missing?

All help will be appreciated.

 

[jwh2]

Make sure the takedown screw is not overly tight.

James

 

[76shuvlinoff]

check condition and location of firing pin during reassembly.

 

[dstone]

Thanks for the replies.

The takedown screw is loose. Have tried it tight and loose with no change.

The firing pin is all the way back as far as it will go.

Keep the suggestions coming. The lever just stops and will not work the action.

 

[Badlander]

Send it to me. I will fix it for you and send it back after A through testing.
This may take A while!!!

 

[Daveboone]

Shoot it!!!!

 

[22-rimfire]

Tis one of the reasons why I almost never tear down a rifle. I would take it to a gunsmith myself. Because I would already be frustrated with the whole effort and just want it "fixed".

 

[Leadhead]

22-rimfire,
It's a take down designed rifle.
Make sure the two parts of the receiver are really all the way together.....you might not have the takedown bolt tight enough.

 

[dfariswheel]

The lever should be open slightly during assembly.

Also, to prevent any chance of dinking up the bolt or receiver, have the hammer fully cocked to prevent it from catching on the receiver or bolt.

 

[22-rimfire]

It's a take down designed rifle.

I know. I have one.

 

[dstone]

Problem Solved!

Got it! Thanks Dfariswheel for leading me to the problem area.

After hours of checking and rechecking plus sleeping on the problem overnight I found the simple solution. Keep in mind this is a new rifle to me and not being able to see inside the receiver I could only imagine what was hitting where?? Finally, found the breech bolt hitting slightly the receiver just to the left of the hammer. Must be hard metal because after following every place I could find that had metal to metal indications this one escaped me.
The area on the breech bolt and the area on the receiver had been filed at the factory but not enough. With a little more filing the breech bolt cleared and the lever works like it should.

Had the takedown screw turned hand tight plus about one turn with a set of channel locks. This did not remove the problem so a little filing and the breech bolt clears and travels smoothly.

Why did it take so long? Because when I put the fixed rifle back in the case there are no screws buggered up, dents, dings, scratches, scrapes or any other evidence of my work - this is a big deal to me after mucking up much in my life.

Thanks everyone for your input. Learned a lot!

 

[76shuvlinoff]

Cool but don't get carried away (channel locks) on that take down screw. IMHO you ought to be able to turn that with a coin.

.02

 

[dstone]

You are right about the channel locks. I stopped before something (the receiver or the screw were ruined). In hindsight the problem was not because the take down screw was not tight enough. This 2009 rifle has the safety block built into the right side of the receiver. The area the breech bolt was hitting was on on the left side of the safety block part of the receiver where the bolt passes through to push back the hammer.