A serious cleaning needed (Nylon 66)

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Alright, so my brother and myself did some gopher popping today. Plenty of fun; the little buggers were running around everywhere and duly exploding under the expert care of my brother with his old Nylon 66, and myself with my newly dolled up, 70-year old Cooey Model 39 single-shot.

4 hours of splattering later, and we're heading home. Me being the firearms expert of the family, he asks if I would mind taking his Nylon 66 home to take it apart and give it a good cleaning all 'round, because he was having some trouble with cycling today. No problem, I enjoy taking a rifle apart to give it a clean and I hadn't had a chance to examine his Nylon in well-on ten years.
After I popped open the lid... I have to say it doesn't look like he's ever done more than occasionally oiled the action and swabbed the barrel. The thing is packed full of caked-on carbon and debris. I am actually having a hard time finding the METAL on the bolt; it may have been eaten away years ago and the carbon has simply filled in the space, like how a bone fossilizes.

I was expecting a relaxing two or three hours making sure everything was nicely functional and in tip-top form for the next round of squishy gopher treats. Turns out this is going to take me a lot longer, particularly since I'm... not entirely sure just where to start. I need to clean out everything, and I mean everything; the barrel has the stuff caked on, the receiver cover, the bolt, even the frame of the rifle itself has some serious cleaning to be done... and this is all a fair bit more than myself, a can of WD40 and some rags can really do.

So... Can I put this stuff in for a good soak in hot soapy water for a bit? I know that is a regular trick for cleaning out the Ruskie rifles when dealing with the corrosive ammo, so will this be a suitable method to make a dent in the grime so I can go at it with a brush later?
 
Non Clorinated Break Cleaner is what I used to clean up a Nylon 66 that was found in a barn. Did a great job and did not harm the plastic. Make sure it is non clorinated and you will not have a problem.
 
y'know, for every 2 of us that don't take it apart any further than removing the barrel, charging handle, and body cover, there's at least one that takes it all the way down- and says it's not all that complicated- so as far as i'm concerned it's a pig in a poke ; in this situation, i'd clean the barrel, bolt head, and the inside of the dust cover( don't lose the ejector) and give the rest a shot of brake cleaner like suggested, and WORK THE ACTION , then get in there with q-tips, clean it up real good, and do a function test- that way you're not trying to figure out where the really small parts go ( there are a few that aren't in the exploded diagrams) and trying to re-hang springs and stuff- the springs don't care whether they're slightly dirty or not- you also might want to take a brush and cleaning rod to the mag tube, if it's as dirty as you say - no solvent, just a brush- and for god sake , NO PATCHES- they get stuck in there
 
Yeah, I've already taken out the easy bits; bolt, barrel, etc. Not going to fiddle with the trigger mechanism, though. I've got big fingers and the only workable entrance to that area is awfully tiny. Would be like trying to assemble a ship in a bottle, except with this you can't see what you are doing and the model parts will fight back.

Brake cleaner it is; off to find a can or two. I'll snap some pictures of before and after - What not to do to a rifle, then how to fix it...
 
I have taken apart several. I have regretted it each time I spend hours trying to get it back together.

Just make sure your solvent doesn't soften the plastic.

A stiff toothbrush and hot soapy water will do most of the work. Then use the solvent sparingly. Compressed air to remove the water. If you must use lube afterwards go easy. Lube is probably what caused the build up. I don't think I ever lubed my nylons.
 
I've taken the Nylon 66 completely apart and it is no big deal. There are complete disassembly and reassembly videos online. It is a little intimidating the first time. Just watch the videos, pause and do as he does. Once you've done it a few times it is actually very easy. Once the rifle is completely stripped. I put the stock in the bathtub (don't tell the wife) and used fantastik all purpose cleaner, hot water, and a toothbrush. Came out like new! All the small parts where washed the same way in a little tub. A little tub with NO drain!! Don't worry about your big fingers. Use the "paper clip" trick, it works. Try it, you'll be surprised how easy it actually is, and your 66 will love you for it!! Good luck, Toni.
 
enfield303t said:
Don't take the Nylon 66 apart.
Click to expand...

So... I should have just let the thing clog up with carbon until it was useless and then throw it out? Or spend $120 on a 'smith to clean it for me?

Already took it apart, cleaned it and put it back together anyway. Well, the barrel and receiver bits, anyway. That was stupid simple after watching the video; hell, I think that is easier than a few other semis that are floating around out there. It just seems more complicated to start with.
Burnt an entire can of brake cleaner (non-chlorinated,) to get all the parts cleaned up, then gave them a further polish with a cloth and brush to make sure. Then a good lubricating with some military-grade grease and put it back together. Works wonderfully now.

I had given some serious thought to taking apart the trigger mechanism just because I really can be a bit OCD when cleaning my rifles... but the Nylon isn't my rifle and if I ended up breaking a spring or somesuch when trying to put it all back in my brother would have had my guts for garters. I just sent a whole bunch of cleaner into the gap, then blasted it for a good while some some compressed air to make sure the fluid had all been spit back out or evaporated.

Said I would take some pictures of the before and after, but it turns out my camera had given up the ghost and couldn't do anything. Figures.

Thanks for the help, boys.
 
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