Hard Lithgow SMLE stock bolt

X

x westie

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
East Central Alberta
Im having a h*ll of a time trying to remove the stock bolt on my 1942 Lithgow..its been a FTR in 1952..was packed in grease when i bought it...so can't see that the bolt is rusted .

Soaked the bolt in pentetrating oil..i have a 16" scewdriver, and ground the tip off to make it a snug fit, applied a crescent wrench to the screwdriver's square shank..still wouldn't budge..

I never had any problems with my Long Branch No.4 stock bolts...are SMLE bolts a little different ..any help would be appreciated .:runaway:
 
Did you take off the forend first? - if it's anything like my lithgow, it has a square end on the stock bolt that corresponds with a slot on the stock bolt keeper plate, which rests in a routed out cut out in the rear of the forend- I wrecked the (bubba) forend because I didn't know about that keeper plate in the forend. :redface:
 
fat tony said:
Did you take off the forend first? - if it's anything like my lithgow, it has a square end on the stock bolt that corresponds with a slot on the stock bolt keeper plate, which rests in a routed out cut out in the rear of the forend- I wrecked the (bubba) forend because I didn't know about that keeper plate in the forend. :redface:
Click to expand...


Yes i took the forend first....i knew that is a must do ..also i clamped the butt in a vise...and did my screwdriver with wrench on the shank thing..still would not budge
 
x westie said:
Yes i took the forend first....i knew that is a must do ..also i clamped the butt in a vise...and did my screwdriver with wrench on the shank thing..still would not budge
Click to expand...

I'm so glad to hear that. Problem is highly solvable as long as you didn't split the forend.

What I do is clamp that big screwdriver in a bench vice pointing up. Lower the rifle down on to it, engage the screwdriver slot in the stock bolt. Now push down hard as you can while rotating the rifle counterclockwise, putting all the torque pressure on the buttstock, not the action.

If that doesn't work, get an impact driver with a 3/8" socket driver end, put a long extension on it with a screwdriver bit, then hit it with a hammer.

One or the other will work.
 
cantom said:
I'm so glad to hear that. Problem is highly solvable as long as you didn't split the forend.

What I do is clamp that big screwdriver in a bench vice pointing up. Lower the rifle down on to it, engage the screwdriver slot in the stock bolt. Now push down hard as you can while rotating the rifle counterclockwise, putting all the torque pressure on the buttstock, not the action.

If that doesn't work, get an impact driver with a 3/8" socket driver end, put a long extension on it with a screwdriver bit, then hit it with a hammer.

One or the other will work.
Click to expand...


I got it loose..!..Thank you CanTom...very much...i took you helpful hint about clamping the screwdriver in the vise...and held down the stock tight ..and like you said use the torque on the buttstock .

There is so much usefull advice here on CGN from very knowledgable people..!

The Aussie armorer..or "Gun Plummer who did the assembly must have figured the troopie that was issued this Lithgow SMLE might have to wack some sense into a North Korean's thick head..so he really torqued the buttstock bloody tight..!.as this rifle has FTR 52 stamped on the receiver ...

Aussie troops had fearsome reputation in close combat with the Lithgow SMLE & Pattern 1907 bayonet fixed ....they f*uked up many a Jap or North Korean ..!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom