I have a Parker Hale Supreme sporter, No 1 Mk 3, which has a safety that is very stiff to move, almost to the point of tearing your thumb. I took it apart, have lubed it, but with no real improvement. If I tighten the screw down, then back it off a bit, maybe a 1/3 turn, it moves much easier, but I am hesitant to leave it there as I suspect it would rattle loose. I am wondering if putting a brass shim under the external spring part where the screw goes through might help, or if anyone might have some advice on this.
Lee Enfield with stiff safety
- Thread starter pastway
- Start date
If it is too much pressure from the tab, forget the shim, just bend the tab a bit. I'm having a little trouble thinking the tab could make that much of a difference but when you say it works better turned back 1/3 turn I guess it's possible. I'd want to be sure the safety itself is working OK. I know it works the other way that if you have a sloppy safety you cans smarten it up by bending the tab a bit inwards.
Backing the spring/tab screw off a bit makes quite a difference actually. I thought of bending it, but am nervous about breaking it, especially if it needed more than one adjustment. I'm thinking maybe the loctite suggestion might be the best solution, and doesn't involve doing anything that can't be reversed.
Mind you, the safety spring can break. I tried bending one once (the older, machined version, shaped like an "8") and, yup, it broke (The stamped steel version probably bends a bit better but, I haven't tried breaking one lol).
I would suggest trying on another spring, if you have someone nearby with a few of them; find one which offers the proper resistance.
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I would suggest trying on another spring, if you have someone nearby with a few of them; find one which offers the proper resistance.
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Take it apart again, degrease and clean then put it together dry. Cycle it as much as you can then take apart again looking for shiny spot's where the finish wore off or any burr's that you can now see.
I like to put grease on the helical thread's and work it by hand before reassembly.
I like to put grease on the helical thread's and work it by hand before reassembly.
x 2 on adjusting the spring pressure by bending. Put it in a vise as described and give it a tap.
The amount of bending that you do will be almost imperceptible to the eye. Just tap tap, refit and try. Tap tap, refit and try.
The amount of bending that you do will be almost imperceptible to the eye. Just tap tap, refit and try. Tap tap, refit and try.
- Location
- pallisers triangle
ive fixed the same problem by putting 2 layers of tinfoil between the spring and the rifle where the screw goes through it will fold in and conform to the grooves. any sticking out after just trim it off with a knife. worked for me
Never thought of tinfoil. I will give this a try.
Attempting to bend the spring makes me nervous, as I have no spares. I have other LE's but they all need their spring too, and none of them are volunteering
I suppose I could try switching them around.Thanks too all who've replied.
