Looking for an idea to check two piece Marlin firing pins contact.

[Muskyhunter1]

I have an old Marlin 36 lever which I have tried everything on to fix and have it not misfire. New coil spring, new firing pins, drill and clean firing pin channel, etc etc..... I need to see if my two piece firing pins are making good contact with each other during firing.

Here is my question. Years ago in high school there was a blue liquid we could put on metal to scribe how the metal needed to be cut or machined. If I could get some of this stuff I could put it on all my metal parts to see where they are or are not contacting during operation.

Does anyone know what this stuff is called and where I can get some. Is there any other paint like stuff that could be used in the same manner and easily removed. Thanks

 

[kamlooky]

It's called blueing or engineer's blue.
Make sure the safety block is going up all the way to mate or match the two piece firing pin.
One rifle I have here gave me the same head ache.
The lever had the wrong lift or lacking there of to fully push the safety block up far enough for
proper lift of the firing pin extension.
Nuff tuh pizz me awff.
Not sure if the terminawlligy izz korrect, but I'm sure gunteck or uthers will be 'long to fix me spuhll'in.

 

[Muskyhunter1]

Kamlooky. How did you change the lift of the lug that lines up the two firing pins. Did you change your lever. I am thinking mine might be bent.

 

[kamlooky]

Have two Marlins and swapped parts over until I found the problem.
The lever was slightly shorter and the wrong angle to push the safety block up
enough.
I am talking just a wee bit here.
Look at the bolt housing where there is a slight groove or ramp for the short firing pin
extension needs to slide up to contact the main firing pin.
Mine was hitting the housing and the firing pin.
Enough so, that unless I really pulled hard on the lever, I'd get the odd light strike.

Here is a photo of the one I replaced.
Don't have one of the correct profile.
There is/was one for sale in the EE.
Again, not sure if it will work.

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Yard%20Sale%20Chit/DSC09158_zpsb0b6faf0.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[Muskyhunter1]

Thanks for the great info Kamlooky. Is there any chance you could measure the distance of the space between the lever and the trigger guard on your good lever (The area where the trigger goes when the action is closed)?

Thank you Sir.

 

[Muskyhunter1]

Kamlooky,

Here are the pics of the area of the lever I would like to get measured and a pic of my lever.

Thanks

 

[kamlooky]

I dug out my 1975 terdy-turdie and measured as close to center of the lever area
as I could as it does taper out at the edges.

It reads .673"

Hope this helps.