Thanks for the help, I will check out marlin owners and pull the gun a part this weekend.
Remove the screw on the rear receiver tang and remove the buttstock
Remove the hammer spring and retainer
Loosen the screw at the lower front side of the lower receiver plates
Loosen the only screw on the back of the receiver
**Follow this next step carefully or you will damage your sear**
Remove the hammer screw, pull the trigger and carefully remove the hammer (you have to rotate it out) WHILE KEEPING THE TRIGGER PULLED
Remove the two screws you loosened (the longer one goes in the bottom front if you get them mixed up).
Flip the gun upside down.
You should be able to remove the entire lower receiver plate with the lever attached. Spread the rear tangs and it should pop right out. Don't drop or lose the locking lug that will just be sitting in there.
At this point, you can attempt to identify the cause of the jam. If the lever moves outside of the gun, I would look at the lifter spring, locking lug and carrier.
You should also ensure the locking lug slides freely if the lever was stuck completely shut. If the locking lug is jammed, take it to a gunsmith. A failure of the locking lug is the sort of thing that can send a bolt flying back into your face.
To put back together, you need to disassemble more. Remove the lever screw and lever, remove the locking lug (up in the rear bottom of the action) and slide the bolt out the back of the receiver. Don't lose the ejector. Now's a good time to clean and lube everything.
To reassemble, install the locking lug (the hook points back) and then lower receiver plate. Don't tighten the lower receiver plate screws until after you install the hammer. If you tighten the receiver plate screws at this point, you will have a very hard time lining up the hammer screw holes.
Depress the trigger and hold it back while you install the hammer (rotate it in.) You can release the trigger when you get the screw hole lined up. If your 336 has a pin behind the trigger (lever trigger block that prevents the hammer dropping without the lever closed) and most do, you need to push that before you will be able to pull the trigger w/o a lever installed.
Make sure the hammer is "down". Install the hammer spring and retainer. DON'T pull the trigger or dry fire without a bolt in the gun.
#### the hammer. Push down the locking lug with a finger. Install the ejector and slide the bolt in 2/3 of the way.
Install the lever. Make sure all screws are tight. Install the buttstock.
If you need any parts, I have quite a few spares. I'd love to buy someone's 336 action though. If your dad's is buggered up, I'll pay good money for it.
