Seized front action screw

MD

MD

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I just got an older Browning T-Bolt .22.

I'd like to disassemble it to clean it up and free up the safety too.

There is some visible rust in the safety mechanism.

I understand that the earlier T-Bolt, of which this is an example had "salt-treated" wood, so that is probably contributing to my problem.

I was able to free up the rear action screw, but the forward one is tight, tight, tight.

I sprayed some Fluid Film in there hoping to loosen it up a little but I doubt it will actually penetrate down to the threads.

I already did the classic basement home hobbyist mistake of slipping with the head of the screwdriver in the screw and gouged it a bit.

What else can I do before stripping it completely by mistake and having to take it in to my 'smith?

Heat?

Tapping it slightly?

Thanks.
 
Heat and vibration/tapping are solid ideas. Also find the exact size or a tiny hair bigger for the head. Helps in not stripping or ruining the head/screw. Once you get it moving even a little , pound the lube to it. Lube it all the way out.
 
Try heat .
I had a action screw that had devcon on it from a careless bedding job that was stuck for years and on instruction from a member here I used heat by getting the screwdriver red hot then sitting in the slot in the screw after about three repeats of heating the screw then torching the screwdriver the screw came out like it was hand tight

Good luck
 
Heat then penetrating oil, let her soak in it overnight.
Lock the rifle in a vice upside down, use a punch and hammer. Put the punch at outside edge of screw slot on as shallow an angle as possible and give it a good hard smack witht the hammer counterclockwise.
Try that first, it should do the trick.
 
MD said:
I just got an older Browning T-Bolt .22.

I'd like to disassemble it to clean it up and free up the safety too.

There is some visible rust in the safety mechanism.

I understand that the earlier T-Bolt, of which this is an example had "salt-treated" wood, so that is probably contributing to my problem.

I was able to free up the rear action screw, but the forward one is tight, tight, tight.

I sprayed some Fluid Film in there hoping to loosen it up a little but I doubt it will actually penetrate down to the threads.

I already did the classic basement home hobbyist mistake of slipping with the head of the screwdriver in the screw and gouged it a bit.

What else can I do before stripping it completely by mistake and having to take it in to my 'smith?

Heat?

Tapping it slightly?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Why wait to screw it up more before taking it to a smith? The more you screw it up, the harder you make the job for him.
 
freire said:
Use some Kroil leave it overnight , it is one of the best penetrating oils in the market.
Click to expand...

Kroil is great stuff and could be sold as a mens cologne ;) but is expensive if you can find someone selling it in Canada. A 50-50 mixture of acetone and ATF works as well - or better in some cases - and they can be purchased cheap at most hardware stores.

212342.jpg
 
'Boo said:
Kroil is great stuff and could be sold as a mens cologne ;) but is expensive if you can find someone selling it in Canada. A 50-50 mixture of acetone and ATF works as well - or better in some cases - and they can be purchased cheap at most hardware stores.

212342.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks Boo.

I have some acetone but no ATF. I guess I'll have to go get a few tablespoons from my mechanic.
 
freire said:
Use some Kroil leave it overnight , it is one of the best penetrating oils in the market.
Click to expand...

Or go to the pharmacy and buy some iodine great stuff to eat up rust, but with iodine you got to be more attentive because if you leave it to long it will re-rust.
 
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