VZ-58 Troubleshooting

K-2

K-2

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
8   0   0
Location
Milton, ON
I bought an unfired VZ-58 from the EE and just took delivery on Thursday. It seemed to working okay and I dry fired it a couple of times.

Today I watched 2-3 YouTube videos on field stripping the gun and decided to try it out myself. So I pulled the rear pin and pushed the rear receiver forwards and upwards as I'm supposed to, but it only moves forward (it's hard) but not upwards. So I cannot get the cover off.

I thought it may be because the trigger has to be pulled before the cover will come off so I tried that but I found that when I pull the trigger it does not click. The trigger is not firing; it just behaves the same as if the safety is engaged no matter how many times I rack the bolt.

Summary:
1) The receiver cover won't come off.
2) The trigger won't click.

I'm not sure if this is the infamous "gremlin". I tried reading about it but the explanations of the gremlin are a bit beyond my technical expertise with guns.

Do I have a problem or am I making a simple mistake somewhere?
 
K-2 said:
I bought an unfired VZ-58 from the EE and just took delivery on Thursday. It seemed to working okay and I dry fired it a couple of times.

Today I watched 2-3 YouTube videos on field stripping the gun and decided to try it out myself. So I pulled the rear pin and pushed the rear receiver forwards and upwards as I'm supposed to, but it only moves forward (it's hard) but not upwards. So I cannot get the cover off.

I thought it may be because the trigger has to be pulled before the cover will come off so I tried that but I found that when I pull the trigger it does not click. The trigger is not firing; it just behaves the same as if the safety is engaged no matter how many times I rack the bolt.

Summary:
1) The receiver cover won't come off.
2) The trigger won't click.

I'm not sure if this is the infamous "gremlin". I tried reading about it but the explanations of the gremlin are a bit beyond my technical expertise with guns.

Do I have a problem or am I making a simple mistake somewhere?
Click to expand...

as you know you can only open the top cover after dry firing.
1) you cant get the top cover off bcos the striker is cocked.
2) your trigger is not releasing the striker .
3) no, its not the gremlin, actually the reverse .

first , try dry firing again and check the select lever at different/part way positions also check the axis pins are in correctly.

if it still doesnt work then you need to get the top cover off to find out whats wrong , to do that you need to remove the pistol grip and the square screw will fall in, thru the hole stick in a hook and pull down on the sear or sear spring , that will release the striker.

ps, i have the cz858 and not the vz58 , i know the internals are slightly different so its best you ask someone who are fimiliar with the trigger housing to help you .

cz858trigger009Medium.jpg
 
Last edited:
I tried the trigger with the select lever in every possible position but it still does not click. Next I removed the pistol grip and the square nut fell in, but unfortunately I cannot release the striker. I just stuck a piece of wire inside and wriggled it around but not knowing what I'm doing it didn't work. Now I can't put the pistol grip back on as the nut is inside the receiver somewhere.

I'll see if there's an easy solution, otherwise I'll take it to a gunsmith. Any advise on one in Toronto would be appreciated.

All the guns I've bought till now have been working flawlessly. Buying this one is a bit like buying an old British sports car. Lots of character but a pain in the posterior. Maybe I'll sell it and get another CZ-58 from Marstar, that is if they ever start selling them. Offers anyone?
 
K-2 said:
I tried the trigger with the select lever in every possible position but it still does not click. Next I removed the pistol grip and the square nut fell in, but unfortunately I cannot release the striker. I just stuck a piece of wire inside and wriggled it around but not knowing what I'm doing it didn't work. Now I can't put the pistol grip back on as the nut is inside the receiver somewhere.

I'll see if there's an easy solution, otherwise I'll take it to a gunsmith. Any advise on one in Toronto would be appreciated.

All the guns I've bought till now have been working flawlessly. Buying this one is a bit like buying an old British sports car. Lots of character but a pain in the posterior. Maybe I'll sell it and get another CZ-58 from Marstar, that is if they ever start selling them. Offers anyone?
Click to expand...


you are almost there .
you not knowing the lay out of the trigger mechanism so i thought i'll post more pics .

the yellow handle tool is pointing to the sear spring .
cz858triggersear016Medium.jpg


the yellow handle tool is point to the back of the sear.
cz858triggersear017Medium.jpg


home made hook is placed at the back of the sear.
cz858triggersear004Medium.jpg


pull down on the hook and the striker (hopefully) will move forward .
cz858triggersear005Medium.jpg
 
Last edited:
curtton, it's very nice of you to take the trouble of explaining things so well. I'm going to keep trying to see if it'll work. I have an allen key like in the picture but I may need to cut it a bit.

I'll keep trying and report on my progress.
 
Okay, I got a smaller hex key and fiddled inside the receiver with it and managed to pull the back of the sear down and the striker went forward. Then I was able to open the receiver cover and look inside.

The inside of the receiver was full of gritty, oily gunk. I cleaned it as much as possible. I noticed that pulling the trigger is not moving the sear at all. It's like there's no connection between the two. Weird.

So I was able to put the pistol grip back and once I put assembled the gun back I'm back to square one. The trigger is not clicking.

So I', going to take out the pistol grip again and start all over again.
 
I found the problem, and was even able to fix it temporarily.

The disconnector gets disengaged from the sear when the safety lever is pushed down. Then when the safety is pushed back up the disconnector is not engaging the sear. It's supposed to mover slightly upwards to connect to the sear but it's not doing so.

A couple of times I got the trigger working and reassembled the rifle. It keeps working as long as I don't touch the safety. But as soon as I mess with the safety lever the trigger stops working. It's happened a couple of times.

Now the question is: what's a permanent solution to this? As the second owner of the rifle that is supposed to be unfired and a couple of months old would Marstar fix it under warranty?
 
??

I have nothing to offer to the value of this thread other than to say "attaboy" curtton.........pretty neat to help like that......good man!!

HH
 
So, I've got it working, and it may be okay as long as I don't mess with the safety lever.

Thanks you curtton for your help.

P.S. I don't want to deal with trying to find a permanent solution to the problem so I'm selling the rifle "as is".
Click to expand...
Good that you are being honest. To bad whoever sold you the gun wasnt as honest.
 
K-2 said:
So, I've got it working, and it may be okay as long as I don't mess with the safety lever.

Thanks you curtton for your help.

P.S. I don't want to deal with trying to find a permanent solution to the problem so I'm selling the rifle "as is".

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=320835
Click to expand...

you are welcome . too bad i couldnt help you anymore .

you should either contact the previous owner or marstar , it should still be under warranty .

hunterhenderson said:
I have nothing to offer to the value of this thread other than to say "attaboy" curtton.........pretty neat to help like that......good man!!

HH
Click to expand...

i do try .:)
 
the problem is almost deifinitely being caused bay a burr on the disconnector or sear where they engage each other, a weak disonnector spring may be adding to the problem, most likely if you hit the front (meaning forward part when it is installed in rifle) little tab that sticks out the side of disconnector slightly with a fine file, it will engage the sear better.
 
cz858trigger009Medium.jpg
the circled area is where the 2 parts engage. Polish them up a bit and your rifle will be fixed, it is possible you need to remove a bit of material from the front of the disconnector engagement surface but not likely it is most likely just a burr screwing with you.
 
I've already sold the gun (at a substantial discount) so the next owner can go through the rest of the fixing process.

I must say the hours spent on Saturday eyeballing the internals of this gun has given me a better idea of gun mechanicals than I've ever had in my life. It was a crash course, and will probably come in handy with my next VZ-58 (if Marstar ever sells them).

obiwanbonjovi, I won't open the gun again as I've already sold it, but those parts you're talking about seemed to be fixed in place. Wouldn't taking them out require cutting them or something?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom