Winchester Model 88 Whoops!

Dave_K

Dave_K

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Ha! So, I've gone and done it....

I've made the most common new guy mistake ever.

I've got a Model 88 that was given to me, it had been sitting for a while, so I gave it a quick clean and took it out shooting. Works awesome, great firearm. Anyways...

Here's where the fun begins. Its always been a bit stiff, so I decided to clean it... Yep, I've delved into the lever action. I figured it'd be like the 336 and super easy. WRONG. I've punched the pins out, slid the lever out of the receiver, and wait for it......

A whole bunch of random pins and springs just fell out. ALOT of stuff. Yes, I've taken my gun apart and can't put it back together. Hell, the bolt is locked in and I can't even get that out.

So here I am, a total idiot/moron, begging for your help. I've looked around online and not found anything... So if you've got any insights at all I'd be awesome, and greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Dave.
 
Dave_K said:
Ha! So, I've gone and done it....

I've made the most common new guy mistake ever.

I've got a Model 88 that was given to me, it had been sitting for a while, so I gave it a quick clean and took it out shooting. Works awesome, great firearm. Anyways...

Here's where the fun begins. Its always been a bit stiff, so I decided to clean it... Yep, I've delved into the lever action. I figured it'd be like the 336 and super easy. WRONG. I've punched the pins out, slid the lever out of the receiver, and wait for it......

A whole bunch of random pins and springs just fell out. ALOT of stuff. Yes, I've taken my gun apart and can't put it back together. Hell, the bolt is locked in and I can't even get that out.

So here I am, a total idiot/moron, begging for your help. I've looked around online and not found anything... So if you've got any insights at all I'd be awesome, and greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Dave.
Click to expand...

Well Dave, I did the same thing with a Sako Finnwolf once, and all I have to say is.....good luck.
I'll drop by and look at it and be of no use if you like though. :)
 
I've got beers!


Yea, this is for sure going to be a gunsmith job, unless I can find a video or something... I'm sure the experts get it all the time.

Well, at least I can use this as an excuse to get it re-blued.
 
Take care not to lose any parts as well as others have noted parts are very difficult to come by. Rem338win will probably tell you also that slave pins will greatly aid in the reassembly. Good luck.
 
Dave_K said:
I've got beers!


Yea, this is for sure going to be a gunsmith job, unless I can find a video or something... I'm sure the experts get it all the time.

Well, at least I can use this as an excuse to get it re-blued.
Click to expand...

Dave:

If you pm me your email. I'll send you a schematic for the Model 88. The exploded view is quite visible and easy to follow.

Rod
 
Don't worry, utter failure is a valuable part of the learning process.... i know, cause i've been there done that. Just don't lose anything and you'll get it figured out eventually.
 
Did you find the little spring-loaded pin? The one that comes out at light speed over your left shoulder, gouges the dry-wall and comes to rest either in the book-shelf, nearest closet or your wife's scrap-booking beads?

If you still need it I think I have at least the exploded diagram.

Remember, the bolt cams closed in the same fashion as a semi-auto. And the twin plates are actually the hardest parts to fit correctly and re-install.

Good Luck.
 
Riflesmith said:
Take care not to lose any parts as well as others have noted parts are very difficult to come by. Rem338win will probably tell you also that slave pins will greatly aid in the reassembly. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Slave pins, and a second pair of hands. They aren't for the faint of heart. Man I miss that Finnwolf.
 
Dave_K said:
Ha! So, I've gone and done it....

I've made the most common new guy mistake ever.

I've got a Model 88 that was given to me, it had been sitting for a while, so I gave it a quick clean and took it out shooting. Works awesome, great firearm. Anyways...

Here's where the fun begins. Its always been a bit stiff, so I decided to clean it... Yep, I've delved into the lever action. I figured it'd be like the 336 and super easy. WRONG. I've punched the pins out, slid the lever out of the receiver, and wait for it......

A whole bunch of random pins and springs just fell out. ALOT of stuff. Yes, I've taken my gun apart and can't put it back together. Hell, the bolt is locked in and I can't even get that out.

So here I am, a total idiot/moron, begging for your help. I've looked around online and not found anything... So if you've got any insights at all I'd be awesome, and greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Dave.
Click to expand...


Ben' there and done that.
Great rifles, but not for the feint of heart to take apart and re-assemble.
After sufficient cursing, swearing, rants, raves and assorted physical movements that I can't duplicate now, I took my wife's advice and went to a gunsmith. Good excuse to have the trigger tuned at the same time, though.
Trigger is better, but not as good as it should be. This is an 88 idiosyncrasy, and can't be cured; just made tolerable.
 
Oh Geez, reminds me of when I took my Daddy hand me down model 88 apart. It took me a few hours but I did it. Part of my job is understanding the "Theory of Operation" on how how weapons operate, this helped greatly in getting my 88 back into working order.
All I can say is good luck my friend.
 
Parts breakdown available here Have fun :)

ipb-winchester-88a.jpg



ipb-winchester-88b.jpg
 
An 88 public service announcement;
If any one wants a 88 factory carbine in 308 in nearly new shape let me know. It was made in 71 and has a plain walnut stock. I had it in my hands at a local gun emporiium a few days ago. It will be coming up for sale sometime this week. Not sure how spendy at this point. I have no interest in buying it myself though it is a very nice specimen.
 
Ayup- been there done that. Now I just use Brakleen and leave it alone. Of course you lose the one piece that was only used on that model and has not been available for a hundred years. Thats the one that goes winging over your left shoulder and loses itself in absolutely the worst place to be lost in. Good luck bro. I feel your pain.
 
When I was younger and hungrier I used to assemble these for $50 and parts were available as some were usually lost...

Now I'm old and fat and no parts available to speak of and I wouldn't even look at a job like this.

Slave pins will have to be used for assembly - good luck and I am sure you will think twice in the future...
 
Yea... I guess thats what you get for assuming its the same as any other *cough*marlin*cough* lever to take apart.

Thanks for all the diagrams guys. I was PM'd one too last night too, but I've got them all saved. I didn't have any pin or spring go shooting out, so I'm 99% sure I've got all the parts too.

Still, despite all this assistance I'm sure this would take me quite some time to re-configure, and it'll take me half that amount to get wicked frustrated and angry with it. I've opted to take her to the professional. Like I said, also a good time to get it re-blued, maybe the aforementioned trigger work done too. I've got a card for a gentleman in Duncan whom I will be telephoning this week for his opinion, and I'll go from there. Will keep you guys updated on how my misadventures work out. I'm sure the gunsmiths get a genius like me every month or so walking in with a bag of parts and an embarrassed look.

Thanks again everyone.
-Dave.
 
Not to worry. With a little bit of luck your local 'smith may well get it back together for you.

For some, even getting an 870 back together can be a challenge, although they don't seem to have much trouble getting them apart. For those, I suggest they not tackle the automatic transmission on their car/truck. ;)
 
Or just take it to Barry Jensen at Bits of Pieces. He could make a new one never mind put yours back together. Bet it works better than ever after that. Barry is a very good schooled smith. He actually went to school for it unlike almost all of the rest of them here. It will always work when it leaves his shop.
 
Roy Dunlap, said in his book, the Winchester Model 24 was most often the gun brought to him in a paper bag. Folks would attempt the take it apart for the cleaning routine and got themselves in quite a mess. It got worse when they'd use the shake it method for disassembly. Coil springs, pins and parts in a heap with no idea where things go.

You can sometimes fix something if you first figure out how it works.
 
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