AR Sponsor
Posted: 8/18/2010 12:01:38 PM EDT
|
Just arrived in the mail today, NIB, direct from the manufacturer. I'm not sure if the mount is broken or not; it is my first mount from this maker so I don't want to bug their customer service if this is how the mount normally works.
Is the latch (see second pic) supposed to look like that? It was very hard to unlock, and when I got it open it seems like a piece broke off, where the silver metal can be seen on the upper right corner of the open latch. 
I think the mount may be broken, because when the mount is locked onto a receiver it is impossible to "open", even when the locking nut is only hand-tight. I'm well within the 30 day return window; do I send it back or am I messing this up? TIA! |
|
it's a locking throw lever mount.... you are supposed to pull back on the lever shell to release it..
looks as if you forced it and broke it instead... Mark will probably make it right, but looks like operator error to me... just my 2 cents worth.. Like all LaRue mounts, it is precision-machined out of bar-stock aluminum and Type-III hard-coat anodized. The locking LaRue Speed Lever provides outstanding return to zero; the optic can be removed, and replaced, without loss of zero. Guaranteed. http://stores.homestead.com/Laruetactical/Detail.bok?no=33
|
|
Quoted:
it's a locking throw lever mount.... you are supposed to pull back on the lever shell to release it.. looks as if you forced it and broke it instead... Mark will probably make it right, but looks like operator error to me... I have no problem owning up if I screwed it up myself. However, I don't understand what you said in terms of pulling back on the lever shell ... I pulled straight back and that's when it broke. How could I have activated the lever incorrectly? Edit: to clarify, as I mentioned in the OP, the locking nut was only hand tight (the instructions were very specific about never removing the nut, so I left it as loose as possible) when the lever finally gave. |
|
Did you force the latch open? The latch in your second pic is supposed to be slid to the left (as seen in your second pic) to unlock the latch (or to the rear if the lever is locked), then you rotate the lever arm forward to unlock the mount.
ETA: in your first pic, the latching slide (vertically ridged part that appears to be broken) is still in the locked position. It should be pulled/slid toward 11 o'clock direction as seen in your first pic away from the vertical bolt to unlock it. |
|
Did you UNLOCK the lever (by pulling the shell on the lever) back? Also, it says to never remove the adjusting nut, but there's a neat little wrench included in the package to ADJUST the nut for a snug fit on the rail.
As the owner of MANY (probably all) of these mounts, they DON'T break. You broke it. I don't know how without a 5ft breaker bar though. I wouldn't even bother Mark with it, just order another one. |
|
I did the same thing sort of . I forced the lever down with it in the locked position and it broke off the corner of the lock and would no longer lock. I sent it to Larue and they repaired it for fee.
They provide excelent customer service even for knuckle heads 
It can easily be done contrary to the coments on them being indestructable. The metal is paper thin where the lock hooks around. If you try and open or close it when it is in the locked position it takes very little force to break that hooked part off. Almost feels like the lever is just adjusted to tight, so you push /pull a bit harder and.. snap!! It would be harder to pull it open and break it in the closed position though. Mine had slid to the locked position while it was open and I pressed it down too hard thinking the nut was too tight |
|
While I'm still not understanding if I screwed up the mechanism, I'm convinced I broke it. Not only is the tab on the lever broken, the nub on the body part of the rail is also visibly damaged. And yes, it was done with hand strength, but using the supplied wrench. I'm not that strong of a guy, even though I hit the gym 3-5x per week (most of the time it is cardio).
I'll see what they can do to fix it, if anything. If not, then I guess breakage happens and I'll get a new one. Quoted:
OP could apparently f*** up an Anvil in a sand dune!  For days I couldn't find "or something" to prop up my heated MREs when there were no rocks around ...
|
|
See the roll pin on top of the lever ? Notice there's a little space to the right of it ?
If you pull on the lever, the roll pin will shift positions and occupy where that space used to be. The "space" will now be on the left side of the roll pin. You've now "unlocked" the throw lever. There may be an arrow and the word "open" somewhere on the lever. |
|
Quoted:
While I'm still not understanding if I screwed up the mechanism, I'm convinced I broke it. Not only is the tab on the lever broken, the nub on the body part of the rail is also visibly damaged. And yes, it was done with hand strength, but using the supplied wrench. I'm not that strong of a guy, even though I hit the gym 3-5x per week (most of the time it is cardio). I'll see what they can do to fix it, if anything. If not, then I guess breakage happens and I'll get a new one. Quoted:
OP could apparently f*** up an Anvil in a sand dune! For days I couldn't find "or something" to prop up my heated MREs when there were no rocks around ... Hey, shit happens. Based on my MANY dealings with LaRue, I'll bet they'll hook you up. GREAT people. |
|
Lemont! Ya big dummy!!! You broke it! As others have said, you need to push/pull the outer section of the lever, then rotate the arm out of the way.
The mount will probably still work fine. It just won't lock. The arm isn't going to suddenly rotate out on you and send your optic flying on your first or even 10,000th shot. LaRue used to not have locking levers on any of their mounts, and many, if not all, of those are still holding zero just fine. Knowing LaRue, however, I'm pretty sure that if you did send it in to them, they'll fix or replace it. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
While I'm still not understanding if I screwed up the mechanism, I'm convinced I broke it. Not only is the tab on the lever broken, the nub on the body part of the rail is also visibly damaged. And yes, it was done with hand strength, but using the supplied wrench. I'm not that strong of a guy, even though I hit the gym 3-5x per week (most of the time it is cardio). I'll see what they can do to fix it, if anything. If not, then I guess breakage happens and I'll get a new one. Quoted:
OP could apparently f*** up an Anvil in a sand dune! For days I couldn't find "or something" to prop up my heated MREs when there were no rocks around ... Hey, shit happens. Based on my MANY dealings with LaRue, I'll bet they'll hook you up. GREAT people. Reminds me of the Miller Lite commercial "Twist to Open". Guy was dancing waiting for the bottle to open.
|
You failed to take a picture of the only angle that matters. 
Flip the lever to the locked position and take another close-up picture at the outside of the lever.... There's no way you can possibly miss the giant UNLOCK ––> in big white letters on the lever itself. You said you are still under the 30 day window, but IMO to ask them to fix or replace it for free is quite rude. If I were you, I would offer to pay the cost of replacing the locking mechanism parts and labor, and call it a day. They will likely give you the benefit of the doubt, but you should definitely man up of this one. ETA http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44/mfingar/LaRue_Tactical/VFZ_Differences.jpg |
AR Sponsor