Armory Sponsor
Posted: 10/16/2010 7:42:19 AM EDT
| Have an issue with an Ithaca 37 I can't find any information on. The detent ball that engages the magazine cap isn't being retained by the barrel. Upon removal of the barrel the ball bearing simply falls out. Is there some type of bushing that is supposed to retain the ball over the spring? |
|
Te ball detent is retained in the barrel lug by peening the metal around the ball. You get a ridge of metal that slightly closes the detent hole around the ball. The ball protrudes just enough to engage the magazine cap, but has enough metal around it to prevent it from coming out. The ball detent does have a spring behind it to make it stick out, so if the ball has already come out, the spring may not be there anymore.
Ithaca uses a tool that looks like a punch, the tip has a hole slightly smaller than the ball. The punch is inserted over the ball, compressing the ball & spring, the ends of the punch peen the metal over the detent hole- capturing the ball in place. If you peen the metal around the ball, slightly closing the hole around the ball, you are basically making a metal lip around the sides of the ball. This allows the ball to be depressed into the lug but not allow it to fly out when the barrel is removed. Dont force the ball to far inside the hole while peening the metal because it will sit too low the engage the magazine cap. Put the spring and then the ball into the detent hole. Depress the ball slightly and peen around the edges of the hole, creating a lip around the hole to retain the ball. May help if you have a buddy depress the ball as you peen the metal with your favorite hammer and punch. I have worked on a few Ithaca 37/87 shotguns, and this is an occasional problem. |
Armory Sponsor