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Posted: 12/4/2009 4:31:11 AM EDT
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I noticed the other day that my bolt catch was rattling a little bit. After taking the bolt catch off the lower I noticed that the bolt catch buffer was stuck in the lower and would not drop free from it. There is only about 1/8" of spring movement under the buffer but no matter how hard I try It will not drop from the lower.
Did the spring somehow get coiled up and catch something or what? Also how would you go about trying to pull this out? I have little to nothing to grab on to. I was thinking to superglue a punch to the buffer and then try pulling it out. Thanks. |
| You will end up super gluing the buffer in. how about compressed air blown directly into the hole, this may increase pressure behind the buffer and force it out. Just make sure you have your safety glasses on and you are somewhere if it flies out you can find it. |
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I could try the compressed air trick but I don't see any room for that to work. Worse come worse I can always drill it out.
It has got to be a messed up spring issue as it worked great prior to this last week. If I turn the gun sideways and pull the bolt back, it will lock back by itself... |
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Out the gate, the catch spring should have been loaded first, then the buffer on top of the spring.
If loaded right, then you only need to wiggle the buffer to allow the spring tension to assist in the buffer freeing itself out of the chanel. If backwards and the buffer was loaded first (read spring on top), the compressed air will work as you use something to wiggle the buffer. Once out, make sure to clean the spring channel with a drill bit so it does not happen again (and the spring/buffer loaded correctly as well 
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Quoted:
Out the gate, the catch spring should have been loaded first, then the buffer on top of the spring. If loaded right, then you only need to wiggle the buffer to allow the spring tension to assist in the buffer freeing itself out of the chanel. If backwards and the buffer was loaded first (read spring on top), the compressed air will work as you use something to wiggle the buffer. Once out, make sure to clean the spring channel with a drill bit so it does not happen again (and the spring/buffer loaded correctly as well http://www.ar15.com/content/guides/assembly/lower/boltCatch.gif Thanks. The spring was installed first then the buffer, so everything is good. I can push the buffer down and can feel the spring behind it. But no matter how hard I push or wiggle it, it will not come out. Only a small portion of the curved bufffer is sticking out. It feels like something is blocking the buffer from coming out... Since the spring/buffer don't travel as far as it should the bolt catch is actually rattling around a bit since it's not getting anything tensioning it. Out of 4-5 lowers I've built, this is the first time I've seen this. |
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Best guess is that you did not clean the spring/catch channel with a drill bit before installing the parts (blasting material, milling burs, and maybe a bit of over anodizing as well due to such), and now you are paying the price.
P.S, The catch spring buffer should have been straight, not curved. You sure you got the right parts in the right areas? 
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Quoted:
Best guess is that you did not clean the spring/catch channel with a drill bit before installing the parts (blasting material, milling burs, and maybe a bit of over anodizing as well due to such), and now you are paying the price. P.S, The catch spring buffer should have been straight, not curved. You sure you got the right parts in the right areas? http://www.ar15.com/content/guides/assembly/lower/lowerKit.gif Dano, on my very first build, I did not clean anything, and had that happen on a pivot pin detent & spring...very nasty mess. And Slaytex, careful with the power drill. Those little pins are pretty hard, and the much softer receiver material can be damaged by the drill bit if it jumps off the buffer. Ask me how I know. |
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Fixed it...
I just put some CLP in the hole and pushed the plunger up and down for a while. After letting it sit over night it came up enough to grab the little bastard with some needle nose. I then cleaned out the whole really well and all is perfect once again. Thanks. |
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