Barrels hook will not release from cocking lever?

[SXS OHIO]

A friend has a Remington VHE-16 The barrels will not lift off? I removed the screw and dropped the hook so the get them off and the hook is working properly but the cocking lever may not be? I don't know how that part should work? It seems to move up with a click then down with a click? Any help please...thanks Big-K

[Brush Buster]

Good Morning Kenny , I have no idea why this is but over the years I have owned more than a few Parker Guns that the barrels wouldn't lift off ,but If I dried Fired the gun and dropped the hammers ,they would come off as smooth as silk ! Did you happen to try this before removing the screw ? Maybe Brian or someone that actually Gun Smiths on here would have the reason why , I don't but I know that always worked for me on the guns that just wouldn't lift the barrels !

[mobirdhunter]

Ditto to Russ' comment. I learned this from Bruce Day and it works every time. He said the issue was likely a worn part.

[SXS OHIO]

This did not work. Any recommendation for a gun smith close to Ohio ? thanks all

[edgarspencer]

Kenny, the issue isn't likely a worn part, but, more likely, old thick grease on the trigger plate. The cocking slide rides back and forth on the trigger plate, and when the grease gets old it isn't acting as a lubricant. The cocking slide isn't going far enough forward for the cocking crank to release the cocking hook. Also probably gummed up is the unhooking slide. As a temporary measure, get a can of brake cleaner (NOT Carb and Choke cleaner), and with the little tube in the spray nozzle, hold the receiver butt end up, and insert the tube into the receiver in front of the bolt and give one short squirt. You shouldn't need more than one or two short squirts. This thins the grease out enough to let the cocking slide travel fully. This is enough to get the barrels off, but now the gun needs a good cleaning and lube.
Going in the side and unscrewing the cocking hook from the barrel very frequently galls the screw and the water table. Some guns can be opened far enough to safely get the screw out, but many do not.