Won't take down

[chris mckelvey]

I have a 1911 vintage 16 ga double (Vulcan) which has operated fine for years. For some reason, upon attempting to take down and put in my short case, the barrels would not detach from the Frame. Everything looks fine, can't locate what is keeping the lug from detaching. Any 'tricks' to try? Advice? Thx - Chris in PA

[edgarspencer]

Your cocking hook is hanging up. Try squirting a bit of WD-40 on it, and open and close the gun a few times.

[chris mckelvey]

WD-40 soak for 24 hours - no joy. Squirted some Break Free in as well and let set for another 24 - same. Removed the extractors, checked forend extractor springs ... Barrel tilts fine but comes to a hard stop that appears to be 'early' .... Extractors barely clear the receiver.

[edgarspencer]

Then it sounds like the cocking slide isn't returning fully. Time for a good internal cleaning.

[Brian Dudley]

Also try letting the hammers down and see if it will unhook then. Either way. Its time to get someone inside it to make sure all is clean and well.

Could be a weakeneing or broken unhooking slide spring.

[chris mckelvey]

Thanks for the feedback ... It "feels" like something is preventing it from breaking free, so a return spring would make sense. Never disassembled the action ... Is there a step-by-step walk through out there somewhere?

[edgarspencer]

Chris,
Brian Dudley wrote up a good pictorial takedown procedure. It's posted here somewhere (just like my glasses are here somewhere too)
The one thing everyone will tell you is to be certain you have a proper fitting set of screwdrivers.
To get to the cocking slide, you'll only need to take the trigger bow off and then the floor plate (Trigger Plate), which, often times is quite tightly seated to the frame. The fix for that is to take a dowel, or brass drift, and down through the top of the frame, between the water tables, tap it out.The fly in the ointment here is that the barrels need to be removed first. Hmmmm

[Erick Dorr]

As Brian Dudley said.
Using snap caps pull the triggers and release the hammers. Open the action with fore end off and disassemble. This has usually worked for me when the barrels don't want to disengage.
Hope it works for you.
Best Regards,
Erick

[ed good]

if you are not an expert gunsmith who has taken dozens of parkers apart and then put them back together, please do seek out someone who has.

you are in pa. brian is in ny...

[Chuck Bishop]

Chris, PM me if you can't get the barrels off. Maybe I can help. I'm local to you in Harrisburg.

[chris mckelvey]

Chris,
Brian Dudley wrote up a good pictorial takedown procedure. It's posted here somewhere (just like my glasses are here somewhere too)
The one thing everyone will tell you is to be certain you have a proper fitting set of screwdrivers.
To get to the cocking slide, you'll only need to take the trigger bow off and then the floor plate (Trigger Plate), which, often times is quite tightly seated to the frame. The fix for that is to take a dowel, or brass drift, and down through the top of the frame, between the water tables, tap it out.The fly in the ointment here is that the barrels need to be removed first. Hmmmm

Roger the takedown steps .... I have good screwdrivers and patience, and respect enough that if I first don't succeed, get ahold of an expert!

[chris mckelvey]

As Brian Dudley said.
Using snap caps pull the triggers and release the hammers. Open the action with fore end off and disassemble. This has usually worked for me when the barrels don't want to disengage.
Hope it works for you.
Best Regards,
Erick

Erick ... Will try that and see what happens. Used snap caps the first few times but believe the forend was still on. Thx!

[chris mckelvey]

Many thanks .... Will give the ideas above a try and if those fail or before I screw something up, I'll contact you. Excuse my ignorance, but what is "PM me" - private mail?

[wayne goerres]

on some parkers the barrel will drop foward enough to remove the cocking hook screw. if yours will do this you will be able to remove the barrels. Take the forarm off and have someone to hold the but end of the shotgun securly wile you put gentle downward pressure on the open barrels. On some guns the screw will just clear the barrels.

[Chuck Bishop]

Chris, in my post, click on PaSxS and select "Send private message to Chuck Bishop" then type in your message and click on send.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I havethe same problem with my VH 16 1 frame at times. As folks have said, just pull the triggers, remove the fore arm and the barrels will come right off.

[chris mckelvey]

Gents ... been a while since i last posted on this thread but i finally got up the courage to get my good screwdrivers out, have a couple stiff shots of quality Irish Whiskey and see what is inside the girl. Using the snap caps and relieving the springs allowed me to get the barrel off as well as unscrewing that little doohicky hook under the barrels. Took the guard and then the bottom plate off and found the sliding plate pushed by the forearm piece was 'frozen' in years of solidified oil. Soaked it all, gave the entire innards a good cleaning, reassembled (no parts left over ... ok, none left over on the SECOND attempt), tightened it all up (with the right screwdrivers), and she works like a champ. I would like to thank you all for the advice and helping me step through it ... looking forward to taking my Springer and Parker out this weekend for some PA Pheasant! Thanks again ...

[Brian Dudley]

Good job!