What's a possible cause for extremely stiff action?

[David Livesay]

I have an 1899 Parker GH 12 gauge that is very stiff when it comes to opening the action. When you first push the top lever to the right, you have to force the barrels down. When the gun is broken down, then you must push the lever slightly back to the left. Then when you close the action, it closes smoothly, and the lever returns to the proper position.
I have had the action apart a couple times and have cleaned and lubricated it and can't see anything that looks out of place. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I don't have a local gunsmith available.

[Dean Romig]

Having read what you have already done, all I can think of ts is the cocking slide mechanism needing cleaning and lubrication.





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[Steve Huffman]

Has it just happened have you shot it this way Do you know for sure it stays cocked when closed

[Tom Hawkins]

Check the extractor to see if it moves freely. If it doesn't, take the screw for the extractor (on the bottom of the lug) out. Remove the extractor and clean the extractor hole with a .22 brush. Reassemble and check for improvement.

[David Livesay]

Has it just happened have you shot it this way Do you know for sure it stays cocked when closed

I have not fired the gun, but it does stay cocked as I have dry fired it with snap caps.

[David Livesay]

Check the extractor to see if it moves freely. If it doesn't, take the screw for the extractor (on the bottom of the lug) out. Remove the extractor and clean the extractor hole with a .22 brush. Reassemble and check for improvement.

I will try this, Thanks.

[Mike Franzen]

It could have an oversized roll pin. I have a 16 gauge that acts exactly as you describe after I got it back from a well known gunsmith several years ago. He told me he replaced the roll pin because the original was worn although I had never noticed any loose play. He also replaced all the screws in the receiver for some reason.

[David Livesay]

I just checked the gun again, as it was apart for a while as I was having the wood recheckered. It's only hard to break down the 1st time you do it. After the initial opening and closing, the second and following times it breaks down freely. However, the lever has to be pulled back to the left about 1/2 inch before closing the action. The extractor is moving freely.

[Dean Romig]

Ok, glad you told us that.
So you open it several times subsequent to that first time but what happens the first time you open it after dropping the hammers on empty chambers or snap caps??
If it is again hard to open the first time after that but subsequent openings are easier, it’s the cocking mechanism that is the culprit.
Has it always operated this or was it easy on the first opening prior to this problem occuring??





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[David Livesay]

Ok, glad you told us that.
So you open it several times subsequent to that first time but what happens the first time you open it after dropping the hammers on empty chambers or snap caps??
If it is again hard to open the first time after that but subsequent openings are easier, it’s the cocking mechanism that is the culprit.
Has it always operated this or was it easy on the first opening prior to this problem occuring??





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I've only had the gun a few months and I believe it was always hard to break down the first time after dropping the hammers. So you think it's the cocking mechanism?

[scott kittredge]

Xxx

[Steve Huffman]

I've only had the gun a few months and I believe it was always hard to break down the first time after dropping the hammers. So you think it's the cocking mechanism?

Do you have another Parker to compare the difference as when you cock the hammers when opening vs opening without dropping the hammers opening there is alot of difference when you have to cock both hammers, I also wondering if you have a screw to tight in the tang or trigger plate causing it to bind when cocking

[David Livesay]

Do you have another Parker to compare the difference as when you cock the hammers when opening vs opening without dropping the hammers opening there is alot of difference when you have to cock both hammers, I also wondering if you have a screw to tight in the tang or trigger plate causing it to bind when cocking

I do not have but 1 Parker unfortunately. I don't think I have any of the screws too tight as they all bottom out turned in the same direction.

[Steve Huffman]

I do not have but 1 Parker unfortunately. I don't think I have any of the screws too tight as they all bottom out turned in the same direction.

Not sure if you have a problem at all you may think so but it opens alot harder after you dropped the hammers because you are cocking the hammers . If you dont drop the hammers and open it its alot easier

[David Livesay]

[QUOTE=Steve Huffman;405347]Not sure if you have a problem at all you may think so but it opens alot harder after you dropped the hammers because you are cocking the hammers . If you dont drop the hammers and open it its alot easier[/QUOTE


Well, that makes sense that it would be harder to open when it's being cocked. Obviously, I don't have much experience with double guns, so hopefully there is not a problem. Thanks for all the info and ideas everyone that responded.

[Dean Weber]

Dave,
Like Steve said, opening the gun (not breaking down) after having been fired (hammers dropped) requires the gun to cock the hammers thus giving more resistance.

However, you also described a curious thing when you said you have to push top lever to left to close the gun. I don’t understand that portion of your statement. Are you saying you are unable to close gun without manipulating the top lever?

[Dean Romig]

It’s most definitely the cocking mechanism but it might not be a problem. When you open it after dropping the hammers you need to remember the fact that you’re compressing both mainsprings… I think someone else with Parker experience should check it and see if it is simply the normal operation that we all experience each time we open ours the first time after dropping the hammers.






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[David Livesay]

Dave,
Like Steve said, opening the gun (not breaking down) after having been fired (hammers dropped) requires the gun to cock the hammers thus giving more resistance.

However, you also described a curious thing when you said you have to push top lever to left to close the gun. I don’t understand that portion of your statement. Are you saying you are unable to close gun without manipulating the top lever?

Yes. When breaking down the gun, you push the lever to the right. Then you have to move the lever to the left about 1/2 inch before you attempt to close the barrels. The lever then returns to the correct position. If you close the barrels without moving the lever to the left a little bit the lever will remain to the right and the barrels will not lock shut.

[Bob Brown]

I hate to ask the obvious question, but you say you've only had it a couple of months and never fired it. The stock is now off for checkering? Was it sticking when the stock was on? If you tightened the screws until they bottomed out with the stock off it may well have closed the gap that would have been there if the wrist of the stock was on for the screws to tighten up on. Tightening it past that point may cause it to bind.

[David Livesay]

I hate to ask the obvious question, but you say you've only had it a couple of months and never fired it. The stock is now off for checkering? Was it sticking when the stock was on? If you tightened the screws until they bottomed out with the stock off it may well have closed the gap that would have been there if the wrist of the stock was on for the screws to tighten up on. Tightening it past that point may cause it to bind.

The gun is back together after having the wood checkered. It was left disassembled and not put back together while the wood was off of it. It has been like this since I got the gun. I'm thinking there is not a problem with the cocking mechanism but probably a minor problem with the lever spring. (if there is one?)

[Bill Murphy]

It is not unheard of for the lever to stick in the right position until you give it a push. You will know whether the top lever spring is broken because it will not return even after you give it a push. This sticky lever needs to be corrected by lubrication or by a gunsmith. I have had Parkers that have sticky top levers but have not been successful in correcting the problem without sending them to a gunsmith. Lubrication without disassembly doesn't seem to help.