Howdy folks,
I am new to this forum and need a little help from someone knowledgeable in the disassembly of a Whitmore Lifter. After reading a little about them here, I believe it is a an 1873 Model, due to it having non-rebounding hammers and a wedge pin to hold on the forearm. The serial number is 616X and it has fluid steel barrels.
It does not appear that the gun has ever been disassembled before. One of the trigger guard screws has a poorly shaped head, but none of the other screw slots showed any sign of ever having been turned. The screws holding the trigger plate to the action were so hard to turn that I almost gave up, but they did eventually yield to my MagnaTip b bits and KROIL without buggering the slots.
The problem I am having is in separating the action and the trigger plate. I have been unable to remove the short "false" access screw in the lifter lever that sits directly over the real screw going down through the upper tang and into the trigger plate. I have soaked this screw from both sides with Kroil, and I have heated it with a small torch flame, all to no avail. I even went to the trouble to build a very sturdy screw jack to clamp a MagnaTip bit into solid place in the screw slot and turn it out with a socket and "T" handle. The result of that has been two broken bits. Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to remove that "false" acess screw so that I can get to the one beneath it? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Whitmore Lifter disassembly problem.
Re: Whitmore Lifter disassembly problem.
Hi, Why do you want to take the gun apart?If it works don't fix it you are asking for trouble you will break something. Now that said that screw should now be that tight. How much heat (hot) did you get it?When you get whose
screws out to remove the trigger plate take a piece of wood doll rod come in from top reciever and tap the plate down out easy so you don't bend or break it.Back to plug screw if you cannot get it out you will have to take the lever out more work and trouble.You getting in deeper..
screws out to remove the trigger plate take a piece of wood doll rod come in from top reciever and tap the plate down out easy so you don't bend or break it.Back to plug screw if you cannot get it out you will have to take the lever out more work and trouble.You getting in deeper..
-
Clint Meier
Re: Whitmore Lifter disassembly problem.
Hi 2shooter,
Thank you for your comments! I know that sometimes these projects turn into a can of worms. The wood is in pretty bad shape, so the disassembly was to enable restoration and refinishing, with the intent of leaving the metal as is for now. I heated the plug screw with a small flame, so it didn't get hot enough to discolor the metal. From the patent drawings of the Llifters I have seen on this site, I wouldn't think that trying to take the lever out would be of any help in aiding disassembly. I guess that I'll keep at it using the penetrating oil and try the screw jack in a few days again. Thanks again, I appreciate your input!
Thank you for your comments! I know that sometimes these projects turn into a can of worms. The wood is in pretty bad shape, so the disassembly was to enable restoration and refinishing, with the intent of leaving the metal as is for now. I heated the plug screw with a small flame, so it didn't get hot enough to discolor the metal. From the patent drawings of the Llifters I have seen on this site, I wouldn't think that trying to take the lever out would be of any help in aiding disassembly. I guess that I'll keep at it using the penetrating oil and try the screw jack in a few days again. Thanks again, I appreciate your input!
-
Clint Meier
Re: Whitmore Lifter disassembly problem.
Hey 2shooter,
Just to follow up, the plug screw finally came out yesterday after application of regular penetrating oil and the use of my home-made screw jack. Once the plug screw came out, I applied p. oil to the screw under the lifter lever and it came out by hand. I used a wood dowel to tap out the trigger plate and it came easily apart with no hitches. Thanks again for your insight.
Just to follow up, the plug screw finally came out yesterday after application of regular penetrating oil and the use of my home-made screw jack. Once the plug screw came out, I applied p. oil to the screw under the lifter lever and it came out by hand. I used a wood dowel to tap out the trigger plate and it came easily apart with no hitches. Thanks again for your insight.
Last edited by Clint Meier on Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Whitmore Lifter disassembly problem.
Hi Clint,
Is the stock broke are cracked or lot of oil in the stock if so you have to get the oil out of the wood or the epoxy won't stick.And don't sand the wood leave the mark (nick) in the where you or you grandpa fell with it, it gives it character just like the scar you have from a cut.
Is the stock broke are cracked or lot of oil in the stock if so you have to get the oil out of the wood or the epoxy won't stick.And don't sand the wood leave the mark (nick) in the where you or you grandpa fell with it, it gives it character just like the scar you have from a cut.
-
Clint Meier
Re: Whitmore Lifter disassembly problem.
Greetings 2shooter,
Yes, the wood in the stock's head is cracked in several palces, none of which showed up from the outside. It looks pretty oily, so I guess I will soak it in lacquer thinner to remove the oil soak, then make U-shaped staples to glue it back together, one crack at a time. There are quite a few minor dings and scratches that will sand out, but I am going to leave all of the deeper ones. I don't want to deprive this fine old piece entirely of it's hard earned character marks. Thanks again!
Yes, the wood in the stock's head is cracked in several palces, none of which showed up from the outside. It looks pretty oily, so I guess I will soak it in lacquer thinner to remove the oil soak, then make U-shaped staples to glue it back together, one crack at a time. There are quite a few minor dings and scratches that will sand out, but I am going to leave all of the deeper ones. I don't want to deprive this fine old piece entirely of it's hard earned character marks. Thanks again!
-
Researcher
- Posts: 1123
- Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2003 11:06 pm
- Location: Washington and Alaska
Re: Whitmore Lifter disassembly problem.
Here is the way to clean the wood after removing the stock --
THE METHOD This is a word.doc now so I will never have to write it again but can post it every week. Oh boy! Anyway, here it is. Get a disposable aluminum roaster pan at the supermarket that is large enough for the stock. Stop by your Home Depot or whatever and get a gallon of acetone and a gallon of alcohol. If the stock has a plastic finish you might want a can of some paste stripper too. Use that first if the outside finish requires it. If the stock has a varnish or oil finish the acetone will lift that with no problem. Then toss the stock in the roaster and pour in the acetone (it will also neutralize the paste stripper). Cover the wood until it floats. Then pull off a good length of aluminum foil and make a cover for the "tank", sealing it as well as possible. Be aware that acetone is highly volatile and smoking the cigar over the top of it is not recommended. I let the things soak for several days, turning the wood over a couple times a day. When you feel like you're tired of that, and the acetone looks like it has quit changing color, pour the acetone back in the can, rinse the roaster out with alcohol, and then soak the stock in the alcohol just like you did in the acetone. When you yank the baby out of the alcohol bath it will be CLEAN! And you can seal it and refinish it anyway you want after you let it dry a couple days.
THE METHOD This is a word.doc now so I will never have to write it again but can post it every week. Oh boy! Anyway, here it is. Get a disposable aluminum roaster pan at the supermarket that is large enough for the stock. Stop by your Home Depot or whatever and get a gallon of acetone and a gallon of alcohol. If the stock has a plastic finish you might want a can of some paste stripper too. Use that first if the outside finish requires it. If the stock has a varnish or oil finish the acetone will lift that with no problem. Then toss the stock in the roaster and pour in the acetone (it will also neutralize the paste stripper). Cover the wood until it floats. Then pull off a good length of aluminum foil and make a cover for the "tank", sealing it as well as possible. Be aware that acetone is highly volatile and smoking the cigar over the top of it is not recommended. I let the things soak for several days, turning the wood over a couple times a day. When you feel like you're tired of that, and the acetone looks like it has quit changing color, pour the acetone back in the can, rinse the roaster out with alcohol, and then soak the stock in the alcohol just like you did in the acetone. When you yank the baby out of the alcohol bath it will be CLEAN! And you can seal it and refinish it anyway you want after you let it dry a couple days.
-
Clint Meier
Re: Whitmore Lifter disassembly problem.
Thank you, Researcher! Very good information that I am sure others will benfit from as well. I have a lot to learn, and really appreciate the knowledge you are all willing to share.
Re: Whitmore Lifter disassembly problem.
Hi Clint, I would not sand the stock, if you don't like it you can always come back and redo it, once the wood is gone its gone. The stock is going to look better than the metal. If you want a new gun go buy one.