Carrying Handle Sleeve Locking Mechanism

[peregrinvs]

Hi,

I wonder if a kind person could advise on the correct way to dismantle the above? i.e. extricate the carrying handle plunger, spring and plug. I assume you have to push out the two pins, but I'd like to confirm this before I start bashing away at them.

There's something wrong with the one on my Enfield MkI as it won't lock in the upright position, but flops over about an inch to the left. Possibly the plunger is worn out? It's a MkI barrel with a MkI BSA carrying handle sleeve.

Thanks,

Mark

PS. No juvenile 'Mark's got a floppy handle' jokes please.

[tom]

From the Armourers notes

"To remove and strip the carrying handle.—Rotate the carrying handle to the vertical position. Remove the screw on the left side and remove the assembled grip. Drive out the small pin, now visible, and remove the plug and spring, taking care to prevent loss. Turn the arm of the carrying handle sleeve downward, thereby allowing the plunger to drop out of the groove in the barrel. Remove the sleeve from the rear. When necessary, the plunger can be removed by driving out the plunger retaining pin, which is lightly riveted.




8


To remove the carrying handle grip.—Insert the large forked screw- driver of the combination tool into the hole at the rear of the grip and unscrew the stem nut. Some difficulty may occur, as the end is lightly riveted to prevent the loss of the nut and, consequently, should only be stripped in cases of necessity. Withdraw the spring and remove the stem from the front end. Again using the large forked screwdriver, unscrew the catch nut and with a brass drift drive the catch from the grip, taking care that no damage occurs to the thread.

To assemble the carrying handle grip.—Insert the carrying handle catch in the front of the grip and gently tap home, taking care that the two slots are in line with the two lugs on the grip. Assemble the catch nut and tighten with the forked screwdriver. Replace the carrying handle stem, with flit slot in the head of the stem engaging the lug on the carrying handle catch, and insert the spring in the rear of the grip. Place the stem nut on the forked screwdriver and insert in the grip, compressing the spring and turning the nut at the same time. When the nut is fully home, lightly rivet the end of the stem to prevent loss of the nut.

To assemble the carrying handle.—The carrying handle can be assembled complete before being replaced on the barrel. If the plunger has been removed, replace by inserting in the sleeve, ensuring that the recess in the plunger is in the correct position to receive the plunger retaining pin, and that the small diameter is at the bottom for engagement in the barrel groove. Drive home the retaining pin and lightly rivet. Insert the plunger spring and by means of the plug compress the spring until the hole in the plug is in alignment with the hole in the arm of the carrying handle sleeve, taking care that the angular face on the plug is at the top and toward the front of the carrying handle. Assemble the retaining pin. Replace the assembled grip on the arm of the carrying handle sleeve with the grip pointing to the rear. Assemble the screw from the left side and by means of a centre-punch force metal from the sleeve into the slot to prevent the screw turning. Assemble the sleeve to the barrel from the rear and, with the grip downward, push forward along the barrel, compressing the p1unger as necessary by means of the lead provided, until the plunger is positioned in the rear groove. Rotate the carrying handle to the vertical position."

I'm not sure thats what you want but its what they told folk at the time.

ATB

Tom

PS have you got the armourers instructions, I have them as a Word doc that will fit down the wire.

[peregrinvs]

The armourers instructions would be great. My address is: [e-mail]

Remove the obvious.

Thanks,

Mark

[britplumber]

One of my Mk1s does the same, I think its the groove in the barrel worn and/or the deeper hole the plunger drop into when its in the upright position. Its dam annoying!

[Kev]

It's usually the tip of the plunger that has snapped off due to forced rotation against the stop in the barrel groove.

ATB Kevin

[peregrinvs]

Sounds like that is what has happened to my one - I shall have to get it apart to confirm.

Would you be having any examples of the 'PLUNGER, handle carrying BE 9486' in stock Kevin?

Cheers,

Mark

[tom]

If you haven't Kev, I have a box full of used carrying handle parts.

ATb

Tom

[Kev]

Hi Tom,if you have a plunger to hand that would save me a few hours searching.......I never should have had a tidy up !

ATB Kevin

[tom]

Will do, do you have a pic to hand of a unworn one?

ATB

Tom

[peregrinvs]

Update: I've got it apart (nearly losing my left eye in the process...) and the tip of the plunger is worn, but not snapped off. However, there's not enough of the tip left to engage in the notch on the barrel, so I assume that's what the problem is.

(I also slid the barrel handle sleeve forward and the dried grease that fell out looked like it had been there since Dunkirk ;D)

I would also be very grateful if someone could post a pic of an unworn one to compare.

Cheers,
Mark

[tom]

Sorry for the delay, been tied up. I can strip a unissued handle to see what a new bits like and take a pic, eill compare to the box of used ones I have and see if any are as good.

ATB

Tom