Help - AH Fox Hammer Main Springs

[koondawg]

I am reassembling the action of an AH Fox Sterlingworth 12 ga made in 1913. What is the trick to compressing the hammer main springs so I can install the axle pin? Man, these springs are stout, can't hold em with my thumb. I can usually figure my way out but this has me stumped.
I am also looking for a hammer plunger/stirrup for the same gun, you guessed it, broke one trying to compress the hammer spring. Anyone know where I can find some Fox parts. Numerich is fresh out. I can make one if I have to, would rather purchase. Thanks.

[sidreilley]

I was in the same position last spring as you are and Dan Rossiter of PSG gunsmithing was kind enough to explain to me how to do it. Yes, the spring are too stout to compress with your thumbs but the good news is that you don't have to compress them very far at all. The movement to seat the hammers is both down and forward and is only about 1/8 inch. I made a tool out of a scrap of micarta that I had lying around that was the same thickness as the hammer. It's basically a rectangle with a 1 inch notch cut in one corner. You put the hammer in the notch and put your body weight behind it from the other end. This will move the spring enough. Dan suggested using a padded vice to hold the action, which would be best, but I was able to do it using the edge of a maple topped work bench which I pressed the breech faces against while holding the action body upside down against the edge of the bench (be VERY careful not to drop the action on a hard floor and break it). You also need to make a slave pin the size of the axel pins (.125" as I recall) that you can insert in the action from the opposite side that you intend to start the axle in. I made one from an cheap round bladed screw driver by grinding the blade to a blunt point.
First press the hammer in and down until you feel it "seat", then continue to press forward on the hammer while inserting the slave pin from the other side of the action body into the axle hole in the hammer. When you have this done, start the actual axle from the opposite side and drive it thru the outside frame wall, the hammer, and into the the center axle boss of the frame (where the set screw is). After this, you can release the pressure on that hammer and repeat the process on the other side.
It's really fairly simple but as Dan said, it's easier to do it then describe it. I hope this helps but if you have any questions, let me know. I'm afraid I can't help you with the broken rod.

Cheers

[koondawg]

Found a stirrup (Thanks Frank) and got it back together. Good trick, worked like a charm. Thanks for sharing Sid, I really appreciate it. PK