Removing top lever - complete disassembly?

[hoof]

Pardon my ignorance, I am an LC Smith guy. I am working on a 1926 vintage Sterlingworth, extractor gun.

Can I pull the top lever off the frame without doing a complete disassembly of the action? I would like to have the top lever off to refinish it, and the tang underneath, but I don't want to pull the hammers and all if I don't have to.

Thanks,
CHAZ

[bbman3]

A Smith is much harder to work on than a Fox.If the top yoke screw will not turn and they are usually staked on,i take a dremel with a small pointed grinding stone and carefully grind around the outside edges of the screw untill you can remove it.But first back out the screw in middle that holds toplever spring in place and remove it,spring will not fly away! Take the set screws out that lock the bottom round bolt that holds toplever on and remove,then remove top yoke screw and you have it. Bobby

[hoof]

Is there a correct way to re-install the top lever spring and plunger? Swearing and grunting did eventually work but I can't believe there isn't a better way. I kept pushing the spring into the receiver with the flat of a screwdriver and then screwing the "post" it bears against in a little at a time. It looks like the hole in the receiver is actually split a little from forcing the plunger to the side. It was that way before I started.
Thanks,
CHAZ

[bbman3]

The metal is so thin where it is drilled for spring hole a lot are cracked slightly,I push plunger piece down with end of wooden handle annd turn the screw in until handle is pushed off. Bobby