Unusual reassembly problem

[Stan Hillis]

I disassembled an AE awhile back for cleaning, and did some work on the barrels at the same time. I noticed, when removing the trigger plate assembly, that the plate itself was very hard to dislodge from its recessed groove in the receiver. Then, when removing the sears, the left sear was very tight in the space between the receiver panel and the center block that the sear axle goes through. I remember thinking that it might be a booger to get back together, and I was right. The right sear fit right down into it's space easily, with proper clearances on each side. The left sear, however, took some doing to get back in and aligned so that the sear axle could be tapped on through it and out the left receiver side. It is very tight, even when in place properly, and takes considerable effort to move up or down, because the receiver side is pressing in on it.

Then, as expected, the trigger plate refuses to fit back down into it's groove in the receiver bottom. Problem is, the left receiver side, or panel, appears to be slightly warped inward. It is practically imperceptible to the eye, but when you lay the trigger plate in the groove on the right side, the left side lacks a good bit of being out enough for the plate to even be gently tapped down into place. It needs to be gently sprung outwards to allow the trigger plate to fit properly. It is supposed to be a tight fit, I know, but not this tight. If the trigger plate could be gotten back into place the pressure would be relieved on the sear and it would work properly, because it did before the trigger plate was removed. This was an existing problem when I acquired it, and the gun appeared not to have been disassembled for a great many years.

Is there some way to gently wedge the receive side outward enough to get the t. plate back into place and the screws into it? Or, should the receiver side be carefully, and I mean carefully, moved outward permanently? This is a project gun and has no originality value at all. It will end up being just a nice hunting and clays gun.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Stan

[bbman3]

Stan,do you see any marks on frame where something hit it and bent it inward? Sometimes wood can swell or sear arm could have gotten bent some way and is touching wood.Assemble sear with stock off and see if sear works freely. Bobby

[Stan Hillis]

Bobby,

I have the stock off already, and can see nowhere that anything has hit the receiver and bent it. It's like the gun was assembled with the side panel warped. I know it will function as it should with the trigger plate in it, but you just shouldn't have to spring the side out that much to get the trigger plate in. Sear looks perfect. Nothing looks damaged in any way.

Stan

[Stan Hillis]

As an update, I did some more measuring today and the left panel is indeed warped inward, to the tune of about .025" at the bottom edge. I disassembled it again so that I could look in there better and determine just how to go about getting it bent back into it's proper position safely. I saw that my best bet was to use the center support inside the receiver for a base to use a wedge against. Using a brass rod I fashioned a wedge that I could carefully drive between the center support and the inside left receiver panel. I am going just a little at the time, removing the wedge, and measuring, but in just a little while late this evening I moved it out .010". I intend to repeat this just a little at the time until the trigger plate assembly will fit back as it should. I'll keep posting the results, good or bad!

SRH