weak ejectors

[terc]

I have what I hope is a simple problem with a 12g Fox. The ejectors on both barrels,especially the right barrel, only eject the the fired shells a few inches. Everything seems to work as it should. They are well timed. The ejectors move freely and independently. The problem is the same with or without the forend wood attached. I tripped the ejectors a few time in my hand, recocking with a block of wood seems to show equal resistance while pushing them back. The only thing left ,(I could be wrong), is weak ejector springs. It looks like a simple job to replace them.
Is there anything else I should look for first?
Thanks, Dave Tercek

[Silvers]

I strongly suggest sending a Fox with this problem to a qualified Fox gunsmith for evaluation and repair. It might be a weak ejector spring(s), maybe not. I've changed out springs several times now on different Fox guns and it didn't solve the problem, only to keep troubleshooting and then discover it was something else. Nowadays changing ejector springs is the last, not the first thing I would do. IME, they very rarely get weak enough that the hulls barely kick out.

Nevertheless, anyone trying to replace a spring(s) should know, the thin section of the ejector hammer can be easily broken when removing/replacing it and then you really have a problem. You'll have to make up a spring compressor gizmo to reassemble and even then it can be a hassle. I've got a box of parts that came to me thru Billy Harris from an old gunsmith and there are at least a half dozen broken ejector hammers in there. Probably from gents trying to replace ejector springs. That thin section isn't likely to break in use because its movement is purely linear.

frank

[terc]

Frank, Thanks for the warning and advice. I knew it looked to simple. A small problem may have turned into an expensive one. I may leave it as is. It is a hunting gun, the shells kind of lay right into the palm of my hand after a shot.
Thanks again, Dave

[terc]

Ejector update
This is an embarrassing story, I'll keep it short.
When I open an ejector gun after firing I hold my hand behind the shells allowing them to pop into my hand. Not very long ago someone on this board mentioned that a Fox ejector gun should throw the spent casings 5 or 6 feet . I was thinking about this while walking back to my jeep after a hunt a few weeks ago. I fished around in my game bag pockets, found two empty shells ,put them into the chambers, pulled the triggers,then opened the gun. The shells stopped about half way out of the chambers, there is a problem. I went home stripped and cleaned the gun, oiled everything, then tried it again. Still no good. The ejector springs felt strong when pushed against a wood block, but I didn't really know how they should feel. I was going to try replacing the springs so I posted hear. Thanks again Frank for advising me not to try it.
I was giving it another check out a few days ago when by chance I picked up a different shell that was on my desk. It ejected the shell 5 or 6 feet. I went through a box of various empties, they all ejected nicely.
The problem was that the shells that were in my game bag were deformed, out of round. I should have figured it out right away because the shells didn't slide in easily, they needed pushed in the whole way.
Thanks again to this great forum, and the knowledge shared here, Dave

[abner]

Thanks for the story, that is a good lesson for all of us. I sometimes keep doing the same thing trying to solve a problem only to have someone else say: "Did you try this?". The "this" was another way of doing the same thing another way and then have it work. I know how you feel and reminds me we are always learning.