The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
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    Re: Frozen Top Lever Archived Message

    Posted by David Williamson on September 7, 2015, 8:59 am, in reply to "Re: Frozen Top Lever"

    Jerry, what John has described about the top lever raised up is a sure indication that the top lever screw in the trigger plate has come loose. This will cause the top lever shaft cam to slip of the top lever spring causing it to bind when trying to open it.
    In this picture you can see how the top lever spring sits on the cam of the top lever shaft.

    To put the top lever shaft to the spring, use John's advice about releasing the trip spring, manually move the top lever to the center position.
    There are many different ways to move the top lever spring so that you can get the spring onto the top lever cam, but this is the one I use.

    The top lever has to be raised up in order to let the spring go past the cam on the shaft and once it is over as shown in the picture, tap the top lever down till the leg of the spring is fully on the cam.

    Don't forget to put the safety push rod slide in before you put the stock on and once on make sure that the safety works before going ahead or you might be taking it apart again.

    Aligning the top lever to it's fit in the trigger plate housing, this the method I was taught and the easiest for me. It requires a 1/8" hole on the right side of the stock. This in no way will hurt the integrity of the wood.

    This is the6" c clamp I use and modified it by drilling a 3/32 hole on the fixed jaw using a 3/32 x 1 1/2" drill rod and peened top opening.
    I put the left lock on to prevent the clamp from slipping. (some said they do not like using the clamp because it can slip off the slender finger and crack the wood, that is why you use the lock to prevent this)

    Again there are different ways to do this, but this is what I feel comfortable with.
    (I do not do this as a living, just a hobby but have taken all of mine apart and put back this way.)

    I hope this has helped you and as John stated, feel free to email me with any questions.

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