doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Greener Cross Bolt Problem

I have a Model 52 SxS that has a problem with its Greener cross bolt. The bolt is supposed to retract all the way when you close the gun, but the "thingy" (that's a technical term, incidentally) on the barrel hits the bolt on the way down and I have to manually push thumb lever to close gun. Seems that about 1/8" of crossbolt stays out. How do I fix this?

Based on your description, I'd opine that a couple of other "thingys" are worn or broken to be out of "time" (time as used here is a technial term for when and how various thingys fit together during the cycling of the gun's action). Best guess is that your gun needs a date with Mr. Gunmaker Smith. It could possibly just be dirty or have some foreign object afloat inside, but will need a good inspection at best.

Flush with gun cleaning solvent. Apply very light viscosity oil. That would be the course of correction IF the end of crossbolt projects proud of the exterior of breech ball after closing (cross bolt isn't fully seating in the piercing in extension). However, this bit about the rib extension[?] hitting the cross bolt on closing suggests that the bolt is not being held in an open (retracted) position after opening and you are pushing the lever to the right on closing to avoid the interference. The top lever spindle has an arm or lever which operates in a slot in the cross bolt to actuate withdrawal. When the end of the arm wears, the cross bolt sometimes won't fully retract to clear the extension. I've had that happen with a no-name Brum action; the solution for me was to apply pressure under forearm (manually closing gun tighter) while operating lever to retract the bolt on opening. That appears to give a tiny bit more bolt retraction and gun opens fine. Your gun appears to exhibit the same symptom at a larger scale. Is there a burr on the X-bolt created by the interference with extension on closing? Could the bolt possibly be bent and binding in its recess in the breechwall?

jack

The cross bolt fully pierces the rib extension when closed. I have checked this visually several times. The inards were very filthy with hard grease and ferrous residue when I got it (maybe the guy got it wet and never took it apart?) and I have given it a good spritzing with gun action cleaner, worked the action, flushed again, and sprayed with Rem Oil. There may still be gunk in there, but as I am unsure how all the little bits fit together under tension, I am hesitant to disassemble too far.

But I have four other cross bolt guns to compare with and they all seem to react differently.

Husqvarna Model 51
Backaction model. Crossbolt returns to almost full closed position when gun fully opened. Upon closing gun, bolt retracts and rib extension clears with room to spare.

Husqvarna Model 103
This one is the closest to the 52 in quality and sidelocks. When gun is fully opened crossbolt returns to about halfway across mortise. When you close the gun, the bolt retracts and extension clears with no problem.

JABC No. 1
Actually a really nice and mint condition little gun. When opened the bolt returns to almost all the way closed. Upon closing the gun, the bolt retracts, but extension comes into contact with it a bit near the end and you have to snap it shut.

JABC No.2
Well-worn, but tight gun I shoot BP in for cowboy action shooting. When opened the crossbolt stays in full open mode. When gun is closed it drops back through the hole in the extension with no resistance.

Rudy;
Sounds as if your gun has a double underbolt in conjunction with the top cross bolt. The forward end of the underbolt bearing against the curve of the forward lug below the bolting notch cams the bols back for closing (Not all break open guns have a latch which holds the lever over to right while open). It would sound as if at some point in the linkage (or a little in all points) you have enough wear the top bolt is not being fully retracted. I hate to say it, but doubt this can be diagnosed long distance. It will simply take a careful examination of all parts to see where the problem occurs. However since you do not mention any problem with the bbl lugs hitting the underbolt, its most likely the wear is at the top bolt connection itself.
Miller

If the thingy is the rib extension and it is hitting the bolt, the bolt is not being held in the full open position. The spring loaded bolt catch is probably gunked up, very common. If the bolt wont slide into position on its own then the top lever spring may be broken or all gunked up.

Peter A.