doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ithaca SKB 600

I just purchased a used 20 gauge a few days ago. There is a slight grinding sound when I open the gun. It sounds like old grease or grit in the ejector springs or something. The gun wasn't used for the last 30 years or so. I'm not much of a gunsmith so I thought I'd ask here. I fired snap caps and everything works well. Does anyone have any experience with these. I tried cleaning it the best I can without taking the ejectors apart.
Tom

Have you tried spraying something like Crud Cutter into the action? Through firing pin holes, maybe around the crossbolt, etc. Around ejectors also.

Take it to a gunsmith who knows doubles and have him take it apart to clean and freshly lube it. Spraying anything through holes is not the way to clean a gun. Sorry, Larry.

By "take it apart", I meant to remove the buttstock and clean it thoroughly. I would not take it apart, bit by bit, unless it was very old and full of wax and gum.
Trying to "clean" by spraying "gunsmith-in-a-can" into the firing pin holes is asking for trouble. Oil and solvent soaking into the stock head and eventually the parts will be gummier than before because nothing was really cleaned. It's hard to imagine hitting ANY trouble spots with whatever spray can get past the firing pins.

Quite often on boxlocks, rather then take the entire mechanism apart I'll soak it in solvent overnight (I like to use Coleman lantern fuel) and then take a spray can of brake cleaner (with the long red plastic tube) and use that to blast the loosened up crud fom the tight spots within the mechanism (an air hose can be useful here too). Then I'll let it dry for several hours (or quick dry it with an air hose) and finally I use a can of spray lubricant (again with the red plastic tube) to relube the mechanism. It's a good idea to stand it up on end for a few hours and let any excess spray lube run out before putting the stock back on.
Steve

If you suspect the ejectors, and they can collect a lot of crud, work them back and forth with your thumb to see if you can duplicate the feel. The ejectors are not hard to service. No tools required. Push them in about half way, keeping an lifting (away from barrels) pressure on the forward end. You will seem them start to lift out of their slot in the monobloc. Usually it takes a little twist to get full clearance, but there you are. There is a spring and plunger under the ejector head and they are itching to get loose, so be mindful of them. Your first time taking them out, you might wear a light cotten glove on your pushing hand so sharp edges and springs don't nip at you. After you have done it once or twice it is a very casual exercise.

Well Jim, I've had good results with that. Just recently did it to a Parker Repro A1 Special--I think essentially the same issue: had not been fired in about 20 years. Grease etc can "set up" in that time, and I'm not sure what harm it would do, since it dries very quickly and is not another lubricant itself but rather a degreaser. I certainly would not recommend using oil, because in a situation like the poster described, old lubricant is likely the problem rather than the solution--and, as you indicated, you don't want to let it seep into the head of the stock.

The Repro doubled on me 2 or 3 times before I treated it. Afterwards, several flats of shells fired, perfect function.

Thanks to every one who replied. Ithaca5E, that was where the noise was coming from. So I did as you said and it worked great. I had never done this before but as you said it was nothing. I cleaned the springs and the housing/hole good and that took care of the noise. This just saved me quite a few dollars as I would have had to ship and insure it to someone. Now I'll know how to do it again if I ever need too. I owe you one.
Thanks again
Tom