I broke my rifle..Need help

[Don Nix]

I finally got a chance to take my 45-110 to the range today shoot  what I had loaded this winter.
I have only shot the rifle twice since it bought so this was a learning experience.
I was shooting at 100 yds and I am well pleased with its accuracy but!..
I ran about 16 rounds through it and I noticed that the last two or three rounds  failed to fire on the first try. It didnt happen all in a row but of the last few rounds ,It would snap,I would cock the hammer and try again and it would fire.
I put it off to my loading or to the primers.
But when I got home I sat down at the picnic table to clean the rifle. I cleaned it good with hot soapy water then oiled her up good with break free,
When I dropped the bolt and cleaned it, it wasnt dirty really but I sprayed everything down with break free, wiped it off and put it back together.
But when I did, the breach will not stay closed.
Its as though there is no tension in the breach bolt at all..
When you close it up it jusr falls open. The extractor is really loose fitting now. Its as though all the parts have shrunk.
I thought I may have lost a part but I cant see where i have any parts missing.
the two screws  on the breech block were loose and I tightened those but there was no effect.
  Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be.
By the way the rifle is an IAB.
Thanks 

[Patrick Henry Brown]

I'm assuming it is an IAB Sharps. Check to make sure you did not loose the lever coil spring and ball that mounts in the receiver with the lever underneath. This is IAB's version of the lever spring and provides the force that keeps the lever up and the breechblock up. As to the primers, check also your firing pin. In a Sharps centerfire the hammer must be placed at half cock before opening the action, or you will sheer the tip of the firing pin off. Don't ask how I know this. This shortened firing pin will give your inconsistant primer strikes and FTF. Hope this helps.

[Don Nix]

I have looked and looked and I do not see any spring or ball that would hold the lever up. Where does it fit into the receiver.
What I have seen is thyat the right side of the firing pin  has a protuberance that appears to me to me a sort of locking point that fits into the right side of the reciever frame. I am wondering if it is worn to the point of not engaging  and holding up the block.
I have looked at  the schematic on VTI's site and can finf no lever spring and ball either.
Im pretty slow on the uptake some times so i am probably just missing it.

[Trailrider]

I don't know anything about the repro Sharps, but the original Sharps firing pin is a dogleg affair, with the part directly in front of the hammer contact point extending to a blunt projection that fits in a cutout in the right side of the receiver.  When the breechblock is fully closed, the projection fits into the cutout when the firing pin is fully forward, allowing the pin to contact the primer.  When the lever/block is opened, the projection is forced to the rear by camming action of the receiver just below the cutout. The firing pin forces the hammer just enough to the rear that the firing pin does NOT get sheared off as the pin drops below the bottom of the chamber.  That way you don't have to half-cock the hammer before opening the action.

Like I said, I don't know how the repros work in that regard...

[Don Nix]

That is exactly the way that this works. . The end of the leg on the right side fits into a cut out in the right side face of the receiver. When the pin is pushed forward this fit into the notch in the receiver. And your right . As the carrier drops down the pin is cammed toward the rear.
I had thought that maybe this end  was worn down and not providing enough tension to hold the breech block up. I see now that it does not  work this way.
I am really beginning to understand how this thing works now.
The only place I can see that might be missing a part is on the very bottom of the receiver between the  ears for the lever pin to go through is a vertical hole. It lokks like a place where a detent spring and plunger could possibly fit. Although I dont see what would hold them in place.
if this is in fact what goes there I can see where it would put pressure on the lever to retain the lever and breech block.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  Don, are you putting your hammer on half cock before loading/unloading if not like Preacher Clint pointed out, you end up sheering off the firing pin  until the pin won't function any more, this has been a common problem when forgotten to do, always half cock first before working the lever.

         tEN wOLVES 

[Patrick Henry Brown]

On the IAB, in the recess where the lever attaches to the receiver, you should fing a hole drilled from bottom to top, about 3/8" or so deep IIRC. There is a coil spring and ball bearing that rides in this hole and provides the spring pressure against the lever, which in turn, maintains the breech block in its uppermost position. I suggest you look at the schematic diagram for the IAB Sharps at www.vtigunparts.com . It is extremely easy to loose these parts when you remove the lever pin and drop the breechblock, if you don't know to watch for them.

[Don Nix]

I found taht hole and it looks like yout right. ive lost the spring and ball/
the funny thing is ,I've had that thing  apart a few times and Ive never notuced the ball before . I guess it dropped out when I was cleaning the rifle at the picnic table last night.
Is there some kind of detent that holds the ball and spring in place?

[Patrick Henry Brown]

The thing that holds the spring and ball in place is the lever. When you pull the lever pivot pin and drop the lever from the receiver, that spring and ball are free to depart to parts unknown. IMHO, order a couple of spares from VTI and keep them in your kit or patchbox. Pedersoli and Armisport use a flat spring for the same function. It is a quirk of the iAB.