How to remove right lever spring Uberti rifle mod 73'

McCrower · January 16, 2015, 02:28:12 PM

The right lever spring screw is stuck on my Uberti short rifle mod 73'. How do I loosen it?

Pettifogger · January 16, 2015, 06:29:53 PM

I can't find it on their website and just deleted thousands of old photos from my hard drive. But, Harbor Freight has a small, sliver, impact driver that is about as big as a cigar. It is 1/4" and takes standard gunsmith screwdriver tips. It is one of the most useful tools you will ever buy if you do much gun work. Costs all of five or six dollars. You can also try putting the gun in a gun vice with the bottom facing up. Put a PROPERLY fitting screwdriver in the slot, push down hard while twisting to the left and give the handle of the screwdriver a tap with a hammer. Sort of a homemade impact driver. Not a great photo, but here is the Harbor Freight impact driver being used to remove the side screw from a Uberti Lightning.

McCrower · January 17, 2015, 01:05:21 AM

Good tip!

I have also heard that it's important to lighten the load on the lever spring before trying to remove the screw? I have tried moving it outwards, but the spring only moves a little bit and it didn't help..

Pettifogger · January 17, 2015, 01:20:31 AM

The end of the spring is curved to match the receiver. If it is fit closely it won't turn until you loosen the screw a bit. Of course, once you have loosened the screw a bit you don't need to turn it.

McCrower · January 17, 2015, 02:25:49 PM

Quote from: Pettifogger on January 16, 2015, 06:29:53 PM
I can't find it on their website and just deleted thousands of old photos from my hard drive. But, Harbor Freight has a small, sliver, impact driver that is about as big as a cigar. It is 1/4" and takes standard gunsmith screwdriver tips. It is one of the most useful tools you will ever buy if you do much gun work. Costs all of five or six dollars. You can also try putting the gun in a gun vice with the bottom facing up. Put a PROPERLY fitting screwdriver in the slot, push down hard while twisting to the left and give the handle of the screwdriver a tap with a hammer. Sort of a homemade impact driver. Not a great photo, but here is the Harbor Freight impact driver being used to remove the side screw from a Uberti Lightning.

Well, then I have bought an impact driver, tried it, the screw is still stuck and becoming more an more worn

Blair · January 17, 2015, 03:05:51 PM

When King Kong retired from movie making, he went to work for the Italians tightening gun screws.
All joking aside, an impact driver is a good idea.
I have also found that a properly fitted screw driver will do the trick too, but it takes a light hammer on an impact friendly handle while you are turning the screw OUT (counter clockwise)!
jut some thoughts.
My best,
Blair

Earl Brasse · January 18, 2015, 02:46:51 PM

Hope you don't have the problem that I had when I got one of the 1st "73's Uberti brought in in 38-40 Win.

The spring had the hole drilled crooked.

The spring screw hole in the receiver was straight, so getting it out was "interesting".

I ended up putting the rifle on a cheap drill press with a screwdriver bit & held pressure down while turning the screw out.

Lucky for me that the screw head held together (just barely) long enough to back out without snapping off.

In that case the soft screw was better than a hard screw.

Cannon Jockey · January 18, 2015, 04:19:11 PM

Uberti screws have a reputation for being a bit soft.

It may be too late now, but for future reference, here is my go to tool for tough screws. It came out of a Chapman gun driver set I got years ago at a gun show.

I eventually got a much larger Wheeler set with magnetic tips, but this little ratchet wrench works just fine with any 1/4 in bit.

Chapman is still in business and you can also order just the wrench by itself from Brownell's

Midget offset wrench

You just slip the wrench on the tip with the ratchet arrow facing in the proper direction and then slip the rest of the tip in your driver socket.

You apply downward pressure with the driver handle and torque with the wrench. If one has a helper they can tap the end of the driver handle with a mallet to add a little impact action.

Be advised that you get so much extra leverage that you could twist a screw head right off, so proceed with caution.

I do like the idea of the mini-impact driver and will probably pick one up on my next visit to "Chinese tools are Us" aka "Harbor Freight".

One last suggestion. Since you have access to the inside threads of the screw coming out of the spring, it might help to squirt or spray a good penetrating oil on them. "Break free CLP" would be perfect if you have it.

Good luck.

Pettifogger · January 18, 2015, 04:41:11 PM

If the screw is already buggered turn the rifle upside down and carefully center punch the screw head and then drill with a bit the same size as the screw shank until the head pops off and then remove the spring. In most cases the threaded part will simply turn out with your fingers. Replacement screws are cheap. If the threaded part is cross threaded of otherwise stuck, buy a new spring as well. Or do what most people do when tuning the gun, replace the springs with aftermarket reduced power carrier and lifter springs.

McCrower · January 25, 2015, 10:39:07 AM

I made it!

. I used some penetrating oil, a screwdriver with a correct fit, tapped the screwdriver with a hammer a couple of times when the rifle was upside down on the floor, and the lever spring screw finally started to loosen.. Replaced it at once with a new, spare one. Happy days

Now I am concidering putting washers under these lever springs to lighten the lever action. What do you guys think about that?

Cannon Jockey · January 25, 2015, 10:57:28 AM

Very Good. The places that carry springs and such may also have replacement screw with hardened heads. I know Pioneer does.
They are not exactly cheap--like $5 for a couple of screws, but they will come already blued and with a head that will resist damage.

Cheers

Cliff Fendley · January 25, 2015, 03:20:21 PM

I'm going to the Bridgeport to drill one out now

Second gun in a row I've broken a Magna Tip bit. Decided I needed a screwdriver of quality steel so the last gun a Snap On screwdriver took the screw out by twisting a hitting the end of the screwdriver at the same time. No luck this time, this one is just twisting the whole top of the screw off.

I'm sure he could squash me but I would like to see the gorilla at Uberti that puts these in so I could give him a piece of my mind.

rdstrain49 · February 15, 2015, 06:42:37 PM

Cliff;
We will be going over a few solutions for stuck screws at the convention seminar. Provided, of course, that I remember. Sucks getting old.