Hey folks, I'm not a lever action guru, but I did very recently pick up a Marlin 1894CL in 25-20. Sweet little gun and cartridge, pretty accurate, I think it will make a nice trainer for my son.

Issue I'm having is when you run the lever action slowly, the trigger locks up, like it wont physically move. Feeding and operation is butter smooth and perfect. But it you run the action quick, more aggressively, the trigger works fine. Intuition tells me a spring issue, either out of place or broken.

**I might add, the trigger only locks during slow operation with a round in the chamber. If its empty and carefully dry firing the trigger works every time. **

I did just have this apart to clean the bore. Put lever/bolt about half way, removed the lever screw and lever. Removed the bolt, etc. Then reassembled in reverse order.

Did I miss something during reassembly?

Or should I be upgrading triggers anyway? Does Wild West make a kit for 1894s?

Thanks for any advice.

Here is your problem; Look on the lower tang just aft of the trigger and you will see a little detent that the lever hits when you close it. That is the trigger safety; it does not allow the trigger to activate unless the lever is closed.
It is not really necessary as there are other measures designed in so it can't fire unlocked, but anyway. that is your problem.
What is happening is, you say it works when operated dry, but not with ammo? Because the ammo rim is tight; and headspace is minimum. Or the bolt face is dirty. Your lever is not closing all the way; depressing that detent. A new trigger kit won't help.
Fix; squeeze the lever to make the detent, detented.
Another fix; weld some onto the lever to make it hit the detent earlier. Or tap it for a screw and file the head until it is timed like you want it.

Don't people check their posts for answers?