Gentlemen -

I was disassembling a military 98 Mauser bolt for some routine cleaning when I noticed the safety would not function (stuck in the 'off' position). Fully disassembled the bolt and shroud with no problem except the safety. Soaked it in 3-in-1 oil, no good. Soaked in PB Blaster, no change. That's the limits of my knowledge, could someone more knowledgeable make a suggestion? Is it possible the lever is pinching the shroud keeping it from moving?

Thanks in advance.

Ken; I don't see anything "bent" to bind the safety, I suuspect it's ?rusted? shut just by the looks of the outside. My sugestion would be to apply some heat while tapping it lightly (with a brass / nylon something) towards the open position. FWIW --- John303.

From what I can see in the pictures, it looks like that shroud has sometime in the past been very rusted. It looks like rust is bleeding out around the stem of the safety. I would soak it a few days in penetrating oil (Kroil) then place it in padded vice jaws using a wooden dowell and a hammer, tap the safety to the mid and then safe position. After that, put it in the mid position and tap the stem of the safety out using an appropriate size punch and hammer, if you can't "wiggle" it out. Then clean any rust off and lube it. If worst comes to worst, buy a new shroud, there not very expensive.

Suggestions to use extreme force, I like it! Thank you, will begin another soak cycle and re-try with force.

take a plastic mallet and a wood block.. stand the safety on the rearmost edge, and tap.. repeat TAP, repeatedly with matter ... or a wood block and hammer .. it should break free and come out

likely "rust welded"

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
take a plastic mallet and a wood block.. stand the safety on the rearmost edge, and tap.. repeat TAP, repeatedly with matter ... or a wood block and hammer .. it should break free and come out

likely "rust welded"

The "rust welding" technique Jeff mentioned is a very old and un-taught method used by many shooters to keep from losing gun parts. I believe the technique is passed on genetically. What say the other gurus here?

Stephen

Lord,that's funny.
I have to steal that.

quote:

Originally posted by SmallCal:
Gentlemen -

I was disassembling a military 98 Mauser bolt for some routine cleaning when I noticed the safety would not function (stuck in the 'off' position). Fully disassembled the bolt and shroud with no problem except the safety. Soaked it in 3-in-1 oil, no good. Soaked in PB Blaster, no change. That's the limits of my knowledge, could someone more knowledgeable make a suggestion? Is it possible the lever is pinching the shroud keeping it from moving?

Thanks in advance.

Secure the shroud in a padded vise and use a plastic or brass hammer to move the safety lever to the far right safe position. Now look under the top front edge of the gas shield and locate the hole where the tip of the safety shaft is located. Then use a proper sized punch to drift the stem out backwards. Use penetrating oil as needed.

Gentlemen -

Thanks for the help, used wood to pad the vice, then tapped with a piece of wood and a 3 lb dead blow hammer. Worked it back and forth twice with this method, put some oil on it and it functions great. Thank you!

Did you take it out and clean it also. If not I would do that also.