How does a 3 position safety work exactly

fire, safe, safe and locked bolt
there is a pin in the bolt shroud that engages with a hole in the bolt body, making it where the bolt can't be cycled when in rearmost position (usually rearmost)

You put it in the forward position, pull the trigger, the firing pin drops and the rifle fires.

You put it in the center position, pull the trigger, the firing pin stays locked back, the rifle does not fire, and when you put the safety to off the rifle still does not fire. (if installed correctly) The bolt can be cycled to unload cartridges in this position.

You put it in the back position, the bolt is locked in position and will not operate, pull the trigger, the firing pin stays locked back, the rifle does not fire, and when you put the safety to off the rifle still does not fire. (if installed correctly)

But how it works, exactly, is that the safety lever cams the cocking piece back, away from the sear, thereby holding it so that even if you pull the trigger, it does not fire since the cocking piece is not touching the sear.
Yes, it has to be precisely fitted, otherwise it will fire when you push the safety off, if you have pulled the trigger.
Not something for the timid or careless, or those with no fine mechanical skill, to try to install.
And it does have a bolt lock, but that has nothing to do with the function of the safety itself.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
But how it works, exactly, is that the safety lever cams the cocking piece back, away from the sear, thereby holding it so that even if you pull the trigger, it does not fire since the cocking piece is not touching the sear.
Yes, it has to be precisely fitted, otherwise it will fire when you push the safety off, if you have pulled the trigger.
Not something for the timid or careless, or those with no fine mechanical skill, to try to install.
And it does have a bolt lock, but that has nothing to do with the function of the safety itself.

And if the safety is very difficult to engage??? Can it be determined with some measurements from a dial indicator what needs to be done to address the issue? (I know how the bolt lock works)

Nope; there are no measurements that will help. I fit them like the Pinball Wizard does.
A hard to operate safety is fixed intuitively by knowing how the system works and how each component interfaces. There is nothing to measure.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Nope; there are no measurements that will help. I fit them like the Pinball Wizard does.
A hard to operate safety is fixed intuitively by knowing how the system works and how each component interfaces. There is nothing to measure.

The Pinball Wizard, Deaf, Dumb, and Blind (the Who) plays by a sense of smell! Obviously there is something that is too long. One part or another (or maybe both). The question is which one is it or is it both?

One of my M70s the safety got harder and harder to operate until it just wouldn't go on at all.

dpcd did a great job of fixing it!

Hip

Things that happen to a safety.


Customer sends me the barreled action and I fit the safety to his metal.
When he gets it back and puts the metal back in the stock ???? the safety no longer works
Simple fix, re-inlet the bolt handle notch in the stock to clear the bolt handle properly

Customer takes the firing pin assembly out cleans it and re-installs it.
Safety will not work
Another simple fix, screw the sleeve/firing pin unit in the last thread

Even changing the trigger to another unit once the safety has been it is properly fitted to the first trigger can mess the timing up between the parts

Old 30 weight oil after years turns into shellac and makes thing very hard to work

Had a 1948 Mfg, M70 come in a year ago, with the thumb buster safety lever, and was hard to work.
OK I had 4 other later factory safety levers, but only one fitted the sleeve the best.
Some one had had worked over the trigger/sear.
The trigger pin was only part way in the receiver, so the trigger flopped around, and they had set the over travel TOO TIGHT
So some clean up and proper adjustment I had it back and going with a 3 1/2 pull and a nice working safety

have seen angles on the side of the cocking piece ALL OVER the place.
Winchester set that angle at 30 degrees off the dry fire face, yes I have the blue print to prove it

This is just the tip of the iceberg

J Wisner

Point is that no one can tell you any one thing to measure in order to fit or correct/fix, a Model 70 type safety.

Well then, has anyone had any experience sending their model 70 to the Arnold, MO. repair and service facility.