Test luger sear dilemma

hayhugh · 06-13-2018, 06:35 PM

Purchased the Army Test Luger that came on the market last month. While doing deep cleaning have come up against really hard grease /lub. Soaking in Kroil and then brushing with bronze wool. Removed the sear bar and Plunger would not move. Tried few drops of Kroil on plunger and tried light pressure on end of plunger hoping spring would resist and push back. Plunger is now flush with end of sear bar. Needless to say sear bar plunger holding pin will not budge either. Soaked the sear bar in Kroil over night and still nothing moves. Tried to tap sear bar against hard object hoping the spring would push plunger out but no luck. Have sear bar in container soaking in Hoppe's #9 at present.....

Any suggestions?

ithacaartist · 06-13-2018, 07:23 PM

Sounds like this sear bar is a serious candidate for removal of the plunger and spring for a good cleaning, eh? Pressing out the retaining pin with a drill press sounds necessary, not only for the cleaning, and also to let some solvent in behind the plunger. Try some different solvents, too...maybe Break-Free... I'd say let 'er soak for a good long time with the pin removed. The plunger should need to emerge only enough to get ahold of its outer end in order to apply some "authority" to it. The pin is tiny, but the access granted through its hole may allow you to get an even smaller tool in there to get some movement going...

Ron Wood · 06-13-2018, 07:31 PM

Patience. Obviously the gunk of the past century has solidified to a significant degree, rendering the spring insufficient to push the plunger back out. Try a bit of heat (not much more that you could get with a candle) followed by immersion in Kroil. It may take several tries, don't give up. After the number of tries that exceed your patience, give another whack at removing the sear bar plunger retaining pin...there is no way built up grease could preclude removal of the pin.
Ron

sheepherder · 06-13-2018, 08:04 PM

I would try boiling it in water. This may soften up the congealed grease/gunk and might even loosen up the retaining pin. Don't let it sit on the bottom of the pan, suspend it on a bottlecap or something with sharp edges (so it won't transmit too much heat). Make sure it doesn't 'travel' in the heat currents (maybe lay something on top of it).

$.02...

FWIW, my 1900AE retaining pin was loose enough to push it out with a paperclip. You might get lucky...Do you feel lucky???

DonVoigt · 06-13-2018, 10:09 PM

Let it soak for several days in a thin penetrant oil- there are many, I use whatever is on sale.
Might take a week.
Gentle pressing of the plunger when it starts to move will work the new thin oil in and the old gunk out.

In the unlikely event it is a rust problem or soaking does not work, you will have to remove the pin. Though the pin really will not free up anything if you can't grasp the plunger with pliers- i.e. if it is pushed in flush with the end of the bar. May let a little more penetrant into the game.

The pin is smaller than any punch in my tool kit, so you will have to improvise, a small metal paper clip is the right size and if the small pin is not too "stuck" - you can press it out by hand.
If hand work doesn't do it, you will have to cut a very short length of clip, place the sear bar with pin over a hole in a flat metal support, and use a very small hammer to tap the improvised punch, I suggest holding the punch with needle nose pliers, it needs to be very short or it will bend.

Hope this helps.

gunbugs · 06-14-2018, 01:10 AM

Over the years I've had excellent results by dropping the offending part into a bottle of Hoppe's No9 solvent. If left overnight, most, if not all the old dried oil will just "fall off" and not be there anymore. And there is a very high chance the plunger will free up. No heat, no lubes, just an old fashioned solvent that has worked many, many times for me. Good luck!

hayhugh · 06-14-2018, 11:13 AM

Success, after spending the night submerged in Hoppie's # 9. I dried it off and (as Ron Wood suggested: Try a bit of heat (not much more that you could get with a candle) put it to the flame. Within a few seconds a click was heard and the plunger was out. Tentative pushing/pulling and a drop or two of light oil and all is right with the world. The pin will still not budge and I have reinstalled the sear bar and will leave well enough alone...……...

mrerick · 06-14-2018, 08:05 PM

An ultrasonic cleaner may also help work it clean...

06-13-2018, 06:35 PM	#1
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 896 Thanks: 857 Thanked 513 Times in 275 Posts	Test luger sear dilemma Purchased the Army Test Luger that came on the market last month. While doing deep cleaning have come up against really hard grease /lub. Soaking in Kroil and then brushing with bronze wool. Removed the sear bar and Plunger would not move. Tried few drops of Kroil on plunger and tried light pressure on end of plunger hoping spring would resist and push back. Plunger is now flush with end of sear bar. Needless to say sear bar plunger holding pin will not budge either. Soaked the sear bar in Kroil over night and still nothing moves. Tried to tap sear bar against hard object hoping the spring would push plunger out but no luck. Have sear bar in container soaking in Hoppe's #9 at present..... Any suggestions?

06-13-2018, 07:23 PM	#2
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,347 Thanks: 7,285 Thanked 2,579 Times in 1,366 Posts	Sounds like this sear bar is a serious candidate for removal of the plunger and spring for a good cleaning, eh? Pressing out the retaining pin with a drill press sounds necessary, not only for the cleaning, and also to let some solvent in behind the plunger. Try some different solvents, too...maybe Break-Free... I'd say let 'er soak for a good long time with the pin removed. The plunger should need to emerge only enough to get ahold of its outer end in order to apply some "authority" to it. The pin is tiny, but the access granted through its hole may allow you to get an even smaller tool in there to get some movement going... __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

06-13-2018, 07:31 PM	#3
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,178 Times in 1,703 Posts	Patience. Obviously the gunk of the past century has solidified to a significant degree, rendering the spring insufficient to push the plunger back out. Try a bit of heat (not much more that you could get with a candle) followed by immersion in Kroil. It may take several tries, don't give up. After the number of tries that exceed your patience, give another whack at removing the sear bar plunger retaining pin...there is no way built up grease could preclude removal of the pin. Ron __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

06-13-2018, 08:04 PM	#4
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,183 Thanks: 1,400 Thanked 4,442 Times in 2,330 Posts	I would try boiling it in water. This may soften up the congealed grease/gunk and might even loosen up the retaining pin. Don't let it sit on the bottom of the pan, suspend it on a bottlecap or something with sharp edges (so it won't transmit too much heat). Make sure it doesn't 'travel' in the heat currents (maybe lay something on top of it). $.02... FWIW, my 1900AE retaining pin was loose enough to push it out with a paperclip. You might get lucky...Do you feel lucky??? __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

06-13-2018, 10:09 PM	#5
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	Let it soak for several days in a thin penetrant oil- there are many, I use whatever is on sale. Might take a week. Gentle pressing of the plunger when it starts to move will work the new thin oil in and the old gunk out. In the unlikely event it is a rust problem or soaking does not work, you will have to remove the pin. Though the pin really will not free up anything if you can't grasp the plunger with pliers- i.e. if it is pushed in flush with the end of the bar. May let a little more penetrant into the game. The pin is smaller than any punch in my tool kit, so you will have to improvise, a small metal paper clip is the right size and if the small pin is not too "stuck" - you can press it out by hand. If hand work doesn't do it, you will have to cut a very short length of clip, place the sear bar with pin over a hole in a flat metal support, and use a very small hammer to tap the improvised punch, I suggest holding the punch with needle nose pliers, it needs to be very short or it will bend. Hope this helps. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

06-14-2018, 01:10 AM	#6
gunbugs Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska. Home of the best moose. Posts: 659 Thanks: 365 Thanked 1,178 Times in 394 Posts	Over the years I've had excellent results by dropping the offending part into a bottle of Hoppe's No9 solvent. If left overnight, most, if not all the old dried oil will just "fall off" and not be there anymore. And there is a very high chance the plunger will free up. No heat, no lubes, just an old fashioned solvent that has worked many, many times for me. Good luck!

06-14-2018, 11:13 AM	#7
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 896 Thanks: 857 Thanked 513 Times in 275 Posts	Success, after spending the night submerged in Hoppie's # 9. I dried it off and (as Ron Wood suggested: Try a bit of heat (not much more that you could get with a candle) put it to the flame. Within a few seconds a click was heard and the plunger was out. Tentative pushing/pulling and a drop or two of light oil and all is right with the world. The pin will still not budge and I have reinstalled the sear bar and will leave well enough alone...……...

06-14-2018, 08:05 PM	#8
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	An ultrasonic cleaner may also help work it clean... __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.