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Pre-Marlin Ballard lever retention pin (Read 5105 times)

Redsetter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3468 Location: New York Joined: Aug 6^th, 2013	Pre-Marlin Ballard lever retention pin Aug 6^th, 2013 at 8:14pm	Print Post
	How is it supposed to work--to do the job of holding the lever tight against the lower tang? By friction alone in an undersized hole? Or, as appears to be the case with my gun, was the hole purposely drilled slightly out of alignment with the pin (which is actually knob-ended, not a straight cylinder). Mine can only be made tight by "springing" the lever slightly backward, an awkward drill; hard pressure alone straight down on the pin won't do it. Dutcher briefly references this pin on p. 57, but mentions no problem such as the one I describe.


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Green_Frog Frequent Elocutionist Offline "It ain't easy being green" ASSRA Life #281 Posts: 4066 Location: Lynchburg, VA Joined: Apr 18^th, 2004	Re: Pre-Marlin Ballard lever retention pin Reply #1 - Aug 8^th, 2013 at 12:13pm	Print Post
	Redsetter wrote on Aug 6^th, 2013 at 8:14pm: How is it supposed to work--to do the job of holding the lever tight against the lower tang? By friction alone in an undersized hole? Or, as appears to be the case with my gun, was the hole purposely drilled slightly out of alignment with the pin (which is actually knob-ended, not a straight cylinder). Mine can only be made tight by "springing" the lever slightly backward, an awkward drill; hard pressure alone straight down on the pin won't do it. Dutcher briefly references this pin on p. 57, but mentions no problem such as the one I describe. I'm not sure I understand your question. As far as I know, there should be little to no resistance on the lever axis pin (which is a screw in the Marlin Ballard.) What keeps the lever up is the pressure exerted on the other end of the lever link by the block itself. When all is as it should be, that relationship of lever, link and breech block is what holds the lever up properly. Froggie


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John Boy Ex Member	Re: Pre-Marlin Ballard lever retention pin Reply #2 - Aug 8^th, 2013 at 12:42pm	Print Post
	Red, there is a 2 hole pin link where the bottom pin connects it to the finger lever. You have to make a new link and drill the bottom hole offset a tad from the original hole so it provides more torque when the finger lever closes. If you look at the rifle now, you'll probably see one or both holes on the link are worn oversized to the diameter of the pins This what I did with a JM Marlin (pre-Marlin Ballard) droopy lever to make it 'snap' closed and stay against the bottom tang Or call Ballard Arms and order a new link - B021 (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)


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Redsetter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3468 Location: New York Joined: Aug 6^th, 2013	Re: Pre-Marlin Ballard lever retention pin Reply #3 - Aug 8^th, 2013 at 12:53pm	Print Post
	Green_Frog wrote on Aug 8^th, 2013 at 12:13pm: [quote author=063130273120203126540 link=1375834463/0#0 date=1375834463]What keeps the lever up is the pressure exerted on the other end of the lever link by the block itself. When all is as it should be, that relationship of lever, link and breech block is what holds the lever up properly. Froggie But that relationship is seldom "as it should be"; otherwise there wouldn't be so many drooping levers, not only on Ballards, but on Stevens & others. I've never handled one of these pre-Marlin Ballards in anything like mint condition, so I don't know whether they also showed "droop" or not, but we CAN assume that the inventor put that pin there for some useful purpose--it's even shown on his patent drawings. Such a pin inserted into an equal-diameter hole in the lever couldn't hold the lever in place. So back to my original question: how does it "work." Doesn't anyone else have one of these to compare with mine?


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Redsetter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3468 Location: New York Joined: Aug 6^th, 2013	Re: Pre-Marlin Ballard lever retention pin Reply #4 - Aug 8^th, 2013 at 5:45pm	Print Post
	Quote: Red, there is a 2 hole pin link where the bottom pin connects it to the finger lever. You have to make a new link and drill the bottom hole offset a tad from the original hole so it provides more torque when the finger lever closes. If you look at the rifle now, you'll probably see one or both holes on the link are worn oversized to the diameter of the pins I don't doubt the link is well worn after 140-odd years, & should be replaced. Another, easier, "fix" I've tried on another Ballard is one described by Gerald Kelver: peening the back edge of the breech-block below & behind the rear block screw hole. Sounds crude, & difficult to describe without an illustration, but it works! However, tightening up internal parts is one thing, & the function of the pin another. I'm still bent on finding out if the poor fit of mine is a "Monday morning" exception, or the way it was intended to fit.


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16290 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Pre-Marlin Ballard lever retention pin Reply #5 - Aug 9^th, 2013 at 11:59am	Print Post
	I think the "pin" Redsetter is referring to is the pin on the bottom of the frame that lines up with a hole in the rear loop of the lever of pre Marlin (and some early Marlin) Ballards. The frame pin on these early guns doesn't really do anything to hold the lever up, and that is why Marlin dropped it soon after they began building Ballards. I have several early Ballards with this pin, and one that has the hole in the lever, but never got the pin in the frame, as Marlin was just using up old parts from Brown when they built this Ballard. If your pin doesn't line up with the hole in the lever, then the lever most likely got slightly bent, and out of alignment. All mine line up without any side pressure required.

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Chuckster Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2238 Location: Colorado Joined: May 15^th, 2008	Re: Pre-Marlin Ballard lever retention pin Reply #6 - Aug 9^th, 2013 at 10:29pm	Print Post
	Marlin, Thank you. Could not figure out what Redsetter was talking about. With your explanation and re-reading his post, it makes sense and does not sound like a difficult fix. Chuck


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Green_Frog Frequent Elocutionist Offline "It ain't easy being green" ASSRA Life #281 Posts: 4066 Location: Lynchburg, VA Joined: Apr 18^th, 2004	Re: Pre-Marlin Ballard lever retention pin Reply #7 - Aug 9^th, 2013 at 10:40pm	Print Post
	Ditto


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WillH Junior Member Offline Posts: 76 Joined: May 20^th, 2013	Re: Pre-Marlin Ballard lever retention pin Reply #8 - Aug 11^th, 2013 at 7:00am	Print Post
	I believe the pin you reference was intended to prevent the lever being sprung sideways when closed. As stated earlier, the fit of the lever, link, breech block and breech face of barrel, if correct, should cause the lever to spring over-center just before closed and prevent the lever droop you reference. I would try new slightly oversize pins/screws first; if that doesn't work, it may call for a new link. Will


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