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'97 Problem


German Jim

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Posted

I'm having a problem with my '97. Many times after I rack a shell in the chamber and close it, the hammer would follow the bolt something like if you were slam firing it. The hammer would only fall to the safety notch. I did not have my finger on the trigger. When I got home I worked the action real slow to watch the hammer. Some times the hammer would stay cocked and other times it would follow the bolt down as far as the safety notch. This is a Norinco. The serial number starts with 020 and manufactured in 2002. This has a walnut stock and I think it's referred to as a 4th gen Norinco. I don't use it a lot, so I can live without it for a while. Anyone have an idea as to what may be going on? If its anything more than tightening a screw, I guess I'll have to bring it to a smith to work on.

 

Thanks!

Posted

sounds like your sear is worn, either a new one or have someone who knows what they're doing touch it up for you....

Posted

CC's got the problem already, most likely.

 

Sometimes just tightening the mainspring strain screw will put enough pressure on the hammer to get you a little more life from the sear, especially if you detail strip for cleaning and may have missed tightening the screw. That's the large screw at top front of carrier, visible and accessible with action open, looking down thru ejection port.

 

But, most likely that 020 series gun has worn the sear or hammer notch and at least one of those parts need to be replaced and fitted. Those are not the series of guns that most of the 97 smiths like working on, as the metal and tolerances were not very well done at the factory.

 

Good luck, GJ

Posted

Although this isn't meant to be funny or a 'wise crack', but ifn its something that you can't get fixed in a timely manner and still need to use that '97, just Slam Fire it.

 

 

..........Widder

Posted

AS mentioned, the sear is the common problem.

 

But other possible causes is that someone worked on the hammer and removed a little too much.

 

Another area of wear is the frame itself - unfortunately. There should be some slop to allow the carrier to move up and down a little when it is open. But the frame can wear excessively and the bolt no longer stays down enough to cock the gun.. Hope that is NOT the issue with your. But some early Norinco's were not well machined and that is a possibility for a good smith to check out as well.

Posted

Thank you all for the replies and hints. All that has ever been done this shotgun is to loosen the mainspring tension screw. I did this when I purchased this gun in 2003. I just tried tightening the mainspring tension screw but that seemed to make the problem worse. Maybe it's my imagination. So I tried to loosen it more that I originally had it and that seemed to improve the situation, but it did not solve the problem completely. So, I guess the next step would be to replace the sear.

 

Marauder, by slop in the carrier, do you mean slop in the breech bolt? Anyway the slop does not appear to be excessive.

Posted

I just tried tightening the mainspring tension screw but that seemed to make the problem worse. Maybe it's my imagination. So I tried to loosen it more that I originally had it and that seemed to improve the situation, but it did not solve the problem completely. So, I guess the next step would be to replace the sear.

 

That sounds like the sear and hammer "interface" (where the nose of sear fits in the hammer full-cock notch) has developed a negative angle - either by breaking off the nose of the sear, or the surfaces wearing so the parts fit together at a slope that forces the sear out of the full-cock notch. That is called "negative engagement angle." When you wear a sear/hammer set badly, negative engagement can develop. More spring pressure on the hammer then makes the hammer want to release from the notch, rather than catch on the notch. Usually the trigger pull weight gets lighter, then the hammer fails to catch on the sear nose every time. And, the faster you try to run the gun, usually the higher the chance it will not stay on the sear when you cock the gun.

 

Yep, sounds like it's time to look at sear and hammer interface.

 

Good luck, GJ

Posted

Why can't Pards like Garrison Joe, Marauder, Lassiter, Long Hunter, Deuce, Cowboy Carty, Cody, etc.....be my neighbors?

 

Why is it that most of my neighbors either do nothing, golf or just sit around and watch the summer grass grow.

 

Always enjoy GJ's post.

 

 

..........Widder

Posted

Yes, the bolt, is what I should have said.

 

One problem is that the extra strong spring wears both the sear and the bolt frame interface. Hope the sear/hammer interface resolves it.

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