Leak around vent liner

Dusty_Traveler · Aug 22, 2024

I was in the teflon tape/loctite camp until the pictures.

Those are pretty rough looking.

Drill and tap to the next size vent.

Good chance to install a genuine Chambers white lightnin liner. They work!

Grenadier1758 · Aug 22, 2024

And once the Chambers White Lightning liner is installed and the installation slot filed off, the liner can't be removed and reinstalled for cleaning.

Eric Krewson · Aug 22, 2024

Removing a liner for cleaning is not a good idea. I wondered about whether cleaning was necessary or not myself but after getting a Teslong bore scope I found that my white lightning liners were spotless on the inside after going through my normal gun cleaning procedure. I do use a pipe cleaner in the liner during the cleaning procedure and again after I store a gun with an oily barrel before I shoot it.

longcruise · Aug 22, 2024

I've never installed a vent liner so I'm not qualified to comment. But, I'll be doing one soon and one thing I've wondered about is how does one create a tight seal on the threads. It was a revelation when I read Chambers instructions

He says don't fully thread the hole. Leave the last few threads slightly undersized so that it seals and anchors the vent liner.

W_TownMcKinley · Aug 22, 2024

SDSmlf said:
There is a good chance that similar neglect is present in the bore. Have you looked at the bore with a borescope?

Yeah the bore is bright and clean, and it shoots well. The only issue there is a nagging surface rust issue in the bore after cleaning. Nothing deep, no pits, just some light rust colored patches the day after I clean. Seems like it happens no matter how well I dry and oil it.

Thanks for the input, everyone. I'll take measurements a larger vent liner and go from there. I've been checking out instructional videos on YouTube. It doesn't look so bad.

M. De Land · Aug 22, 2024

Eric Krewson said:
Removing a liner for cleaning is not a good idea. I wondered about whether cleaning was necessary or not myself but after getting a Teslong bore scope I found that my white lightning liners were spotless on the inside after going through my normal gun cleaning procedure. I do use a pipe cleaner in the liner during the cleaning procedure and again after I store a gun with an oily barrel before I shoot it.

The liners and nipples are not generally what is buggered or corroded but rather the barrel steel threads. WL liners look like a stainless alloy from their appearance which is highly resistant to corrosion.
I've not tested them for hardness but I wouldn't be surprised if their Rockwell is higher than barrel steel and yet still file-able.

PathfinderNC · Aug 22, 2024

billraby said:
Do it right. Drill and tap a new hole. its not hard.

But that's not complicated enough! geez....

longcruise · Aug 22, 2024

Are you cleaning with extremely hot water?

W_TownMcKinley · Aug 22, 2024

longcruise said:
Are you cleaning with extremely hot water?

Nope, room temp or slightly warmer. I've cleaned my muzzleloaders like that for years with no issue. I picked this one up about 10 years ago and I've probably only taken it out to shoot 10-15 times (kids are keeping me busy!) It's had the same rust light rust issue every time.

I polish it back with oiled 0000 steel wool before oiling for long term storage. That fixes it but the problem comes back after every cleaning.

longcruise · Aug 22, 2024

Very odd.

Eric Krewson · Aug 23, 2024

I tap all the way through with a white lightning liner, I have put most of them in C weight barrels, one on a 13/16 .40 barrel, in both cases there was plenty of metal to tap. I pull the breech plug, screw the liner in, mark what protrudes into the barrel, remove the liner and grind and file the extra off. I used to grind the extra off inside the barrel with a diamond bit after I installed the liner but pulling the liner to remove the excess works much better. For the final installation I coat the threads with high temp anti seize compound to prevent corrosion, this stuff doesn't ever wash off.

It looks like you have to do some work on your breech plug, too much metal in the way.

W_TownMcKinley · Aug 23, 2024

Eric Krewson said:
I tap all the way through with a white lightning liner, I have put most of them in C weight barrels, one on a 13/16 .40 barrel, in both cases there was plenty of metal to tap.

It looks like you have to do some work on your breech plug, too much metal in the way.

I'm not sure of the exact thickness here. It's a tapered A-weight.

As for the breech plug, that's one of the reasons I'm a little hesitant. It seems like the amount to be removed is a bit of a judgment call. I definitely don't have enough experience to trust my judgment! I suppose moderation is key, as with most things. Is there a rule of thumb for filing the breech down?

M. De Land · Aug 23, 2024

M. De Land said:
The liners and nipples are not generally what is buggered or corroded but rather the barrel steel threads. WL liners look like a stainless alloy from their appearance which is highly resistant to corrosion.
I've not tested them for hardness but I wouldn't be surprised if their Rockwell is higher than barrel steel and yet still file-able.

W_TownMcKinley said:
I'm not sure of the exact thickness here. It's a tapered A-weight.

As for the breech plug, that's one of the reasons I'm a little hesitant. It seems like the amount to be removed is a bit of a judgment call. I definitely don't have enough experience to trust my judgment! I suppose moderation is key, as with most things. Is there a rule of thumb for filing the breech down?

The trouble with breech plug alteration is cutting into the perimeter seal against the shoulder exposing the threads to fouling migration. I always prefer liner seating ahead of the breech plug shoulder, rifling removal (land removal) up past the liner face penetration. I also want the liner interior to flush out with smooth boring (land removal) of the barrel thus leaving no corners for fouling entrapment.
The anti- seize no doubt helps plug the threads from fouling migration when the breech plug shoulder seal is compromised .
Actually I think most guns would be better off without a liner until the need arises after the flash hole erodes.
My guess is a flash hole lined with a platinum rivet peened into it would be the best of all worlds. Threaded flash hole liners installed in new gun construction is a modern idea from what I can see.

sturmkatze · Aug 23, 2024

Black. Powder. Gunsmith.

ChuckJonesWagon · Aug 23, 2024

I remove the vent liner on all my flintlock rifles as part of its cleaning after every shoot. I've done this for decades. I can't see how\where it would cause any issues. I do this to prevent any fired BP creeping in part of the threads and causing corrosion.

ChuckJonesWagon · Aug 23, 2024

In addition to my previous comment when I install a White Lighting vent liner I drill\tap and check the seating of the liner. Then when I'm happy that it's seated well (and not protruding into the chamber) I back it out, cut off the install nub, cut a single slot for a screwdriver, and install it.

This is a pic of my last install. This pic was not the final product as I had to file a bit more of the liner to become flush with the barrel flat.

Maybe this is considered wrong to do, but it's worked out for me all these years.

Leak around vent liner

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