barrel / breech plug question

[gsptarget]

I just got a 45 from Chambers. The barrel just arrived yesterday and I was looking forward to starting the build today. I ahve been waiting for 3 weeks for the barrel
The barrel is a Rice.
The breech plug was partially unscrewed for shipping. The two marks have been stamped into the barrel and the plug for alignment.
There is no way I can get the breech plug in far enough to get the marks to align.
I did not want to start filing until I asked the experts here.
I assume that if the marks are on both pieces then the plug was already screwed into that position.
Is that correct?
I have cleaned everything and tried to tighten and loosen the plug multiple times but the plug is about 1/8 inch from the marks aligning.
Am I doing something wrong or does it really need to be filed.
I would have thought that this would have been set and aligned at the factory

 

[flashpanner]

I got a barrel from Colerain with the plug already tightened and "timed" It took a BIG wrench to loosen it. When I went to put it back in, I really cleaned tthe threads with a fine wire brush and made sure that the treads were smooth(they were fine from the mfg.) I put anti-seize (sparingly) on the threads and torqued it back in. A little "umph" got it back home.

 

[Old40Rod]

Call Chambers or Buckeye Barrels. From what I hear about Chambers, they will talk you through any problems.

 

[mazo kid]

I wold put a little anti-seize on the plug threads and then use a BIG wrench. It should go with little "persuasion" as they are usually installed with a "crush fit". I don't understand the partially unscrewed plug for "shipping purposes". ?? Emery

 

[gsptarget]

I made a guess for "shipping purposes" because I could not figure another reason to having it partially unscrewed.
I have leveraged this with a big wrench and it ain't going

 

[Roy]

So many people were calling up Barbie and complaining about not being able to loosen the breach plug. I must admit my thought was if they can't get them loose how are they going to tighten them?... So anyway she asked Rice to loosen them for her. You need a good vice bolted to a solid bench and something padding the jaws, either copper, brass, or aluminum. If you can't do it with the wrench you have use a cheater bar and make it longer. Becarefull not to dent the corners of the barrel or the top of the tang. It can be done, in the last week I have done this to 3 rice barrels and just about to add a 4th in a few minutes... good luck :thumbsup:

 

[gsptarget]

thanks everyone.
I used a bigger wrench with the vise and finally got the marks to line up.
This being my first time I did not realize the force needed to torque it into place.

I really appreciate everyones input
thanks again

 

[paulvallandigham]

The next time you do this, or when you want to take the plug out-- it happens--- use a piece of iron pipe that is large enough to fit over the handle or the wrench and will extend the length of the handle by a couple -4 feet. The added leverage will make easy work of tightening or loosening the plug. This piece of iron pipe over the handle of your wrench is often referred to as a " Cheater ", and is mentioned above in another response.

Personally, I will use a cheater every time, rather than be bruising my hands, and pulling back muscles trying to get a plug in or out of a barrel. I have no worry about bending the handles of my wrench doing this, of course. That seems to worry people who have no clue how tough a steel is used to make wrenches, nor the hardening and tempering that is done before they leave the manufacturer.

 

[Roy]

thanks everyone.
I used a bigger wrench with the vise and finally got the marks to line up.
This being my first time I did not realize the force needed to torque it into place.

I really appreciate everyones input
thanks again

:thumbsup:

 

[ian45662]

Did you make sure the barrel was flush against the stock without the plug back in? If not you may end up trying to get it back out to do that process.

 

[Mike Brooks]

He'll have to take it out to install the vent liner. There is no reason to have the darned plug this tight....what's up with that?

 

[Roy]

He'll have to take it out to install the vent liner. There is no reason to have the darned plug this tight....what's up with that?

That's one I do not know :haha:

 

[Allan Gray]

Also, pay attention to the manufacturers suggestion about where to clamp the barrel in the vise. I believe it's 1' up from the breech end?
this is to prevent distorting the barrel near the "waist" or thinner area of a swamped barrel.
Although I suppose that one would really need to wrench a barrel down in a vise to crush it out of shape. :thumbsup:

 

[J.D.]

I just got a 45 from Chambers. The barrel just arrived yesterday and I was looking forward to starting the build today.
The breech plug was partially unscrewed for shipping.
I assume that if the marks are on both pieces then the plug was already screwed into that position.
Is that correct?
I have cleaned everything and tried to tighten and loosen the plug multiple times but the plug is about 1/8 inch from the marks aligning.
Am I doing something wrong or does it really need to be filed.
I would have thought that this would have been set and aligned at the factory

Leave it out until the barrel is fully inlet into the stock, otherwise, ya gotta take the plug out again.

I suggest using 1/16 brass or copper liners to keep the barrel from rotating in jaws of the vise, and use a long cheater bar, as mentioned in other posts, to screw the plug in, after the barrel is fully inlet.
J.D.