Newbie Looking for Advice on Failed Ignition of Main Charge

[Eterry]

It's because of my poor quality powder and poorly seated ball I think.

I think it's because the packing grease left in the barrel.
If you must pull a ball, the grease gun is easier then most options.
There's a video of it here somewhere.

 

[Eterry]

Well, today I built a nice frame to hole the barrel and safely discharge the ball, I loaded the back with as much 4fg I could and reinstalled the touch hole liner, inserted a fuse into it, put on my hearing and got a bucket of water and fire extinguisher and lit it.

Nothing, Kaput. I waited 10 mins, cleaned it out, put more powder in, another fuse. Nothing!

I'm real stumped. I guess I will try the puller. I am tempted to remove the breech plug but I keep seeing other threads saying its a mistake to try

You need to get as much grease from the breech area as possible, I'd use Qtips, bunches of them, because the grease was shoved nto the breech first.
In 1980 I did the same thing; no one thought to clean the barrel after i built the kit. It took a bit to get dry clean powder into the chamber, and it went pop! The ball flew about 20 yards, my little brother picked it up and gave it back to me.

If you decide to remove the ball, a grease gun or compressed air works good.
The packing grease was the main suspect, the other issues were accomplices.

 

[J.D.]

After cleaning out as much of the grease as you can, with a Qtip, you might squirt some brake cleaner into the breech, to clean out as much grease as possible. When the brake cleaner dries, trickle about 15-20 grains of powder into the breech, install the TH liner, and shoot it out....after making sure the ball is seated.

 

[Eterry]

After cleaning out as much of the grease as you can, with a Qtip, you might squirt some brake cleaner into the breech, to clean out as much grease as possible. When the brake cleaner dries, trickle about 15-20 grains of powder into the breech, install the TH liner, and shoot it out....after making sure the ball is seated.

I was trying to recall what solvent I've seen used before. Brake cleaner, carburetor cleaner, or acetone would do nicely. I'm sure there are many more.
I recall it took me all afternoon to get mine to fire after doing the same thing. Fortunately, mine was percussion. I finally got it to pop, the ball was recovered, and used again.
This was in 1980, long before the internets.

 

[Eterry]

I suppose I could do that as well but I saw removal of the barrel from the stock as easier. Though it is quite firmly wedged into the stock on my model haha.

Be sure and seat the ball before attempting to fire it. It can cause a bulge or ring in the barrel, and really makes things worse.
Have you had any luck?