seized touch-hole liner

[Uncle Grizz]

Hello,

This #*^¨¤# touch-hole liner seem to be definitively stuck into the barrel of a Pedersoli "Kentuck" flintlock.
Impossible unscrewing and deseizing oil or heating ... no result.
What to do (don't want to use the drill !).

Help !!!

 

[Rebel]

Try turning it to the Left. :grin:

 

:rotf: :rotf: That was just too funny.

It looks to me like you may HAVE to drill it out. Go from smallest to larger bits and it will come out before you get to the barrel threads. Been there!

 

[Black Hand]

Why are you trying to remove it? The liner should not need to be removed unless it is eroded and needs to be replaced...

 

[rice1817]

The Pedersoli rifle seems to have borrowed from the pattern and design used in the old Hatfield rifles, down to the tiny 22 caliber or less recess bored into the breech plug. It fouls very easily, and after a couple of shots powder will not even flow into the chamber recess. I was having monumental misfires and hangfires with mine, so I decided to remove the touch hole liner. I ruined mine taking it out..it did not just go through the barrel wall, it threaded all the way into the breech plug! I could not get mine reinstalled, so the act of pulling it must have buggered the threads.

I would suggest using an easy out combined with heat, pulling the darn thing out and throwing it away. While it is out, you may want to pull the breech plug and bore out that miniscule powder chamber to 3/8s or so, as described in the current issue of Muzzleloader Magazine. Then, retap the hole to a larger size, maybe using one of those White Lightning vents.

I ended up re-barreling mine to 40 caliber just to get away from that stupid design, and sold the original 36 cal barrel to a builder.

 

[pmwest]

The first thing you will need is a replacement liner. The last time I did this I used a small screw extractor (I think the brand I have is Easy Out), a small brass hammer and a tap wrench. The screw extractor needs to be just small enough to fit through the touch hole. I used the hammer to tap the extractor into the touch hole as tight as I could get it. Attach the tap wrench to the extractor and then turned it out while gently tappiong the top of the handle as I turned. Should come right out unless you have a lot of corrosion between the liner and the barrel. If that is the case then I would soak it in Kroil for a few days and try again.

 

[jtmattison]

Why are you trying to remove it? The liner should not need to be removed unless it is eroded and needs to be replaced...

If the liner is removable. I think it must be removed for every cleaning and replaced with anti-seize grease on the threads. If you wait until it's eroded and needs to be replaced you may not be able to remove it. Then you'll be drilling it out, re-tapping, and replacing with a larger liner.

HD

 

[Black Hand]

I think it must be removed for every cleaning and replaced with anti-seize grease on the threads.

No, it really shouldn't. Leave it be. There is no need to remove it unless it needs replaced. You end up wearing out the threads, cross-threading, buggering up the threads or just losing the liner.

 

[Tom Gauldin]

If you got to remove it, try "wiggling" the breech plug a little. It may be stuck on it.

If it is in the correct position, the touchhole is a little ahead of the face of the plug. This would put the threads of the liner in contact with the plug. If the liner was put in first, the plug may have been pushed in against the liner, locking it in place. Turn the plug out just a little, and it may free the liner and let it turn.

 

[Leatherbark]

The same thing happened to my Blue Ridge once. I had to drill the hole out to 1/4 inch and use an "Easy Out" and a crescent wrench...I use anti seize now....................Bob

 

[flaming canvas]

I think it must be removed for every cleaning and replaced with anti-seize grease on the threads.

No, it really shouldn't. Leave it be. There is no need to remove it unless it needs replaced. You end up wearing out the threads, cross-threading, buggering up the threads or just losing the liner.

GM barrels are made out of 1187 steel. It would take a lot of times of in and out with the liner to wear the threads.

 

[bob4st]

...I too bought one of those Pedersoli Kentucky ML... :hmm: how do I remove breech plug to drill it out more... and is it safe to increase it's diameter to 3/8"?...
Bob

 

[rice1817]

According to the article in Muzzleloader magazine, the chamber is only 1/2 in or so deep. The author had a gunsmith remove the breechplug, so he did not go into a lot of detail of the mechanics of the operation, but he did say that once he did it his ignition became close to 100% reliable. He said he spoke to Pedersoli about the design, and they are aware of the problem and are considering a design change.

Just be aware that, unlike most designs, the touchhole of this rifle does thread through the breachplug, not in front of it. So if you decide to perform the operation, take the touchhole liner out first!

 

[agill]

I've noticed that the liner is easier to remove if I remove the barrel and dunk the liner in warm soapy water. The crud loosens. You may need to soak it if it is really stuck. I also apply the anti-sieze as the others suggested when installing the liner.

 

[dennis benedict]

Uncle Grizz. I have the same gun as you and my touch hole liner gets stuck every time I shoot the gun at the range. When I get home I put the ram rod with a patch on it and push it down the barrel. Then I use bore 13 from Thompson Center and I poor a lot over the touch hole liner and let it set for a day. The liner all ways came off after that. When I am hunting with the gun I never have trouble with a stuck liner because the gun is not being fired as many times as it is at the range. Dennis.

 

[tg]

(No, it really shouldn't. Leave it be. There is no need to remove it unless it needs replaced. You end up wearing out the threads, cross-threading, buggering up the threads or just losing the liner)

I would think this is the opinion of the majority of long time flint shooters and most custom builders, the remove to clean approach is a pretty contemporary mindset though some consider it a neccesity, a bore will clean quite well with the liner in.

 

[Dave K]

TG, I agree 100%. The threads are for putting the liner in. I never take mine out. If I were of the type that had to take it our every time I shot the gun, I would probably unbreech it as well, to clean. :surrender:

 

[Mike Brooks]

(No, it really shouldn't. Leave it be. There is no need to remove it unless it needs replaced. You end up wearing out the threads, cross-threading, buggering up the threads or just losing the liner)

I would think this is the opinion of the majority of long time flint shooters and most custom builders, the remove to clean approach is a pretty contemporary mindset though some consider it a neccesity, a bore will clean quite well with the liner in.

DITTO

 

I quess I may have read more into the original question than what I was supposed to. I never remove a touch hole after screwing it in for the first time. My understanding was that the touch hole liner needed replaced. I have drilled a couple out over the years as directed above in my post. No need to take it out unless it is needing replaced. I do not remove a liner just to clean a rifle or gun.

 

[pmwest]

The question was not whether to take it out or not, the question was how. If the manufacturer recommends taking out when cleaning I would take it out. With that said, I take mine out clean and then grease well when put back in, never caused a problem but with the amount of fouling in the threads, I can see good reason to take it out and clean with each thorough cleaning session.