Slight Colonial (Chambers lock) issue, warped lock plate and screw holes slightly off.

[RobertIN]

Hello all, as some may recall my Colonial was damaged in shipping:

I've rectified everything I can with some modifications including opening/deepening the lock inlet (the rear barrel lug is slightly further back than the new barrels but that can be fixed later), this one is an older kit with the Rice barrel and Chambers lock.

Here's where my next challenge lies. The lock plate is slightly warped out on the ends leading to the lock not lying flat in the inlet:

Now, I can attempt to just squeeze it flat with the lock bolts but that will just mask the issue and maybe cause more problems down the road. So, what is the best method of fixing this?

Second challenge, the lock bolts don't quite line up so they will need to be filled then drilled and tapped since the new stock is inlet for @James Kibler locks. What is the best method of doing this? Plug weld? JB? My main concern is that adding heat will warp the plate further, and that JB will be a different hardness to the steel since the drill will be essentially going into the edge of the existing holes.

Would it make sense to try ordering a new lock plate? Should I use one of the above methods to redrill the holes? What say you?

 

[2 shots]

take the lock a part and straighten on a known flat steel surface, best to TAP with a nylon mallet. do not use the screws to pull it in. can you fill and re drill the lock bolt holes to existing holes in plate and make the side plate work? the holes must have clearance anyway. same with tang screw..

 

[wiscoaster]

If it was damaged in shipping, I'll bet Kibler will replace the damaged parts. You might be making the same mistake I made when assembling my first SMR. When I broke something, instead of getting a new part from Kibler, I just stubbornly stuck with my "fix it myself" prideful mindset. You'll probably get it fixed, but the tradeoff is the cost of being stubborn and prideful. Is it always worth it? I've decided that "being true to yourself" can withstand a little pragmatic flexibility from time to time without being compromised.

 

[rich pierce]

The lock plate may have gotten bent when the thing was damaged. Either way, strip the lock and straighten as above. Using a non- marking hammer was good advice. I have a good sized copper hammer that I prefer. I’d use a lead or wooden block as the “anvil.” Then you may find things work well when you reinstall the internals.

 

[RobertIN]

take the lock a part and straighten on a known flat steel surface, best to TAP with a nylon mallet. do not use the screws to pull it in. can you fill and re drill the lock bolt holes to existing holes in plate and make the side plate work? the holes must have clearance anyway. same with tang screw..

I can fill them in, I think I'll just plug weld them and redrill but I wasn't sure if there was a better/easier way to do so. Thanks for the advice on straightening it.

 

[RobertIN]

If it was damaged in shipping, I'll bet Kibler will replace the damaged parts. You might be making the same mistake I made when assembling my first SMR. When I broke something, instead of getting a new part from Kibler, I just stubbornly stuck with my "fix it myself" prideful mindset. You'll probably get it fixed, but the tradeoff is the cost of being stubborn and prideful. Is it always worth it? I've decided that "being true to yourself" can withstand a little pragmatic flexibility from time to time without being compromised.

It wasn't damaged in shipping from Jim, I had bought the kit secondhand and sold it once I put it together. It was damaged en route to the buyer so it's not on him in any way, I will say he did plenty in providing documentation to help me with the insurance claim. Short of a brand new lock I'm not sure he'd be able to do anything for me and I'm not comfortable with that ask honestly.

Since it's one of his early kits it included a Chambers lock so I'm not sure he'd have a spare lock plate around, but just maybe he has one on a shelf somewhere. I'm going to give them a call on Monday for advice regardless.