Trouble…

[Alexitt]

Ron,
I haven't had to use the grease gun method for a stuck ball but it makes good sense to me, after all I use them at work to punch grease into heavy equipment, much more pressure than a compressor could generate and a smoother ride... I just never thought the threads would be the same and oddly enough I have boxes of fittings at work... Thanks for a great idea, might not be feasible in the field but that's a pretty minor consideration... and as far as cleanup goes, what's the big deal??? You were going to clean your gun anyway weren't you???

 

[deerstalkert]

i have two drawers full of zerks. have never had to use them......yet.
i do have dimples in a piece of wood in line with my cleaning station. if 120lbs of air will dimple walnut at 12 feet, grease will do the job any day. anybody ever see how tracks on a dozer are tightened?

 

[Idaho Ron]

i have two drawers full of zerks. have never had to use them......yet.
i do have dimples in a piece of wood in line with my cleaning station. if 120lbs of air will dimple walnut at 12 feet, grease will do the job any day. anybody ever see how tracks on a dozer are tightened?

Tracks on a Excavator are the same.

 

[Flintlock]

Please don't grease gun it.
Don't make it more complicated than it is.
Please use a good lube next time.

Grease gun is about the easiest thing to do, just requires cleanup.

 

[hawkeye2]

30 hours and 22 minutes and we are up to 6 pages on what is probably the most frequently discussed topic on the entire forum. Have we just set a new record? I was thinking about making popcorn too but I think I'll make some cornbread muffins instead.

 

[Sidney Smith]

You guys ever watch a bulldozer repair video? What do you think they use to put tension on the tracks? GREASE!......they put a grease gun on a zerk fitting at the tension wheel and pump away.

If grease can tighten the tracks on a bulldozer or excavator, I'd think it would work to remove a stuck ball. I don't understand why there are people who are opposed to this method.

 

[chawbeef]

I didn't read ALL the answers (for obvious reasons) but did anyone suggest to pull the breech plug and go from there???.....................................Chawbeef

 

[GoodRabbitPilgrim]

I don't have any suggestions for the OP, but I've read through the entire thread thinking I just might learn something myself.

I can't understand why so many members post just to complain about the subject matter in the thread. If you think it's a dead horse then don't open the thread. How hard is that? To join the discussion solely to complain about the subject matter tells me you are one of those who just want to increase your post count as though that gives you some kind of prestige.

I scroll by threads that don't interest me all the time. It's not that difficult.

Welcome to the forum.

I've been on lots of forums over the years and this is the absolute worst for sarcastic whining people. It's a shame because there are also some really good and informative guys too, which is why I come back. Thankfully we have an ignore button so I don't have to see the smart arse replies, it's generally the same people.

I just wanted advice on getting the ball out without damaging my gun, either you can help with something constructive or scroll on I would think.

 

[GoodRabbitPilgrim]

If the OP uses a grease gun you need a long zerk. The fitting on the grease gun won't attach unless it is a long one.

I wondered how I'd get the pressure. What's cleanup like with a bore full of grease? Apologies if you've already said I must have missed in the last 6 pages of people complaining.

 

[S.Kenton]

I think since the ball is stuck ( if I read right) is 6 inches from the end of the barrel, one should be able to access all the stuff that’s stuck in your ball with long slender needle nose pliers. Since it’s so close to the muzzle I’d try somthing like that. After the stuff is out of the ball, I’d then pound the ball down onto the powder and shoot it out. On a side note, I don’t mind reading these situations, I find that some are very unique, such as this one. If the people who are tired of seeing these threads are that irritated, why do they respond? …simply move on and read somthing else.. no comments are needed. Anyhow,
let us know how it goes, I’m interested.

 

[Alexitt]

I wondered how I'd get the pressure. What's cleanup like with a bore full of grease? Apologies if you've already said I must have missed in the last 6 pages of people complaining.

Like in the video, push the grease back out with the ramrod,jag & patch into another container if you want to save it or a papertowel if not then lukewarm soapy water just like you'd clean your hands or dishes with work fine... Then just clean with your favorite method and go from there...

 

[French Colonial]

I wondered how I'd get the pressure. What's cleanup like with a bore full of grease? Apologies if you've already said I must have missed in the last 6 pages of people complaining.

You will be amazed at how much pressure a good grease gun will produce. I used to pull wrenches for a living back in the dark ages and worked on old rusty stuff, that grease gun would almost always defeat the stuck parts.

That being said I have never used one to clear an obstruction and usually would shoot it out, but for your situation with all the other stuff in the bore I would either go buy a grease gun or remove the breech plug and shove it out.

My two cents and worth what you paid.

 

[hawkeye2]

Grease gun $16
Grease $5
Zerk fitting(s) $?
Tax & transportation $?
Total $21+

A fair investment to get a ball out unless one plans on dry balling once a week. Far cheaper than a trip to a gunsmith though. I believe a lot of folks are scared by the thoughts of a messy cleanup but it really doesn't have to be all that bad.

I have adjusted tracks with a grease gun and it's a whole lot easier than the old way of a 4' pipe wrench with 6' of pipe slid over it. It works great for popping bushings out of blind holes and a lot of other tasks.

 

[Rich44]

I wondered how I'd get the pressure. What's cleanup like with a bore full of grease? Apologies if you've already said I must have missed in the last 6 pages of people complaining.

GoodRabbitPilgrim, I sure do not blame you, some of the responses have been rather uncalled for. You have been a member for over a year now, and have many great comments for others. I do believe if you can remove the nipple and allow the powder to be removed and collected is a great idea. If this can be done than the 5gr charge would be fine.

Charging with air might do it, the air pressure might be up to maybe 80 lb or so. And if it moves it would fire out for sure, be careful.

And grease will get you the most pressure and easy results, with a little clean up. But the good feeling that the ball is out and under control.

Just in case all the complaints of your post was not enough. Let me add some humor. There is one more idea, and that is you could shorten the barrel by 6 1/4 inches and then just pick the ball off the muzzle.

Better days are ahead, after this one.

 

[flntlokr]

Went out for a shot tonight and got a ball stuck. When I got back I screwed in a ball puller gave it a yank and broke the damned thing. I then realised that I’d used my patch puller instead of the ball puller while i was distracted talking to my wife. I screwed in my ball puller after that and the ball was stuck enough that it then ripped out the end of my range rod. I now have no idea what to do. Any suggestions?

EDIT: just so people can follow, I have 120gr 2F in the barrel, the ball got stuck 6" from the muzzle, it now has a patch worm, ball puller and the end of my range rod stuck in it. What you can see in the poor photo is the end of my range rod.
View attachment 116514

Make one of these. An air compressor will push the stuck stuff out easily with no mess.

 

[Howard Pippin]

If the OP uses a grease gun you need a long zerk. The fitting on the grease gun won't attach unless it is a long one.

As an old retired mechanic, they make what they call a needle adapter for a grease gun. It fits on the and of the regular grease gun and will plug right into the little hole on the zerk. It takes one hand to hold it on, but you can get enough pressure to even grease stubborn universal joints on four-wheel-drive pickups, so I'm sure it would push that ball out.
Squint

 

[SavageML 50]

Went out for a shot tonight and got a ball stuck. When I got back I screwed in a ball puller gave it a yank and broke the damned thing. I then realised that I’d used my patch puller instead of the ball puller while i was distracted talking to my wife. I screwed in my ball puller after that and the ball was stuck enough that it then ripped out the end of my range rod. I now have no idea what to do. Any suggestions?

EDIT: just so people can follow, I have 120gr 2F in the barrel, the ball got stuck 6" from the muzzle, it now has a patch worm, ball puller and the end of my range rod stuck in it. What you can see in the poor photo is the end of my range rod.
View attachment 116514

If its only 6" from the end of the barrel just get a long 5/16" x 12" drill bit with a portable drill ,anchor the barrell in a vise and drill out the ball ! it will come out in pieces! Problem solved ! no Grease ,no compressor, NO Mess!

 

[deerstalkert]

If its only 6" from the end of the barrel just get a long 5/16" x 12" drill bit with a portable drill ,anchor the barrell in a vise and drill out the ball ! it will come out in pieces! Problem solved ! no Grease ,no compressor, NO Mess!

used with a piece of tubing as a guide/shield, not a bad idea!

 

[Brokennock]

I've been on lots of forums over the years and this is the absolute worst for sarcastic whining people. It's a shame because there are also some really good and informative guys too, which is why I come back.

Yup. I'm guilty of sarcasm and snarkiness at times, usually when I'm fed up with something. More and more frequently I think of logging off, don't remember my password so would have trouble logging back on, and giving up.
But, as you said, there are just enough good, talented, generous with info, people here that I haven't abandoned ship,,,,, yet. I'm sure a few people will be thrilled if I do, but, I'm not one for trying to please self agrandising blowhard and/or ignoramuses. Lol.
Stick around,,, we have more "stupid forum tricks," for your entertainment.

 

[French Colonial]

If its only 6" from the end of the barrel just get a long 5/16" x 12" drill bit with a portable drill ,anchor the barrell in a vise and drill out the ball ! it will come out in pieces! Problem solved ! no Grease ,no compressor, NO Mess!

And you do not think the patch puller and ball puller and the rod tip that are all down there are going to shove the drill bit sideways into the side of the barrel and screw up the rifling's?
Myself, I do not put anything down the barrel that is as hard or harder than the barrel.