Post by littleguns on Feb 7, 2021 12:13:51 GMT -5
Installing the mainspring on the basic Savage 24 is a source of constant difficulty for shadetree gunsmiths. Even J. B. Wood's helpful "Firearms Assembly" book warns, "There is no really easy way to do it." This site's neillrr offers one good solution that involves minor modifications to the main spring plunger and plunger seat (drilling a couple of holes). In contemplating rebuilding some M24 receivers that are in parts, I came across a U-Toob video that shows how the installation can easily be done with a homemade tool. The video is less than a minute long and can be found on Y O U Tube by searching for "Savage 24 mainspring installation."
Anyone with a drill press, a hacksaw and a couple of small files can make the tool. No drilling is required -- the drill press is used to compress the spring in conjunction with the tool. The hacksaw is to create a short rod by cutting off a bolt head and threads (or to cut a simple piece of plain rod to the right length of 2-1/2" or 3"). The file is to make a flat on one side of the rod and to make a notch in the end of the tool. The video makes it much clearer than I can explain here.
I made a couple of these tools in less than an hour in a darned cold shop; I suspect my first attempt used too small a rod (5/16th) so I went up a bolt size (3/8th) on the second. I haven't used the tool yet (it's way below zero in my shop area at the moment), but it seems simple enough that it actually should work. To get the correct notch in the end of the tool, I followed some filing with a small mill end in a high-speed mini-grinder to creat a final shape. To get the flat on the rod I used an angle grinder. Neither grinder is vital if you use a file with patience.
I apologize for the long post, but I wanted to share the information if it can help someone from becoming frustrated with the infamously difficult 24 mainspring
. (And see neilrr's useful method of installation if making the tool doesn't appeal to you.)
Anyone with a drill press, a hacksaw and a couple of small files can make the tool. No drilling is required -- the drill press is used to compress the spring in conjunction with the tool. The hacksaw is to create a short rod by cutting off a bolt head and threads (or to cut a simple piece of plain rod to the right length of 2-1/2" or 3"). The file is to make a flat on one side of the rod and to make a notch in the end of the tool. The video makes it much clearer than I can explain here.
I made a couple of these tools in less than an hour in a darned cold shop; I suspect my first attempt used too small a rod (5/16th) so I went up a bolt size (3/8th) on the second. I haven't used the tool yet (it's way below zero in my shop area at the moment), but it seems simple enough that it actually should work. To get the correct notch in the end of the tool, I followed some filing with a small mill end in a high-speed mini-grinder to creat a final shape. To get the flat on the rod I used an angle grinder. Neither grinder is vital if you use a file with patience.
I apologize for the long post, but I wanted to share the information if it can help someone from becoming frustrated with the infamously difficult 24 mainspring
. (And see neilrr's useful method of installation if making the tool doesn't appeal to you.)
