Stiff Saftey : Winchester 1200 Defender

jonathon · March 19, 2005, 02:07 AM

Right, so tonight my dad gave me his 12 guage Winchester Defender, its never been fired, but at the same time, he's only oiled it once since he got it 20+ years ago, and that was when he put it in storage. So after a good cleaning it works great and looks beautiful, BUT the saftey is stiffer then hell, I have to use my entire hand to put it into fire, but putting the gun on safe is easy

It was stiffer before, but after I took the ENTIRE trigger assembly apart and oiled it, it was a little looser, but its still rather stiff

Is there anything I can do? Or maybe I should take it to a gunsmith?

mete · March 19, 2005, 05:17 AM

Oils especially the cheap ones can oxidize with time and turn into a varnish. Did you , after the 20 years, remove ALL oil residue ?This would require a solvent and steel wool. Are there any burrs on the safety or the hole that might make it stiffer ? without the spring the parts should move freely in the hole .If they don't you might carefully polish with a fine stone until they do.

jonathon · March 19, 2005, 10:36 AM

Hmm, didn't try moving it without the spring in there. I am pretty sure I got most of the old oil off, the solvent I use is pretty amazing stuff. I'll try that though, thanks

jonathon · March 19, 2005, 12:59 PM

Okay, got it all disassembled..

Its that damn spring, the thing is about the same diameter of the saftey, and thick as hell. The parts move free without it so.. I'm taking the spring to a friend of mine, to have him either see if he has one of that size, or if he can make me one.

Thanks for the awesome suggestion!

mete · March 19, 2005, 01:13 PM

If it's a coil spring you should be able to find or even make a replacement. Looks like the original was designed by a lawyer !!

jonathon · March 19, 2005, 01:23 PM

Yes and no I think.

The spring on the saftey is also the one on the hammer, that drives it forward. The whole trigger assembly on this thing is wierd.. I'll post a pic here in a bit, but yeah, the saftey doesnt effect the trigger pull or hammer release, it actually HOLDS the hammer in place, even if you hit the trigger.. odd thinger...

jonathon · March 19, 2005, 03:38 PM

Okay, I fiddled with the spring some, and got it a tad looser. I can now disengage the saftey with my index finger, but barely. I think it will loosen up though, after I shoot it some. I think just to be on the safe side, I might take it down to a gunsmith and have him look through it to make sure its safe...

March 19, 2005, 02:07 AM	#1
jonathon Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2005 Location: Washougal, Washington. YEHAW! Posts: 1,872	Stiff Saftey : Winchester 1200 Defender Right, so tonight my dad gave me his 12 guage Winchester Defender, its never been fired, but at the same time, he's only oiled it once since he got it 20+ years ago, and that was when he put it in storage. So after a good cleaning it works great and looks beautiful, BUT the saftey is stiffer then hell, I have to use my entire hand to put it into fire, but putting the gun on safe is easy It was stiffer before, but after I took the ENTIRE trigger assembly apart and oiled it, it was a little looser, but its still rather stiff Is there anything I can do? Or maybe I should take it to a gunsmith? __________________ Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good More CZ M52 info than you can shake a stick at!

March 19, 2005, 10:36 AM	#3
jonathon Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2005 Location: Washougal, Washington. YEHAW! Posts: 1,872	Hmm, didn't try moving it without the spring in there. I am pretty sure I got most of the old oil off, the solvent I use is pretty amazing stuff. I'll try that though, thanks __________________ Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good More CZ M52 info than you can shake a stick at!

March 19, 2005, 12:59 PM	#4
jonathon Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2005 Location: Washougal, Washington. YEHAW! Posts: 1,872	Okay, got it all disassembled.. Its that damn spring, the thing is about the same diameter of the saftey, and thick as hell. The parts move free without it so.. I'm taking the spring to a friend of mine, to have him either see if he has one of that size, or if he can make me one. Thanks for the awesome suggestion! __________________ Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good More CZ M52 info than you can shake a stick at!

March 19, 2005, 01:23 PM	#6
jonathon Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2005 Location: Washougal, Washington. YEHAW! Posts: 1,872	Yes and no I think. The spring on the saftey is also the one on the hammer, that drives it forward. The whole trigger assembly on this thing is wierd.. I'll post a pic here in a bit, but yeah, the saftey doesnt effect the trigger pull or hammer release, it actually HOLDS the hammer in place, even if you hit the trigger.. odd thinger... __________________ Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good More CZ M52 info than you can shake a stick at!

March 19, 2005, 03:38 PM	#7
jonathon Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2005 Location: Washougal, Washington. YEHAW! Posts: 1,872	Okay, I fiddled with the spring some, and got it a tad looser. I can now disengage the saftey with my index finger, but barely. I think it will loosen up though, after I shoot it some. I think just to be on the safe side, I might take it down to a gunsmith and have him look through it to make sure its safe... __________________ Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good More CZ M52 info than you can shake a stick at!

March 19, 2005, 05:17 AM	#2
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Oils especially the cheap ones can oxidize with time and turn into a varnish. Did you , after the 20 years, remove ALL oil residue ?This would require a solvent and steel wool. Are there any burrs on the safety or the hole that might make it stiffer ? without the spring the parts should move freely in the hole .If they don't you might carefully polish with a fine stone until they do.

March 19, 2005, 01:13 PM	#5
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	If it's a coil spring you should be able to find or even make a replacement. Looks like the original was designed by a lawyer !!