Broken operating handle on a rem 742

pointfiveoh · October 16, 2005, 01:46 PM

Well I had it bind and was trying to work it free when the operating handle just broke off. I found a replacement part and the retaining pin, I just need to know how to fix it or if it's a gunsmith only type affair.

James K · October 16, 2005, 07:48 PM

Drive the pin out top to bottom. The remains of the old handle should just fall out; if not, turn the bolt on its side and bump it.

Insert the new bolt handle, drive the pin back in. Put the bolt back in. That's all.

Jim

pointfiveoh · October 18, 2005, 07:41 PM

Thanks Jim, now for the part where I'm an idiot. The reason the handle is broken is because the bolt stuck open while I was sighting it in. I got overzealous and tried to force it. I'd have no problem with replacing the handle now that I've been told how, but I can't get to it because the action is open. Any ideas on that one?

pointfiveoh · October 20, 2005, 03:32 PM

Just a quick bump to see if anyone knows how I should approach this problem. The action is stuck open so I cannot get to the retaining pin. Any ideas on how to get the action to close so I can fix the handle would be very appreciated.

James K · October 25, 2005, 04:16 PM

Got me. IIRC, the only thing that holds the bolt open is the magazine follower, and when the magazine is removed or the bolt release pushed to lower the follower, the bolt closes. (The bolt release is part of the magazine; nothing in the gun holds the bolt back, AFAIK.)

The only thing I can think of is to remove the trigger group (drift out the two pins) and see if you can determine what is holding the bolt back.

Jim

pointfiveoh · October 27, 2005, 04:41 AM

It looks like the bolt is moving side to side on it's path and it bit into the right side of the rails it moves on. It also looks like the ejector port cover is getting wedged in back there. I got it closed but I'm not sure it won't just get hung up again.

James K · October 27, 2005, 07:09 PM

Quite a few owners of those guns took out that port cover and threw a pass to the trash can.

Jim

**Unclenick** · October 28, 2005, 11:01 PM

If you put a ramrod down the bore (1/4" cold rolled steel rod from the hardware should do) can you depress the bolt to the rear any further? If so, you can push the magazine follower down out of the way at the same time, then let up slowly on the rod until the bolt passes over top of the follower (assuming this loosens it).

Nick

October 16, 2005, 01:46 PM	#1
pointfiveoh Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 207	Broken operating handle on a rem 742 Well I had it bind and was trying to work it free when the operating handle just broke off. I found a replacement part and the retaining pin, I just need to know how to fix it or if it's a gunsmith only type affair. __________________ Just doing the best I can.

October 18, 2005, 07:41 PM	#3
pointfiveoh Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 207	Thanks Jim, now for the part where I'm an idiot. The reason the handle is broken is because the bolt stuck open while I was sighting it in. I got overzealous and tried to force it. I'd have no problem with replacing the handle now that I've been told how, but I can't get to it because the action is open. Any ideas on that one? __________________ Just doing the best I can.

October 20, 2005, 03:32 PM	#4
pointfiveoh Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 207	Just a quick bump to see if anyone knows how I should approach this problem. The action is stuck open so I cannot get to the retaining pin. Any ideas on how to get the action to close so I can fix the handle would be very appreciated. __________________ Just doing the best I can.

October 27, 2005, 04:41 AM	#6
pointfiveoh Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 207	It looks like the bolt is moving side to side on it's path and it bit into the right side of the rails it moves on. It also looks like the ejector port cover is getting wedged in back there. I got it closed but I'm not sure it won't just get hung up again. __________________ Just doing the best I can.

October 16, 2005, 07:48 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Drive the pin out top to bottom. The remains of the old handle should just fall out; if not, turn the bolt on its side and bump it. Insert the new bolt handle, drive the pin back in. Put the bolt back in. That's all. Jim

October 25, 2005, 04:16 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Got me. IIRC, the only thing that holds the bolt open is the magazine follower, and when the magazine is removed or the bolt release pushed to lower the follower, the bolt closes. (The bolt release is part of the magazine; nothing in the gun holds the bolt back, AFAIK.) The only thing I can think of is to remove the trigger group (drift out the two pins) and see if you can determine what is holding the bolt back. Jim

October 27, 2005, 07:09 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Quite a few owners of those guns took out that port cover and threw a pass to the trash can. Jim

October 28, 2005, 11:01 PM	#8
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	If you put a ramrod down the bore (1/4" cold rolled steel rod from the hardware should do) can you depress the bolt to the rear any further? If so, you can push the magazine follower down out of the way at the same time, then let up slowly on the rod until the bolt passes over top of the follower (assuming this loosens it). Nick