Take Down Lever rotates during firing

chromeed · 10-11-2010, 06:18 PM

I have an American Eagle SS Luger and Inoticed while fireing the Take Down Lever rotated down to the point that the Trigger Side Plate could have fallen off.
This happened twice.
Does anyone have an idea of what is wrong?
This gun will sometimes does not pick up a a bullet from the mmag. and i will need to pull back on the Toggle to load it.
I have two other Lugers without problems.

alanint · 10-11-2010, 08:26 PM

It sounds like a weak or missing takedown lever retaining spring. Remove the takedown lever and see if the spring is sitting down in a recess below where the lever sits when installed in the frame. You may have lost this without realizing it.

Tom Heller here on the board can supply you with a new one if yours is missing or weak

chromeed · 10-12-2010, 11:47 AM

I removed the Take Down Lever and is not the same as my other Lugers Instead of the spring there is a detent ball and spring pressed into the Lever and a depression in the Frame to hold the lever in place (see the pictures) I think this is not as good as the original design. There was some gunky black grease under the Lever which I have now cleaned up (I don't normally remove the Take Down Lever or the Trigger when I clean my Lugars) Should I?
I hope that the cleaning will take care of the problem but I don’t like this design compared to my two other Lugers (The depression in the Frame is not very deep and it seems that the edge of the depression is beginning to round off from the ball pushing over it and the Ball may be harder than the frame)
I will shoot it again later this week.

alanint · 10-12-2010, 12:43 PM

Hmmm, Another option with a design such as you describe would be to take a fine dremel tip and deepen the detent in the frame a little to give the ball a better purchase.

chromeed · 10-12-2010, 01:37 PM

Good idea!
I have a Dremel and I think they sell a carbide bit in the shape of a ball. If the cleaning does not work I will try that.

This Forum is GREAT!

Lugerdoc · 10-13-2010, 10:33 AM

If all else fails, a bit of judicious bending of the side plate arm, will solve this problem. TH

chromeed · 10-16-2010, 07:02 AM

Thank You Alanint and Lugerdoc.
I used my Dremmel to slightly deepen the detent in the frame and did a bit of judicious bending of the side plate arm.
Yesterday I shot 100 rounds of Winchester 115gr White Box with No Rotation of the Take Down Lever.
This Forum and you Guys are SUPER
Ed

10-11-2010, 06:18 PM	#1
chromeed User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 81 Thanks: 1 Thanked 27 Times in 9 Posts	Take Down Lever rotates during firing I have an American Eagle SS Luger and Inoticed while fireing the Take Down Lever rotated down to the point that the Trigger Side Plate could have fallen off. This happened twice. Does anyone have an idea of what is wrong? This gun will sometimes does not pick up a a bullet from the mmag. and i will need to pull back on the Toggle to load it. I have two other Lugers without problems.

10-12-2010, 12:43 PM	#4
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Hmmm, Another option with a design such as you describe would be to take a fine dremel tip and deepen the detent in the frame a little to give the ball a better purchase. Last edited by alanint; 10-12-2010 at 02:34 PM.

10-13-2010, 10:33 AM	#6
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	If all else fails, a bit of judicious bending of the side plate arm, will solve this problem. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

10-16-2010, 07:02 AM	#7
chromeed User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 81 Thanks: 1 Thanked 27 Times in 9 Posts	Thanks Take down lever rotation fixed Thank You Alanint and Lugerdoc. I used my Dremmel to slightly deepen the detent in the frame and did a bit of judicious bending of the side plate arm. Yesterday I shot 100 rounds of Winchester 115gr White Box with No Rotation of the Take Down Lever. This Forum and you Guys are SUPER Ed

10-11-2010, 08:26 PM	#2
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	It sounds like a weak or missing takedown lever retaining spring. Remove the takedown lever and see if the spring is sitting down in a recess below where the lever sits when installed in the frame. You may have lost this without realizing it. Tom Heller here on the board can supply you with a new one if yours is missing or weak

10-12-2010, 11:47 AM	#3
chromeed User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 81 Thanks: 1 Thanked 27 Times in 9 Posts	I removed the Take Down Lever and is not the same as my other Lugers Instead of the spring there is a detent ball and spring pressed into the Lever and a depression in the Frame to hold the lever in place (see the pictures) I think this is not as good as the original design. There was some gunky black grease under the Lever which I have now cleaned up (I don't normally remove the Take Down Lever or the Trigger when I clean my Lugars) Should I? I hope that the cleaning will take care of the problem but I don’t like this design compared to my two other Lugers (The depression in the Frame is not very deep and it seems that the edge of the depression is beginning to round off from the ball pushing over it and the Ball may be harder than the frame) I will shoot it again later this week.

10-12-2010, 01:37 PM	#5
chromeed User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 81 Thanks: 1 Thanked 27 Times in 9 Posts	Good idea! I have a Dremel and I think they sell a carbide bit in the shape of a ball. If the cleaning does not work I will try that. This Forum is GREAT!