Drum Mag Questions

Dwight Gruber · 08-25-2003, 04:47 AM

I just picked up a type-2 trommel magazine, which does not appear to function. How does a drum magazine work, how does one operate it (presuming that one has a loading tool, which I do not)?

With some trepidation I also ask, how does one take one of these things apart, and what precautions must one take?

--Dwight

pisto · 08-25-2003, 05:51 AM

good thing to ask in the forum! I think if you are not a scilled craftsan by your own, the best would be to ask somebody to get it done for you.
Think here in the forum are some people I might suggest to be able for that.
There is a very strong leaf spring inside, similar to some of the bigger clocks.
In a manual (reprint) I owned before, the view inside is shown.

ViggoG · 08-25-2003, 06:06 AM

Dwight, <img border="0" alt="[nono]" title="" src="graemlins/nono.gif" />
Under No Circumstance attempt to disassemble the Trommel Magazine.
The Coiled Flat Spring can tear you up like a Wildcat if it gets loose. <img border="0" alt="[crying]" title="" src="graemlins/crying.gif" />
I have never worked on one but i have been chewed up by a large recoil starter spring, which is similar in its design. <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" />
Do not be brave, get help!

And wear goggles.
Viggo

Doug G. · 08-25-2003, 09:40 AM

Dwight, I have taken the cover off of my drum mag before. You do have the follower spring to deal with, but that is not under much tension. The main coil spring is enclosed inside another housing. I did NOT attempt to open this one. You will need a loading tool to get more than 7-9 rounds in it. Both real and repro are seen on Ebay from time to time. Repro's still sell for $350+.

George Anderson · 08-25-2003, 05:56 PM

Dwight, you are better off playing with rattlesnakes than messing with the innards of a TM08.

Navy · 08-25-2003, 07:56 PM

Messing with the insides of a TM is about like trying to stick your thumb in a Lynx's bottom: Why would you want to do it? and It sure is gonna hurt!

Tom A.

Frank · 08-25-2003, 09:49 PM

George and Tom, I sure wish you would say what you really mean!!!

Dwight Gruber · 08-25-2003, 10:25 PM

Guys,

Thanks for all the cautionary words. I'd still like to know how one is supposed to work, or be operated, that I may try to diagnose the problem from the outside.

--Dwight

MikeP · 08-25-2003, 11:46 PM

You never described the problem--

you can get 8-10 rounds in by hand. then you have to unfold the lever and "wind" it around to one of two detents. If you have managed to get the button into one of these detents without losing a finger or worse you are ready for a loading tool.

Fool around and break that big spring which is inside a welded housing you are screwed.

These are nice and in my humble opinion best left for display.

A few years ago on the old forum there was mention of a major German wind up toy manufacturer who could remake these easily-problem is they are banned from import as evil forbidden high-cap mags.

Dwight Gruber · 08-26-2003, 12:17 AM

Haven't known enough about it to know what to describe--I was told that it didn't work.

I can force seven rounds into it, but the follower is very balky--it pushes down and stays, with kind of a "raspy" feel of metal on metal. The ammunition almost feels like it doesn't fit (its the same white-box Winchester I shoot all the time). The first round has to be prized out, the rest can be knocked free and fall out but the follower does not rise to follow; it only comes back to the top of the magazine by "backing" the winding lever and forcing--pushing--it to the top.

The winding lever rotates less than one full turn, and there is only one detent in which to lock it. There is virtually no spring pressure on winding--at least with no rounds in place. In taking the lever backward, about halfway through there is a springy "thunk".

Are there diagrams or blueprints of these things anywhere?

--Dwight

Big Norm · 08-26-2003, 12:25 AM

Dwight,
I have a type 1 and a loader. I would not dare to take the back screw off, but a large spring has popped out on me a few times and it was easy to put it back in. I don't know if there is a second spring in there and I am not anxious to find out. The cranking arm will tighten up a spring to where there is a little catch there that will hold the spring and arm in place. I think that I understand the basics of this contraption but I have no intention of loading it all the way to 32 rounds, much less disassembling it. The little pin that holds the base plate from popping out when empty does not look too sturdy. The whole assembly really looks good on my favorite artillery though.

Now the loader is another story. I just cannot figure out how that thing-a-ma-jig works. Looks cool though. Very complicated looking. I still don't know how to tell an original from a Japanesse repro on the loaders.
Big Norm

George Anderson · 08-26-2003, 11:17 AM

I have several TM08's both types. I load one of the type II's frequently and use it in one of my LP08's. It's a blast. The only caution is that the barrel gets real hot if you run all 32 rounds through it rapid fire.

08-25-2003, 04:47 AM	#1
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,317 Times in 431 Posts	Drum Mag Questions I just picked up a type-2 trommel magazine, which does not appear to function. How does a drum magazine work, how does one operate it (presuming that one has a loading tool, which I do not)? With some trepidation I also ask, how does one take one of these things apart, and what precautions must one take? --Dwight

08-25-2003, 09:40 AM	#4
Doug G. User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 713 Thanks: 1 Thanked 53 Times in 17 Posts	Dwight, I have taken the cover off of my drum mag before. You do have the follower spring to deal with, but that is not under much tension. The main coil spring is enclosed inside another housing. I did NOT attempt to open this one. You will need a loading tool to get more than 7-9 rounds in it. Both real and repro are seen on Ebay from time to time. Repro's still sell for $350+. __________________ Suppose you were an idiot.....and suppose you were a member of Congress.....But I repeat myself" ~~ Mark Twain

08-25-2003, 05:51 AM	#2
pisto User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 228 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	good thing to ask in the forum! I think if you are not a scilled craftsan by your own, the best would be to ask somebody to get it done for you. Think here in the forum are some people I might suggest to be able for that. There is a very strong leaf spring inside, similar to some of the bigger clocks. In a manual (reprint) I owned before, the view inside is shown.

08-25-2003, 06:06 AM	#3
ViggoG RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: South Side Virginia Posts: 534 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Dwight, <img border="0" alt="[nono]" title="" src="graemlins/nono.gif" /> Under No Circumstance attempt to disassemble the Trommel Magazine. The Coiled Flat Spring can tear you up like a Wildcat if it gets loose. <img border="0" alt="[crying]" title="" src="graemlins/crying.gif" /> I have never worked on one but i have been chewed up by a large recoil starter spring, which is similar in its design. <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> Do not be brave, get help! And wear goggles. Viggo

08-25-2003, 05:56 PM	#5
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,529 Times in 787 Posts	Dwight, you are better off playing with rattlesnakes than messing with the innards of a TM08.

08-25-2003, 07:56 PM	#6
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Messing with the insides of a TM is about like trying to stick your thumb in a Lynx's bottom: Why would you want to do it? and It sure is gonna hurt! Tom A.

08-25-2003, 09:49 PM	#7
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 163 Times in 87 Posts	George and Tom, I sure wish you would say what you really mean!!! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

08-25-2003, 10:25 PM	#8
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,317 Times in 431 Posts	Guys, Thanks for all the cautionary words. I'd still like to know how one is supposed to work, or be operated, that I may try to diagnose the problem from the outside. --Dwight

08-25-2003, 11:46 PM	#9
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	You never described the problem-- you can get 8-10 rounds in by hand. then you have to unfold the lever and "wind" it around to one of two detents. If you have managed to get the button into one of these detents without losing a finger or worse you are ready for a loading tool. Fool around and break that big spring which is inside a welded housing you are screwed. These are nice and in my humble opinion best left for display. A few years ago on the old forum there was mention of a major German wind up toy manufacturer who could remake these easily-problem is they are banned from import as evil forbidden high-cap mags.

08-26-2003, 12:17 AM	#10
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,317 Times in 431 Posts	Haven't known enough about it to know what to describe--I was told that it didn't work. I can force seven rounds into it, but the follower is very balky--it pushes down and stays, with kind of a "raspy" feel of metal on metal. The ammunition almost feels like it doesn't fit (its the same white-box Winchester I shoot all the time). The first round has to be prized out, the rest can be knocked free and fall out but the follower does not rise to follow; it only comes back to the top of the magazine by "backing" the winding lever and forcing--pushing--it to the top. The winding lever rotates less than one full turn, and there is only one detent in which to lock it. There is virtually no spring pressure on winding--at least with no rounds in place. In taking the lever backward, about halfway through there is a springy "thunk". Are there diagrams or blueprints of these things anywhere? --Dwight

08-26-2003, 12:25 AM	#11
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Dwight, I have a type 1 and a loader. I would not dare to take the back screw off, but a large spring has popped out on me a few times and it was easy to put it back in. I don't know if there is a second spring in there and I am not anxious to find out. The cranking arm will tighten up a spring to where there is a little catch there that will hold the spring and arm in place. I think that I understand the basics of this contraption but I have no intention of loading it all the way to 32 rounds, much less disassembling it. The little pin that holds the base plate from popping out when empty does not look too sturdy. The whole assembly really looks good on my favorite artillery though. Now the loader is another story. I just cannot figure out how that thing-a-ma-jig works. Looks cool though. Very complicated looking. I still don't know how to tell an original from a Japanesse repro on the loaders. Big Norm

08-26-2003, 11:17 AM	#12
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,529 Times in 787 Posts	I have several TM08's both types. I load one of the type II's frequently and use it in one of my LP08's. It's a blast. The only caution is that the barrel gets real hot if you run all 32 rounds through it rapid fire.