Problem with the takedown lever on a 1916 Erfurt

nick.helms · 04-27-2012, 12:55 PM

Hello,

I'm having an issue with the takedown lever on my 1916 Erfurt and was hoping I might get some assistance. When I go to fieldstrip my 1916 I can't move the takedown lever without the assistance of a padded screwdriver blade. On my DWM and Mauser I can easily push the barrel back, rotate the takedown lever, remove the trigger plate and take apart. On the Erfurt however it won't budge, now once I do rotate it and strip the gun it moves freely and when I reassemble it's fine, no problems rotating back into place. Any thoughts? I've been researching the problem but haven't found anything, is there a way to remove the takedown lever and lubricate? Is this just the case with some older lugers? A couple people recommended cocking the toggle and then doing the takedown but that didn't work.

thanks, Nick

Norme · 04-27-2012, 01:54 PM

Hi Nick, Is this a numbers matching gun? Your trigger plate might not be fitting properly. You can remove the take down lever for cleaning and lubrication when it's in the "down" position. It is held in by a small "L" shaped spring. However, if it moves freely when the gun is disassembled, I don't think that's the problem. Regards, Norm

nick.helms · 04-27-2012, 04:36 PM

Hey Norm,

It is all matching, and I looked over the trigger plate and didn't see anything unusual. I'll take a look at the "L" pin tonight and see if anything looks amiss.

thanks, nick

John Sabato · 05-02-2012, 09:58 AM

If you can't easily move the takedown lever when the action is open (such as being cocked with an empty magazine in place), then there is a worn or broken part issue and the gun requires repairs by a LUGERsmith, not a run-of-the-mill GUNsmith. My advice is to send it to LugerDoc.

Lugerdoc · 05-02-2012, 10:46 AM

John, Thanks for the refural. He should first make sure that the receiver is out of battery when attempting to turn TD lever. As previously mentioned, the side plate is most likely not fitted correctly and putting too much friction on the lever. TH

Thor · 05-02-2012, 12:46 PM

Lugerdoc right on again. This is what I have found usually. The td lever is probably rubbing at some contact point of the side plate. Either where it goes across the flat tab on the SP or the very end where the small circle of the td lever rotates inside of the end of the SP tab.

nick.helms · 05-03-2012, 01:11 PM

Figured it out, I'm an idiot, if I ever forget my wife reminds me. With this particular Erfurt if I press the barrel down until it stops going back the takedown lever will not move, if I press the barrel down until slightly before the barrel stops the takedown lever works fine, don't know why I didn't think to try that first. This is a 1916 Erfurt which I understand don't always have the same fit and finish as the pre-war guns, do you think that's the case here? I have a 1914 Erfurt and a 1916 DWM and this doesn't happen.

Thanks your help,

nick

04-27-2012, 12:55 PM	#1
nick.helms User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Problem with the takedown lever on a 1916 Erfurt Hello, I'm having an issue with the takedown lever on my 1916 Erfurt and was hoping I might get some assistance. When I go to fieldstrip my 1916 I can't move the takedown lever without the assistance of a padded screwdriver blade. On my DWM and Mauser I can easily push the barrel back, rotate the takedown lever, remove the trigger plate and take apart. On the Erfurt however it won't budge, now once I do rotate it and strip the gun it moves freely and when I reassemble it's fine, no problems rotating back into place. Any thoughts? I've been researching the problem but haven't found anything, is there a way to remove the takedown lever and lubricate? Is this just the case with some older lugers? A couple people recommended cocking the toggle and then doing the takedown but that didn't work. thanks, Nick __________________ Facts and Truth really don't have that much to do with each another. William Faulkner

04-27-2012, 04:36 PM	#3
nick.helms User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Hey Norm, It is all matching, and I looked over the trigger plate and didn't see anything unusual. I'll take a look at the "L" pin tonight and see if anything looks amiss. thanks, nick __________________ Facts and Truth really don't have that much to do with each another. William Faulkner

05-02-2012, 09:58 AM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	If you can't easily move the takedown lever when the action is open (such as being cocked with an empty magazine in place), then there is a worn or broken part issue and the gun requires repairs by a LUGERsmith, not a run-of-the-mill GUNsmith. My advice is to send it to LugerDoc. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

05-02-2012, 10:46 AM	#5
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	John, Thanks for the refural. He should first make sure that the receiver is out of battery when attempting to turn TD lever. As previously mentioned, the side plate is most likely not fitted correctly and putting too much friction on the lever. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

05-02-2012, 12:46 PM	#6
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Lugerdoc right on again. This is what I have found usually. The td lever is probably rubbing at some contact point of the side plate. Either where it goes across the flat tab on the SP or the very end where the small circle of the td lever rotates inside of the end of the SP tab. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

04-27-2012, 01:54 PM	#2
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,603 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Nick, Is this a numbers matching gun? Your trigger plate might not be fitting properly. You can remove the take down lever for cleaning and lubrication when it's in the "down" position. It is held in by a small "L" shaped spring. However, if it moves freely when the gun is disassembled, I don't think that's the problem. Regards, Norm

05-03-2012, 01:11 PM	#7
nick.helms User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Figured it out, I'm an idiot, if I ever forget my wife reminds me. With this particular Erfurt if I press the barrel down until it stops going back the takedown lever will not move, if I press the barrel down until slightly before the barrel stops the takedown lever works fine, don't know why I didn't think to try that first. This is a 1916 Erfurt which I understand don't always have the same fit and finish as the pre-war guns, do you think that's the case here? I have a 1914 Erfurt and a 1916 DWM and this doesn't happen. Thanks your help, nick __________________ Facts and Truth really don't have that much to do with each another. William Faulkner