Possible problem with my 94ae

[seasprite]

Hi everybody thought I'd join this cool looking sight to see if I have a problem or not. I have a Winchester 94ae in .30-30 (love my baby) for the past 15-20 years I'll never part with it but it got sick on me this deer season when I trying to unload it so we could take an 8point back to the barn to hang. The problem was with one round left in the chamber and one left in the tube the action would no longer cycle we tried to move the lever the best we could without putting excessive pressure on the lever (didn't want to cause more problems) normally it cycles with little effort. I finally got the lever to squeeze the safety so that I could discharge the round in the chamber & managed to fish the other out of the tube but to even to get it to fire was difficult like it was ever so slightly out of battery but not sure on this. So after we hung the deer I started trying to cycle the action again and with a little difficulty it finally cycled and started to work fine rest of the hunt. So do you guys think I've got a problem or maybe some fluke that I'll never see again? I would hate leave on a hunt or range trip and not be able to cycle the action with a live round in the chamber.

Here's some pics of my 94ae


This is my son with my 94ae on his first deer hunt (he wants a lever now)
http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac17 ... CF0160.jpg

If you guys can help it would be deeply appreciated thanks
Seasprite

[Griff]

Have you checked the following for tightness and alignment: hammer, link, guides, lever/link pin stop screws and the pin for the lever/link?

[seasprite]

Have you checked the following for tightness and alignment: hammer, link, guides, lever/link pin stop screws and the pin for the lever/link?

The only thing I checked was the cartridge guides with my finger reaching in to see if they would wiggle any & they didn't. I don't have a gunsmith screwdriver set yet but plan on getting on this week some time I don't want to bubba up my screws she still looks pretty but I will check the tightness of all the screws when I get the screwdriver set. I have never taken the bolt out for deep cleaning could this be a cause maybe some dirt or small piece of brass from a shell causing the problem.

[J Miller]

Sounds to me like it could have picked up some debris. I've had that happen.
When was the last time it was taken apart for a thorough cleaning? Or even just a really good cleaning assembled?

That's where I'd start and I'd be checking all the screws at the same time.

Joe

[TedH]

My money would be on a screw that has worked loose.

[Old Savage]

Don't know but I am interested - I have the same rifle.

[seasprite]

Sounds to me like it could have picked up some debris. I've had that happen.
When was the last time it was taken apart for a thorough cleaning? Or even just a really good cleaning assembled?

That's where I'd start and I'd be checking all the screws at the same time.

Joe

Well looks like its time for a deep cleaning of my 94ae I know I'm suppose to take out the big screw straight across from the hole on the right side to remove the lever pin but is there anything else I'm to remove in order to field strip this Winchester I think there is but I just can't remember must be getting old. As I do this I'll post some pics and let you guys know what if anything that I find.
Thanks for all the quick replies everybody.

[Tycer]

Here ya go:

http://www.castbullet.com/misc/tdown.htm

[seasprite]

Here ya go:

http://www.castbullet.com/misc/tdown.htm

Thanks Tycer I followed your link and took down my 94ae and man was it dirty but not as bad as my .45 gets just after one range trip and I have never taken down my 94ae before. 1 I didn't know how 2 I heard it was a bear to do it took a while but I got it done and it feels a lot better know I almost think my trigger pull went down some Well here's some pics of her insides.





The hole ware the lever pin goes seemed to have some burs where the finish has been worn off to the point the hole no longer looked round so I dressed it up and lubed it and all I can say is wow the action feels great now I hope that the cleaning and removing some burs that I have no more problems because nothing jumped out at me as being worn out checked the cartidge stop it looked good so its off to the range the next chance I get.

[J Miller]

The basic 94 design is the simplest Winchester lever gun design. Only the Marlin is simpler.
As you found out though they don't like being run dry. They have several wear points that do require lube. The pre-64s are worse at this than the post-64 are, but they all need lube.

Polish down any burrs but don't remove any more metal than you have too.

One thing you probably noticed is the skeletonized firing pin. They did that when they went to the rebounding hammer action. I've found that you need to keep the firing pin channel clean only very lightly lubed. Otherwise the oil and debris will slow that lightweight firing pin down and contribute to miss fires.

Joe

[mikld]

Thanks guys, great info on '94 work...

[seasprite]

The basic 94 design is the simplest Winchester lever gun design. Only the Marlin is simpler.
As you found out though they don't like being run dry. They have several wear points that do require lube. The pre-64s are worse at this than the post-64 are, but they all need lube.

Polish down any burrs but don't remove any more metal than you have too.

One thing you probably noticed is the skeletonized firing pin. They did that when they went to the rebounding hammer action. I've found that you need to keep the firing pin channel clean only very lightly lubed. Otherwise the oil and debris will slow that lightweight firing pin down and contribute to miss fires.

Joe

Thanks Joe I think for now on I when I do a general cleaning I'm going to pull the lever pin cover screw and put a couple of drops of oil in there maybe even hole ware you push the pin out of. The finish ware the end of the lever makes me wounder if this is caused from lack of oil getting in there. My 94ae is a pawn shop find so I have no owners manual for it so how often do you guys give your 94's a deep cleaning and is there a recommendation on this?

[Tycer]

I took them apart and smoothed them like you just did and I may not do it again for a long time. I do all my cleaning assembled. They do not have super tight tolerances like modern designs. As you saw, it takes a lot of dirt to slow them down and yours might have had that burr from the factory.