How on earth to put a williams FP back together

[Roland]

I just got this sight and I was gonna take it apart, according to the instructions I read I was supposed to turn the elevation screw counter clock wise until the base came off, well all that happened was a tiny ball and spring came popping out after the elevation screw and I have been trying for hours to get that stupid spring and ball back into the hole they came from but they won't fit. What the hell do I do?

[Roland]

I don't know why this is, but whenever I have a problem like this. I post about it, and then the answer just comes me. Figured out what I was doing wrong, spring and ball go in another place entierly.

[J Miller]

Roland,

Now that you got it figured out, just remember there is three lock screws on a FP that have to be loosened a tad to make adjustments. Loosening them too much will cause the adj screws to disengage and not work.

Joe

[Hobie]

I don't know why this is, but whenever I have a problem like this. I post about it, and then the answer just comes me. Figured out what I was doing wrong, spring and ball go in another place entirely.

Been there, done that! Glad you got it fixed.

[AJMD429]

Those 'locking' screws can be left fairly loose and Lok-tited in place, according to the manufacturer. I thought they impinged on a detent of some sort, but they don't.

[Pete44ru]

Next time, remember to use a left-handed screwdriver on those durn counter-clockwise screws !

.

[J Miller]

Williams FP front-web.JPG

Those little lock screws ( 1 ) are there to keep unauthorized folks from screwing up your adjustments (hence the Fool Proof in the name) and to keep them from working loose due to vibrations.
Leaving them loose is not a good idea, and neither is LOCTITEing them in.
If any of the LOCTITE should migrate into those adjusting screws, you are screwed.

Joe

[AJMD429]

Leaving them loose is not a good idea, and neither is LOCTITEing them in.

I'm just going by what the guy at Williams told me over the phone...

If any of the LOCTITE should migrate into those adjusting screws, you are screwed.

Yep. If you use it, use it sparingly. One way to do it is put a small drop in on top of the screw-head, so mostly it just keeps the screw from backing out and falling out, but wouldn't impede adjustment.

[J Miller]

AJMD,

Just for the sake of conversation I've had the same FP 94/36 on my 1980 Win 94 Trapper since 1980. Let's see, 2011-1980=31. Yep, 31 years. In that time while firing hundreds of rounds through it, neither of those itsy tinsy lock screws has come loose.
Neither has my adjustments moved, and the only LOCTITE is on the mounting screws.

I've had several other 94s with FPs on them and none of them have moved either.

For my way of thinking about the only time I can think of that you'd want either of the lock screws left loose is if you were using target knobs and making lots of adjustments.

Other than that I use a tinsy screw driver that matches the tinsy lock screws and just snug them 'lil things down.

Oh, and I've learned to take what some factory reps tell me with a grain of salt.

Joe

[piller]

Joe, you might be careful about talking to too many factory reps as all the salt might raise your blood pressure.