Marlin Rear Band Issues

[BruceB]

Yesterday I tried to swap the rear band (forend band) on my pre-safety Marlin 336 with the modern band with the sling stud attached. It didn't go too well. After sanding down the wood to allow the new band to fit, I couldn't get screw to line up correctly. Finally I decided to try some other time when I had more patience for the project and tried to re-assemble it with the old band. That too ended up being a real pain. I finally got it all back together, but i don't think it's exactly right. I expected this to just take a few minutes, not several hours. Anybody else had issues with the rear band on a Marlin? Any tricks to getting together correctly?

[Hobie]

Yes, sometimes you need only unscrew the band screw and you've committed to a couple of hours of cussing and sweating to get the screw to go in correctly.

[Griff]

Yes, sometimes you need only unscrew the band screw and you've committed to a couple of hours of cussing and sweating to get the screw to go in correctly.

THAT is a conservative estimate.

[AJMD429]

There MUST be a better way to do it that the 'normal' one - even IF you get everything back in place with the new or old parts, the next time you disassemble it, you'll have trouble again, most likely.

That's why I dislike tubular-magazine leverguns, especially blued ones (well, maybe 'dislike' is kind of strong, since I do sort of collect them...). Anyway, it would have been nice if the master gun-designers had cultivated similar skills in stock-design.

[Malamute]

This is one of the things that seem to be more of an issue with Marlins. I've cussed and cursed them a number of times. It seems that the factory used some sort of jig that pressed the parts into alignment to install many of them, and the only way to get them back togther was with some sort of similar setup, or work wood and metal down to get the parts to align.

Have had a few issues with Winchesters, but not nearly as much it seems.

[AJMD429]

My 'Winchesters' are all made by Rossi, but they certainly have 'issues' with forend bands too; I dread to remove them.

Funny you can swap other parts in the Marlins with no problems - levers, hammers, triggers, etc., all with much more critical alignment, but it sure seems no two forend hangers are in the same position!

[BruceB]

Thanks guys. Now I don't feel quite so incompetent. I did a little research on Marlin Owners and see all sorts of recommendations for filing the barrel notch, the forend holes, and the band itself.
A few years ago I swapped out the bands two 94 Winchesters. It was simple and easy, not this mess!

[J Miller]

Bruce,

I've had few Marlins, and many Winchesters. Trust me when I say Winchesters have the same issues with barrel bands. Only they are not consistent. Also you have to speak different languages when you cuss at a Win than you do at a Marlin. Being able to cuss in different languages is a plus.

All I can say is if I took it apart, I WILL get it back together.

Joe

[Jayhawker]

One trick I've used is to barely insert one screw, just get it started, and then, while there is still plenty of play in the hanger, get the other screw started. Once both are in, it's easy going. Once you've started a screw in one side more than halfway, the slop necessary to get the other side started is gone and you'll spend all night at the bench.

[Hobie]

Bruce,

I've had few Marlins, and many Winchesters. Trust me when I say Winchesters have the same issues with barrel bands. Only they are not consistent. Also you have to speak different languages when you cuss at a Win than you do at a Marlin. Being able to cuss in different languages is a plus.

All I can say is if I took it apart, I WILL get it back together.

Joe

Maybe that's how I keep my time down to just a couple of hours, I've got 4 spoken languages to use and even some sign language... Yes, Winchesters will do it, too.