Hello Again everyone,
:yakyak: WARNING This is part two of my conversion to flint with my T/C Percussion Hawkin. First part was about Knock the cheap lock I bought . First off I traded
a buddy of mine out of a like new complete T/C .50 percussion barrel befor I started this undertaking. Back in 79 when purchase my Hawkins I purchased a T/C breach plug remover tool . Back then I did need it once after I loaded a patched ball into an empty barrel :cursing: but could not get plug out with the tool too tight I guess! Got som FFF in nipple hole and got I out that way .
Well 27 years later I decided to replace my breach plug with a flint type. Found one at Track of the Wolf. Well as you can imagine that breach plug was not wanting to come out 27 years later either :hmm: .
I just figured I would pass on what I went thru to get it out incase one of you might has the same problem oneday.
I work in a Auto repair shop so I have access alot of equiptment to do such things. First I wraped the barrel just behind the rear sight with brass sheeting about 10"X 10" to protect barrel from the vise gaws . I clamped it in the vise as hard as I could tighten it with my hands and my 240lbs of wieght! I installed the remover with a leather wrap on inside to protect the breach plug (I had hopped to save it). I pu a large Pipe wrench (about 2' long) on tool and tried to unscrew . All that happened was the barrel started to turn in vise :cursing: Not a good sign. I tryed to tighten the vise again (This is what I call a big vise 10 inch wide jaws)to no avail ,still turned.
That was it for that lunch hour. I soaked the barrel over night with JB-80 . Next day I placed the wraped barrel between two 1" thick steel plates in our 10 Ton press . I put enough pressure so it would not turn much ,not like vise buy still turned! Still no luck. Next got out the torches and heated the breach plug till red and quenched in water. Tried again won't budge. Now by this time this was getting old! More soaking over night.
Next day clamped in vise again and took the cut off wheel and cut off nipple casting and made into a hex . I hammered a 15/16 six point impact socket on and took a 1/2 inch air impact gun (This has got to do the trick right! ) To my dismay the barrel tried to turn in vise and the socket rounded the breach plug right off. :cursing: Im getting a little ****** about now to say the least! Is going to come out ,Its got to! I got out the cut off wheel again and cut the breach plug 1/16" from the barrel very carfully . I tried a small easy out in the touch
hole . Not going to move still. Torches again ,heated up the plug to orange hot . Tried Easy-Out again. No good! :cursing: Ok now I decide to Drill ouy the center. Ha Ha . Iguess I hardened the plug with the torches. Not one drill bit in out shop would scratch it. Just as I was doing this our Snap-On tool man walked in the door. Great ill get a new bit from him. He sold me his best bit on the truck (He said better than kobolt / Spelling?!) I did not even scratch it!!!!! Well I went over my lunch hour that day!!
More soaking in JB-80 overnight (Can you tell I like JB-80 :rotf: ) Next morning I had a brain storm. My Dremel has some small stone attachments I never use! I clamped barrel in my small vise and sarted grinding (I cut thrue the hardning :applause: ) Tryed my new super bit and it went thru I now have a 3/8 hole in the breach plug!! I can see true my barrel. Late for work but a happy guy :grin:
Another lunch hour , Clamped in vise. Took torches and now I have a 3/8 hole i got the torch tip inside Plug heated it completly orange hot then took JB-80 and sprayed the manure out of it wile hot ,inside and out.Took out of vise ,still hot (Talk about a smoke pole) and hot JB-80 really smells bad ,My coworkers were not pleased! I sat it breach down In a cup of ,What else JB-80.
Let it sit for a few min. then put back in the vise . Easy out again and with a little effort :grin: it came loose and unscewed. I am still waiting as of this time for my new Flint breach plug ,should be in monday. I hope I havent bored you good folks to death.
But this goes to show that we can do anything we decide to do as long as you stay with it and never give up!
:yakyak: WARNING This is part two of my conversion to flint with my T/C Percussion Hawkin. First part was about Knock the cheap lock I bought . First off I traded
a buddy of mine out of a like new complete T/C .50 percussion barrel befor I started this undertaking. Back in 79 when purchase my Hawkins I purchased a T/C breach plug remover tool . Back then I did need it once after I loaded a patched ball into an empty barrel :cursing: but could not get plug out with the tool too tight I guess! Got som FFF in nipple hole and got I out that way .
Well 27 years later I decided to replace my breach plug with a flint type. Found one at Track of the Wolf. Well as you can imagine that breach plug was not wanting to come out 27 years later either :hmm: .
I just figured I would pass on what I went thru to get it out incase one of you might has the same problem oneday.
I work in a Auto repair shop so I have access alot of equiptment to do such things. First I wraped the barrel just behind the rear sight with brass sheeting about 10"X 10" to protect barrel from the vise gaws . I clamped it in the vise as hard as I could tighten it with my hands and my 240lbs of wieght! I installed the remover with a leather wrap on inside to protect the breach plug (I had hopped to save it). I pu a large Pipe wrench (about 2' long) on tool and tried to unscrew . All that happened was the barrel started to turn in vise :cursing: Not a good sign. I tryed to tighten the vise again (This is what I call a big vise 10 inch wide jaws)to no avail ,still turned.
That was it for that lunch hour. I soaked the barrel over night with JB-80 . Next day I placed the wraped barrel between two 1" thick steel plates in our 10 Ton press . I put enough pressure so it would not turn much ,not like vise buy still turned! Still no luck. Next got out the torches and heated the breach plug till red and quenched in water. Tried again won't budge. Now by this time this was getting old! More soaking over night.
Next day clamped in vise again and took the cut off wheel and cut off nipple casting and made into a hex . I hammered a 15/16 six point impact socket on and took a 1/2 inch air impact gun (This has got to do the trick right! ) To my dismay the barrel tried to turn in vise and the socket rounded the breach plug right off. :cursing: Im getting a little ****** about now to say the least! Is going to come out ,Its got to! I got out the cut off wheel again and cut the breach plug 1/16" from the barrel very carfully . I tried a small easy out in the touch
hole . Not going to move still. Torches again ,heated up the plug to orange hot . Tried Easy-Out again. No good! :cursing: Ok now I decide to Drill ouy the center. Ha Ha . Iguess I hardened the plug with the torches. Not one drill bit in out shop would scratch it. Just as I was doing this our Snap-On tool man walked in the door. Great ill get a new bit from him. He sold me his best bit on the truck (He said better than kobolt / Spelling?!) I did not even scratch it!!!!! Well I went over my lunch hour that day!!
More soaking in JB-80 overnight (Can you tell I like JB-80 :rotf: ) Next morning I had a brain storm. My Dremel has some small stone attachments I never use! I clamped barrel in my small vise and sarted grinding (I cut thrue the hardning :applause: ) Tryed my new super bit and it went thru I now have a 3/8 hole in the breach plug!! I can see true my barrel. Late for work but a happy guy :grin:
Another lunch hour , Clamped in vise. Took torches and now I have a 3/8 hole i got the torch tip inside Plug heated it completly orange hot then took JB-80 and sprayed the manure out of it wile hot ,inside and out.Took out of vise ,still hot (Talk about a smoke pole) and hot JB-80 really smells bad ,My coworkers were not pleased! I sat it breach down In a cup of ,What else JB-80.
Let it sit for a few min. then put back in the vise . Easy out again and with a little effort :grin: it came loose and unscewed. I am still waiting as of this time for my new Flint breach plug ,should be in monday. I hope I havent bored you good folks to death.
But this goes to show that we can do anything we decide to do as long as you stay with it and never give up!