Got Into More Than I Meant To

[Mike J]

So not to long ago my sister-in-law was having coyote problems. They were showing up on her place looking for food scraps in her backyard. There was one incident where they attempted to get to her ankle biting dogs. After her having many encounters with them (they would show up on random days at 3:00-4:00 a.m.) she asked me about getting a scope with an illuminated reticle. I happened to have one on an old Glenfield Model 25 so I loaned it to her. Her coyote problem was solved shortly thereafter.
I told her when I got the chance I would put the scope on the Marlin model 60 my father-in-law gave her & zero it for her. It is an inexpensive scope I didn't really like anyway & I had a Burris Fullfield ii laying around. So yesterday I went over to swap the scopes around & zero the rifles. I had the Marlin almost zeroed when the spring loaded tube that goes in the tubular magazine got stuck & I couldn't get it out.
Today I field stripped the Marlin. Sprayed the end of the tube with WD-40 & after covering the end of the spring loaded tube with cloth wiggled it with a pair of pliers until I managed to get it loose. I finally got the rifle cleaned & back together. I ran patches through both the magazine tube & the barrel. The spring loaded tube was coated with what looked like varnish & the tubular magazine was loaded with gunpowder residue. I also cleaned the the action. After reassembly I did a function test & everything works as it should. I may have encountered a dirtier gun but if so I don't remember it. I have always liked the model 60's & own a couple. I was a bit impressed as gunked up as it was it was still feeding & firing like a champ.

 

[bigbillyboy]

A good old JM .

 

[eveled]

That varnish was probably old WD40. Glad you got the old rifle back in shape. Hope your sisters coyote problems go away.

 

[RansV-Rex]

Model 60 is my favorite auto loading .22!

 

[Mike J]

That varnish was probably old WD40. Glad you got the old rifle back in shape. Hope your sisters coyote problems go away.

She hasn't had a problem since the last 2 she killed but I expect sooner or later more will move in. They were eating scraps of watermelon & oranges she had thrown out for her goat. She has about 4 or 5 dogs a couple or 3 cats & the goat so them being around is a definite concern.
I was concerned about being careful with penetrating oil on that rifle because of the the plastic buffer in the action. I started to grab PB Blaster because I prefer it but I had the spray tube for the WD & not the other (it was made onto the nozzle).
After I got it loose I vigorously cleaned the outside of the tube then put a thin coat of oil on it then wiped back over it with a dry patch so as to only leave a light residue. It moves freely now.

 

[eveled]

Good.

Something changed in WD40. What you did is fine. The old stuff turned to shellac.

Edit: to add that they claim the formula has never changed, but they also said the mineral oil is more refined now. It doesn’t seem to turn to shellac like it used to. Maybe I’m delusional.

 

[contender]

My first semi-auto rifle was a Marlin-Glenfield Model 60. Excellent guns. And yes,, even very dirty,, they would work hard.

 

[blume357]

I remember being told by someone, either my father or grandfather, who were both machinist all their life that WD-40 was a solvent not a lubricant....

 

[Mike J]

I remember being told by someone, either my father or grandfather, who were both machinist all their life that WD-40 was a solvent not a lubricant....

I think it is kerosene & silicone among other things. Not my favorite thing to break bolts loose with by a long shot. I prefer PB Blaster when working on cars.
It just really blew my mind how dirty it was. These are good rifles but they are a bit of a pain to strip & clean. I think most people run them until they malfunction before doing any cleaning past running a patch through the barrel. The rifle I cleaned up was made in 72. Looking at the screws I believe someone had been into it once before but that was probably 30 years ago. It was my wife's grandfather's, then her dad's, now my sister-in-law has it.

 

[peachhead]

I am glad you got it working.
Please reconsider ever using wd40 on a firearm ever again.
There are plenty of solvents and lubricants out there that are 100% more well suited for guns. WD40 is not one of them.

 

[eveled]

WD40 Its the only oil I get free from work, (in an unlimted quantity) and I haven’t found anything its really good for. Lol.

In a pinch it does everything ok.

I’m glad you got the old rifle In good shape for her. It’s a testament to a good gun if it can run reliably that long to get that dirty.

 

[Mike J]

I am glad you got it working.
Please reconsider ever using wd40 on a firearm ever again.
There are plenty of solvents and lubricants out there that are 100% more well suited for guns. WD40 is not one of them.

I just used it to get the inner tube loose. After I got it out I took it outside & sprayed it down with non-chlorinated brake cleaner being careful to stay away from the plastic plunger. Then I wiped the outside of the tube with patches soaked in Hoppe's number 9 until they didn't pick up anymore filth, followed by a wiping with dry patches until dry. Then I wiped it with any oily patch followed by a dry patch. It is cleansed & lightly lubricated. I ran patches through the magazine tube attached to the rifle until they came out clean followed by a dry patch. Then cleaned the action, barrel, etc.

 

[The Blackhawk Kid]

So not to long ago my sister-in-law was having coyote problems. They were showing up on her place looking for food scraps in her backyard. There was one incident where they attempted to get to her ankle biting dogs. After her having many encounters with them (they would show up on random days at 3:00-4:00 a.m.) she asked me about getting a scope with an illuminated reticle. I happened to have one on an old Glenfield Model 25 so I loaned it to her. Her coyote problem was solved shortly thereafter.
I told her when I got the chance I would put the scope on the Marlin model 60 my father-in-law gave her & zero it for her. It is an inexpensive scope I didn't really like anyway & I had a Burris Fullfield ii laying around. So yesterday I went over to swap the scopes around & zero the rifles. I had the Marlin almost zeroed when the spring loaded tube that goes in the tubular magazine got stuck & I couldn't get it out.
Today I field stripped the Marlin. Sprayed the end of the tube with WD-40 & after covering the end of the spring loaded tube with cloth wiggled it with a pair of pliers until I managed to get it loose. I finally got the rifle cleaned & back together. I ran patches through both the magazine tube & the barrel. The spring loaded tube was coated with what looked like varnish & the tubular magazine was loaded with gunpowder residue. I also cleaned the the action. After reassembly I did a function test & everything works as it should. I may have encountered a dirtier gun but if so I don't remember it. I have always liked the model 60's & own a couple. I was a bit impressed as gunked up as it was it was still feeding & firing like a champ.

the varnish gunk is from WD-40! it ain’ta lubricant! Use Ballistol or break free! fwiw

 

[contender]

WE-40 got it's name from when the manufacturers were looking for a water displacement solution,, and it was the 40th combination that worked. Water Displacement batch # 40.

That said,, it's an excellent for removing glue off stuff. it can be used to displace water off stuff,, BUT must be followed with a cleaner to remove it, and a proper lubricant if necessary.
Like many products, it has it's uses,, but as a lubricant, ONLY for immediate use.

On the Model 60. Internally, I never found them to be too hard to clean. Remove the mag tub follower first. Then remove the barreled action from the stock, unscrew the entire action assy from the receiver, and NEVER try to disassemble it until you are well versed in how they work.
I always used an air gun to blow out the action assy. I'd do it a few times while using Ballistol to assist in loosening or removing gunk embedded in it.

I had a friend, (RIP John Mitchell) who used to scrounge all the model 60's of all variations he could cheaply. He'd tear them down, fix any broken ones, and refurbish them. He'd then carry them to gun shows to sell, & buy others.

 

[Mike J]

the varnish gunk is from WD-40! it ain’ta lubricant! Use Ballistol or break free! fwiw

Y'all do realize I am not the person that created the varnish situation. When it first got stuck I sprayed the stuck part with Breakfree CLP to try to get it loose. I had a can in my range bag. It wouldn't budge.

 

[Bigbore5]

Kroil will break free stuck on varnish. It's amazing stuff. I've got cans at all our machining stations and it's on every techs work table.

I use it on any rusty or stuck part at home as well. It's even great for treating and storing my bullet molds. A Kroil treated mold drops easier than before it was treated.

 

[bigbillyboy]

After reading through all the posts it seems WD 40 is overrated somewhat . My choice for at least the last 20 years has been CLP before that I used Rem oil .

 

[Mike J]

Kroil will break free stuck on varnish. It's amazing stuff. I've got cans at all our machining stations and it's on every techs work table.

I use it on any rusty or stuck part at home as well. It's even great for treating and storing my bullet molds. A Kroil treated mold drops easier than before it was treated.

I see a lot of posts about Kroil on the forum boards but I've never used it. If I were to run across it for sale I would most likely give it a try. I don't think I've ever seen it at a parts house, hardware or home improvement store around here.

 

[Mike J]

WE-40 got it's name from when the manufacturers were looking for a water displacement solution,, and it was the 40th combination that worked. Water Displacement batch # 40.

That said,, it's an excellent for removing glue off stuff. it can be used to displace water off stuff,, BUT must be followed with a cleaner to remove it, and a proper lubricant if necessary.
Like many products, it has it's uses,, but as a lubricant, ONLY for immediate use.

On the Model 60. Internally, I never found them to be too hard to clean. Remove the mag tub follower first. Then remove the barreled action from the stock, unscrew the entire action assy from the receiver, and NEVER try to disassemble it until you are well versed in how they work.
I always used an air gun to blow out the action assy. I'd do it a few times while using Ballistol to assist in loosening or removing gunk embedded in it.

I had a friend, (RIP John Mitchell) who used to scrounge all the model 60's of all variations he could cheaply. He'd tear them down, fix any broken ones, and refurbish them. He'd then carry them to gun shows to sell, & buy others.

If I ever run across an old abused sample of a model 60 for sale for the right price I wouldn't be above picking it up as a parts gun. Marlin has been sold twice. Once to Remington. Now Ruger owns the rights to produce their firearm designs. I doubt Ruger will ever bring it back as they have the 10/22. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have some spare parts available.
I need to pick up a 10/22 sometime just to compare the two. I don't think I would regret it.

 

[57springer]

I have a marlin 60 and a couple 10/22s and in all honesty , I like them both . I would struggle to say one is better than the other .