M77 Ejector Replacement

[Caprock1964]

A friends M77 (tang safety model) had his ejector spring rust out...surprising since the rest of the rifle is immaculate.

Ordered new spring and of course a 5 min job requires 4 hands and 4 hrs to do. That spring portrudes a good 1/8 in or so and is like a bear trap. Plus the ejector itself has a rounded end. Crux of the matter is that is down right difficult to get it centered and compressed enough to drive the retaining pin through.

Gotta be a simple trick to this but I've haven't stumbled onto it.

Help if you can!!

 

[DeletedMember275]

You can try clamping the bolt body in a padded vise and having a friend/spouse/child compress the ejector with an empty cartridge case. Align the pin recess (in the ejector) with a pin punch, then tap the pin in place.

Alternately, I'm sure Brownells will sell you a fixture to compress the ejector while you tap the pin in place.

 

[Caprock1964]

Well that gave me an idea. Drill an 1/8 deep hole into the rim of a case the same diam as the ejector. That way it won't slip off as I try pushing it in.

Thanks