Even a Caveman Can Do It

[jimmymac]

Finally took the plunge and tore into a Jewell trigger out of a new to me LV rifle. This is my first go at this, but I had some good help along the way. Thanks Al.

Before and after. Took some serious effort. There was corrosion under all that gunk

 

[Kracken McGraw]

That should give you some peace of mind.

 

[Mulligan]

Awesome,
I know some folks frown on a thin coat of oil as a protectant on those wonderful Jewel triggers, but, mine function better with it.

CW

 

[rwj]

I’ve found that an annual flush with lighter fluid works well. It leaves a very light film that protects and lubricates.

 

[jimmymac]

Awesome,
I know some folks frown on a thin coat of oil as a protectant on those wonderful Jewel triggers, but, mine function better with it.

CW

Thanks. As a test, I flushed it out with lighter fluid, them soaked it in the same for several hours before I started into it. That stuff did not touch the gunk. Not even close. Brake Cleaner didn’t do much either. It took a razor blade and solvent to remove the gunk then sandpaper work after the fact on all affected parts.

That should give you some peace of mind.

Those were my thoughts as well. I suspect there are a lot of triggers out there that look similar to this one and guys think all is well because it still goes bang. You don’t know what you have until you open it up.

I did another one yesterday that I regularly flushed. I am very cautious with rifle cleaning and use a quality good bore guide so I did not expect to find anything. I would have been wrong. It was nowhere near the mess that this one was, but there was still some gunk in there too. No corrosion. Still an eye opener for me.

Good to know what I have in my rifles. A little ashamed of myself for not having the stones to tear into one of these before.

 

[Mulligan]

I’ve found that an annual flush with lighter fluid works well. It leaves a very light film that protects and lubricates.

So, curious, do you use cig. lighter fluid or charcoal lighter fluid.

I read that Mr. Jewel recommended charcoal lighter fluid.
Just trying to learn

CW

 

[rwj]

Thanks. As a test, I flushed it out with lighter fluid, them soaked it in the same for several hours before I started into it. That stuff did not touch the gunk. Not even close. Brake Cleaner didn’t do much either. It took a razor blade and solvent to remove the gunk then sandpaper work after the fact on all affected parts.

That trigger was too dirty for a flush to remedy! But flushing should prevent that buildup from forming again when used on a regular basis.

 

[rwj]

So, curious, do you use cig. lighter fluid or charcoal lighter fluid.

I read that Mr. Jewel recommended charcoal lighter fluid.
Just trying to learn

CW

I use lighter fluid (Ronsonol). But charcoal fluid should work as well. I’ve not compared their MSDS, but believe they are both formulated using light petroleum distillates.

 

[jimmymac]

That trigger was too dirty for a flush to remedy! But flushing should prevent that buildup from forming again when used on a regular basis.

No doubt. Having no idea of the condition is what prompted the tear down.

My second trigger also had deposits even though I flushed it annually. No corrosion.

I discovered that even when using the best bore guides and a cautious cleaning approach, stuff still ends up down in that trigger if the gun is getting used and cleaned a lot. It is inevitable. This was a good exercise.

 

[AlNyhus]

Well done, Jim! -Al

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Okay after this cleaning, what’s the best treatment for corrosion that you put back on the clean parts?