Author Topic: "Sticky" Marlin lever  (Read 794 times)

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Offline Snowman366

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"Sticky" Marlin lever
« on: May 29, 2009, 01:35:42 PM »
I have a question about one of my Marlin M336 leverguns.

After shooting it, a buddy commented that the lever is "sticky" when opening. Frankly, I never noticed it, but then I have large hands and it's just a matter of opening my fist after firing the shot, and the lever pops open for the ejection/reloading sweep. He mentioned that once a lever gets "sticky", it only gets worse.

This is hard to describe here, but...how firmly should the lever on a Marlin lock closed, and resist opening after you've fired the weapon? I know the cowboy-action shooters like 'em to practically fall open but, come to think of it, I've yet to see a cowboy-action shooter use a 336 Marlin, so maybe that's immaterial. Anyway...I wanted to ask.

It's still under its 5-year factory warranty, so I could sent it in for a check-up, if need be. The cross-bolt safety froze up not long after I got it, and my gunsmith removed it and replaced it with one of the after-market "blanks" to correct that problem. But that's the only grief I've ever had with it. Are "sticky" levers a common problem?

Offline mannyrock

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Re: "Sticky" Marlin lever
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2009, 03:25:03 PM »

  Have you tried removing the lever, and bolt, and very very thoroughly cleaning the chamber and bolt, and also scrubbing the front tab section of the lever (that engages the slot in the bolt) to remove all dirt, grime and build up at that contact point?  This may solve the problem.

Best Regards,

Mannyrock

Offline Snowman366

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Re: "Sticky" Marlin lever
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2009, 02:18:50 PM »
Yessir. Pulled the mechanism apart and cleaned it, then re-lubed it. Still sticky.

I contacted the folks at Marlin Firearms. They're sending a kit consisting of a new spring, pin and plunger that control the amount of "oomph" needed to open the mechanism.