Bentley8

I'll take you up on that DVD offer after Christmas! I managed to get the mainspring buffer out tonight. The Kroil did the trick. I also found out that the threads of the recoil tube were gooped up with what I presume is old oil. I used a dental pick the chase the threads and clean them out well. I reoiled, put in the new recoil spring, and applied a tiny dab of copper anti-sieze on the threads so that when my great-grandson needs to replace the spring he won't have the problems I did. :-) The buffer went back in without a problem, nice and smooth. Oh, and I did check and the mainspring buffer does have movement of the plunger. Thank you very much for your assistance. Tomorrow it's off to the range!

Thanks for the reply, I'm relieved to hear that this part can stick and be hard to remove. The tube does rotate slightly when I try and turn it; back and forth it moves about 1/8" or so. Sounds like my recoil key may be missing. Is it a bad idea to try and turn it without the key? And where do I find one? I apologize for not knowing the correct terminology. I can't find an exploded diagram of the rifle that details the proper names of the smaller parts. What I'm calling the 'nut' is the part underneath the buttplate that has a large slot in it, with a hole in the center. I've been using FAL rifles for years and the recoil tube has a similar part on it that is commonly called a 'nut', thought it's more like a screw. I imagine the part on the Johnson is the same. I'll add some more Kroil from the other end of the tube and let it sit overnight. I'll fashion a wide-bit screwdriver tonight.

Hello, I was given a model 1941 Johnson from my father a few years ago, not sporterized, still in military configuration. I have kept it clean since I got it but haven't shot it. Shortly after I got it, I did remove and inspect the recoil spring and found it was about 11 inches or so, shorter than the 12" it needs to be (from what I've heard). I bought a couple of new springs from a fine gentleman in Texas (whose name escapes me for the moment). I decided this weekend to replace the spring and take it to the range. But I couldn't get the recoil spring tube nut off. When I try and twist it, it just moves the tube around in the stock, but just a little, say 1/8" or so. I've used considerable force on it and it won't budge. I can't think I cross-threaded it when I put it back on, but my memory is hazy. Even then, I can't see it being this difficult to move since I'm certain I didn't use that much force getting it on. I tried using a punch and hammer, angled at the edge of the slot, to put some english on it, but it wouldn't turn. I even tried an impact wrench (not a pneumatic one, just the hammer-driven ones). No go. I squirted some Kroil in the hole in the nut, hoping some would work it's way into the threads, but I can't remember if the nut threads on the outside of the tube, or threads on the inside (where the Kroil could easily get to it). Has anyone else had this problem? Anybody offer a solution? It's not a left-hand thread is it? Have I been turning it the wrong way?