7 replies to this topic

[TantumBull]

This is a write-up for reinforcing the bolt sled of a longshot, which is prone to breakage if springs are added. Most of the stress is put on the "L" joint where the horizontal parts meet the vertical segments. That's what gets reinforced in this write-up.

First take some coat hanger wire and bend it at a 90 degree angle or as close to that as you can get it. Make sure the wire gauge is thin enough so that when adhered to the vertical segment of the bolt sled, it doesn't protrude out of those brackets. You'll see what I mean it a little bit. My wire was a bit too thick, and that will be addressed later.


Now cut it so its the same size as in the following picture.


Drill a hole in the bolt sled as shown to allow the wire to pass through.


This is how the wire will be epoxied in.


Do the following step if your wire, like mine, protrudes from the vertical nubs that house it. If it was left protruding then your bolt sled won't slide properly across the LS shell. Basically just shave down the plastic where the wire will be resting. I just used the same bit on my dremel that I used initially to drill the hole, and just slid the tip across the plastic.


Now just epoxy it in.


Now do the other side. Sand down any overhanging epoxy. I will do that once the epoxy dries.

New Step:
After looking at some broken bolt sleds, I decided mine needed further reinforcements.

I just, as before, sanded down a slot for the wire and glued it in. The slot was necessary so the clips could still go into the sled. I noticed my previous reinforcements didn't protect a break I saw in an LS in a different thread.

Now be sure to read this bit:
I have not tested this out in my LS yet, as it is still drying. After carefully inspecting the shell and how the sled slides across it, I found that doing it this way wouldn't hinder the motion. However, it has not yet been tested, and if you'd like to be safe, wait until I update the write up with a conclusion. The whole part where I shaved down the sled because of the wire thickness was to prevent this kind of failure.

It works!

So, what do y'all think?

Edited by TantumBull, 06 April 2009 - 05:17 PM.

[diamondbacknf1626]

Excellent work! I just had a bolt sled break at the "L" point on me yesterday. I replaced it with another and just re-enforced the hell out of it along the inside of the whole thing using epoxy puddy. I'll definitely do this as well. I'll take your word that it works, because I really needed this writeup. Thank you, again.

Edited by diamondbacknf1626, 04 April 2009 - 04:25 PM.

[Mehku]

Very good idea. Unfortunately, I am already doing this, so I can't do that. I am currently in the process of trying fiberglass as a reinforcement on the inside sides of the sled, though. That stuff is a bitch to work with. When I make a longshot carbine, I might try to do this.

[TantumBull]

Excellent work! I just had a bolt sled break at the "L" point on me yesterday. I replaced it with another and just re-enforced the hell out of it along the inside of the whole thing using epoxy puddy. I'll definitely do this as well. I'll take your word that it works, because I really needed this writeup. Thank you, again.

Thanks, tell me how it goes. I was actually originally considering going on the inside of the sled. Then I realized that the wire would rub against the clip. The funny part is, halfway through the mod I discovered that my wire was too thick, and thus did that part where I shaved down the bolt sled. I may use that same method to put a wire on the inside and prevent the rubbing.

Very good idea. Unfortunately, I am already doing this, so I can't do that. I am currently in the process of trying fiberglass as a reinforcement on the inside sides of the sled, though. That stuff is a bitch to work with. When I make a longshot carbine, I might try to do this.

Thank you. About the fiberglass, make sure that you don't put too many layers on or else it will rub against the clip. I suppose you could just sand it off if you put on too much.

[diamondbacknf1626]

Excellent work! I just had a bolt sled break at the "L" point on me yesterday. I replaced it with another and just re-enforced the hell out of it along the inside of the whole thing using epoxy puddy. I'll definitely do this as well. I'll take your word that it works, because I really needed this writeup. Thank you, again.

Thanks, tell me how it goes. I was actually originally considering going on the inside of the sled. Then I realized that the wire would rub against the clip. The funny part is, halfway through the mod I discovered that my wire was too thick, and thus did that part where I shaved down the bolt sled. I may use that same method to put a wire on the inside and prevent the rubbing.

See, mine is singled, so I can re-enforce it like crazy with epoxy puddy on the inside without worrying about it rubbing against a clip. So now I'll do both, and it should be a tank.

[Russ T Bullet]

Hmm...I love the idea, but why did you cut the horizontal piece of the coat hanger so short? I would have cut it longer for more support. Of course, this would mean more dremeling to get the extra to fit, but that doesn't matter does it?

Anyway, I'm very interested to see if this works. I'll most likely do this to my longshot.

[TantumBull]

Hmm...I love the idea, but why did you cut the horizontal piece of the coat hanger so short? I would have cut it longer for more support. Of course, this would mean more dremeling to get the extra to fit, but that doesn't matter does it?

Anyway, I'm very interested to see if this works. I'll most likely do this to my longshot.

Excellent point, I forgot to explain that earlier. Its because if you go to where the slider becomes shorter, it will interfere with the sliding of the sled. When you move the bolt back the shorter slider starts moving across a track that comes closer to the actual sled, where as the other track for the bigger slider leaves a bit of room between itself and the sled. It would probably make more sense if you looked at the tracks after reading this. Just inspect them when you next take apart your LS.

I just sanded it down and put it in my LS. Now I just have to close up the shell and test it out. That'll be done later today, after I get some new jeans (all mine now have holes) and I finish this fucking latin translation.

Edited by TantumBull, 05 April 2009 - 11:51 AM.

[TantumBull]

Bump! This thing works and can now take a beating. I also added a new step to the write up, and for your convenience, I'll also include it in this post.

New Step:
After looking at some broken bolt sleds, I decided mine needed further reinforcements.

I just, as before, sanded down a slot for the wire and glued it in. The slot was necessary so the clips could still go into the sled. I noticed my previous reinforcements didn't protect a break I saw in an LS in a different thread.

Any questions, comments, etc?