UGGGGGGGH What did I do

[Cheapo]

God dangit. In a rush to get to the range so I did a quick field strip and cleaning. Put it back together and noticed the bolt would not go forward. Then I noticed the striker sitting on the table next to me.  So now the bolt is about 3/4 inches from closing and I cant get the top cover off. Any ideas?

[Cheapo]

Ok crisis adverted I think. Man did that take a lot of sweat, swearing and some blood. Had to force the bolt forward enough to get the cover off. The spring ended up doing a loop around the bolt and got bent 180 degrees when I pulled it out. Put it on a cleaning rod and pressed it down to get it back to its normalish shape. Hopefully the rifle will still function.

EDIT: Nope not out of the woods yet. So I got the striker spring bent back  as best as I could. Problem number 2. Top cover will not fit low enough now to make the retaining pin. If I take the entire bolt assembly out and just put the cover on, it fits fine. I even tried taking out the striker spring and it still wouldnt sit low enough for me to get cover on. Any last minute ideas so I can make it to the range?


disregard the hammer in the background, the VZ doesnt take to intimidation so well.

[RSR]

You have to push the top cover forward with your thumb and it'll push back itself to seat.  Can't just push down.

[Cheapo]

Yea I think thats what I did. But after looking at it again, it apears I have bent the entire top cover length wise. Notice in the picture how the front of the cover is even with the receiver, but the back bends up? Really the pin and holes on the cover lined up fine, they were just a few mm to high. With a little force on the top of the cover the pin slid in. And now the bad news.

The gun is pretty much non functional now. It wont cycle what so ever, getting stuck half way and requiring a decent amount of force to get it to close. I think Im going to need a new striker spring and top cover at the very least. Ugh so much for a stress free day at the range, now just a stressfull day with a broken new gun 

[TJNewton]

You will have to get a new striker spring.  Same happened to me. 

You may have to get a new receiver cover.  It's pretty pliable metal, and there's a good chance that you can hammer it back to fit and be functional, but it will be, at the least, unsightly.

Check your striker guide if you salvage the cover.  The guide does have some pivoting movement at the base, but it must be straight.

This is the best place I've found to get the whole deal.  Shipping is reasonable, but maybe get some other spare parts while you're there to offset the cost.  He has a lot of good stuff.

http://www.bonesteelarms.com/VZ-58-Receiver-cover-assembly-complete-used-BSA-vz58rcU.htm

It's a bitch.  I remember that sinking feeling. 

[Cheapo]

You will have to get a new striker spring.  Same happened to me. 

You may have to get a new receiver cover.  It's pretty pliable metal, and there's a good chance that you can hammer it back to fit and be functional, but it will be, at the least, unsightly.

Check your striker guide if you salvage the cover.  The guide does have some pivoting movement at the base, but it must be straight.

This is the best place I've found to get the whole deal.  Shipping is reasonable, but maybe get some other spare parts while you're there to offset the cost.  He has a lot of good stuff.

http://www.bonesteelarms.com/VZ-58-Receiver-cover-assembly-complete-used-BSA-vz58rcU.htm

It's a bitch. I remember that sinking feeling.

Got that right. But I ended up buying the complete receiver cover from a guy on Ebay in Czechoslovakia new for a few dollars cheaper shipped. Sucks Im 50 bucks more broke and I get to wait over 2 more weeks to shoot this thing  Man rough friday, time to go pick up some beer.

[Sheepdog]

You will have to get a new striker spring.  Same happened to me. 

You may have to get a new receiver cover.  It's pretty pliable metal, and there's a good chance that you can hammer it back to fit and be functional, but it will be, at the least, unsightly.

Check your striker guide if you salvage the cover.  The guide does have some pivoting movement at the base, but it must be straight.

This is the best place I've found to get the whole deal.  Shipping is reasonable, but maybe get some other spare parts while you're there to offset the cost.  He has a lot of good stuff.

http://www.bonesteelarms.com/VZ-58-Receiver-cover-assembly-complete-used-BSA-vz58rcU.htm

It's a bitch. I remember that sinking feeling.

Got that right. But I ended up buying the complete receiver cover from a guy on Ebay in Czechoslovakia new for a few dollars cheaper shipped. Sucks Im 50 bucks more broke and I get to wait over 2 more weeks to shoot this thing  Man rough friday, time to go pick up some beer.

I think we've all been there a time or two.

You must have used the super rare ebay time machine to buy something from a fella in Czechoslovakia. 

[RSR]

Try taking your striker spring off and putting in it on the other direction.  It should move the bending portion onto the post to get you by until your new topcover comes.  If you can get the topcover seated and forcefully work the bolt carrier, it should straighten everything out...

Might also want to try the bolt carrier top cover straightening without your springs in -- but beware, putting that recoil spring back on is challenging...

[Cheapo]

You will have to get a new striker spring.  Same happened to me. 

You may have to get a new receiver cover.  It's pretty pliable metal, and there's a good chance that you can hammer it back to fit and be functional, but it will be, at the least, unsightly.

Check your striker guide if you salvage the cover.  The guide does have some pivoting movement at the base, but it must be straight.

This is the best place I've found to get the whole deal.  Shipping is reasonable, but maybe get some other spare parts while you're there to offset the cost.  He has a lot of good stuff.

http://www.bonesteelarms.com/VZ-58-Receiver-cover-assembly-complete-used-BSA-vz58rcU.htm

It's a bitch. I remember that sinking feeling.

Got that right. But I ended up buying the complete receiver cover from a guy on Ebay in Czechoslovakia new for a few dollars cheaper shipped. Sucks Im 50 bucks more broke and I get to wait over 2 more weeks to shoot this thing  Man rough friday, time to go pick up some beer.

I think we've all been there a time or two.

You must have used the super rare ebay time machine to buy something from a fella in Czechoslovakia. 

Doh. Would you like to use my time machine after I'm done with it? 

Might also want to try the bolt carrier top cover straightening without your springs in -- but beware, putting that recoil spring back on is challenging...

I did try turning the striker spring around. It seemed to help a bit. Once I got the cover on, I kept the bolt locked back and after a few hours it seemed to get marginally better. Still requires quite a bit of pressure to close the bolt, so I cant believe it will cycle with live ammo.

Yea I was looking at that recoil spring for a while wondering how the hell it comes off lol. I dont even want to attempt to take it off, heck I cant even properly field strip the thing apparently   
Try taking your striker spring off and putting in it on the other direction.  It should move the bending portion onto the post to get you by until your new topcover comes.  If you can get the topcover seated and forcefully work the bolt carrier, it should straighten everything out...

[yellowdatsun]

All is not lost, since you (and the rest of us) have learned something in this process.

[TJNewton]

Another hazard with reassembling the rifle is forgetting to include the locking piece into the bolt.  The rifle will go together without it, but if fired could be a nasty kaboom.  It'll ruin not just your day, but probably your month, maybe your year, and even...

[cmunro]

I did the same thing forgot the firing pin when reassembling managed to get the cover off what a bitch!! Bent and stretched out the striker spring ordered a new one and it runs like a champ. Live and Learn.

[RSR]

Another hazard with reassembling the rifle is forgetting to include the locking piece into the bolt.  The rifle will go together without it, but if fired could be a nasty kaboom.  It'll ruin not just your day, but probably your month, maybe your year, and even...

To get the bolt in the rifle as easy as possible, I always tip it forward to move the locking piece to the unlocked position.  Without the locking piece, the bolt would fall out.  A good easy install and safety check tip. 

[TJNewton]

Good tip.  Thanks.