Tips for replacing barrel roll pin?

[baldrage]

After many thousands of rounds, the barrel roll pin in my Kadet shattered.  I have a replacement pin from CZ-USA in hand, but replacement was not as straightforward as I had anticipated.  The pin is oversized compared to the hole and does not appear tapered on either side.  I tried inserting with fingers, tapping on it with a punch, and directly tapping on the pin with a small rubber hammer, but pin would not insert into the hole.  I put in the pin the freezer overnight and will play with when I get home work today.

From searching the forum, I understand the pins are designed to be slightly oversize and partially collapse when press into the hole, but how do I get it started into the hole?  Squeeze one side with pliers?  Does it matter which way I install? Start on right side and insert to left, or vice-versa?

[painter]

I don't believe it matters which direction you insert the pin, but most people install from right to left. Most roll pins have a very slight radius on the ends.

You need to use a steel hammer to start the pin, and a roll pin punch to finish the job.

[Mark-combat]

left in right out

[baldrage]

Thanks for the responses!

Putting the pin in the freezer overnight seemed to do the trick.  I was able to get it started with a couple of hard taps from a regular hammer, then finish with smaller hammer and punch.  For the record, on my kadet, the pin went in from the left side.