How to: Extractor Removal and Install

[bootsmcguire]

To Remove and Install the Extractor and its spring and ball detent has been asked around here several times as of late, so I once again grabbed up my camera and figured I would see if I could help out.


Here we see the bolt head fully assembled and ready to use. Note: this is a 1970's era 30-06 bolt head, and yes the machining of the face is a "bit" rough. But I have used this head and the roughness seems to have no effect on the brass.


To remove the extractor, place your index finger on the outside of the bolthead (at the orange arrow) and apply pressure with your thumb pushing from the green arrow towards the orange arrow. Going very slowly you feel a light click as the extractor pops over the detent ball underneath.



Keeping a light pressure with your index finger (as shown) and your thumb still over the inside edge of the extractor and covering the ball detent, you can slide the extractor out (away from the orange arrow) and slowly lift your thumb off the bolt head easing off the pressure of the spring that is under the ball.



Now with the extractor and ball removed you can see the spring inside the bolt head as indicated by the orange arrow. Use a small dental pick, knife point, or other pointed object and simply pull out the spring.



Here we see the spring removed as indicated by the orange arrow once again. It is a good idea to clean any debris from this blind hole using an aerosol gun/parts cleaner. Use proper eye protection and have adequate ventilation as cleaners often tend to release fumes.



Now to install everything back into the bolt head, first replace the spring back into the blind hole. Second, just barely start the extractor back into its grooves, be sure that the beveled edge is facing inward towards the center of the bolt face. Third, place the detent ball on top of the spring as shown.



Now using a screwdriver tip, push the ball down into the blind hole (shown by purple arrow) and at the same time push inward on the extractor as shown by the orange arrow. You will feel the ball begin to slide under the extractor and your screwdriver tip will be pushed out of the way by the extractor. Note: be careful as not to let the screwdriver tip slip off of the ball until the extractor is over at least part of the ball. If it slips early, the ball will go flying into the unknown depths of your work area. Some people prefer to do this step inside of a clear plastic bag to aide in catching the ball should it take flight.



And here we see it all re-assembled once again.


And that is Removal and Installation of the Extractor for the Savage Models 10 thru 116, the Centerfire Striker Pistols, and the Edge/Axis Rifles. This is all the same process for all the Push Feed bolt heads, 223 (.373") all the way to the Lapua (.588") and everything in between.


On a side note, I was upgrading this particular bolt head with a SSS Improved Ejector/Extractor Kit. The Ball detent that was installed was the larger .140" diameter which helps stiffen up the extractor movements to give more reliable operation. Below is pictured the Savage factory Ball on the left and the SSS improved Ball on the right.