Cleaning elevation knob on M1

[Fellblade]

Hey guys,

I've been cleaning up my "new" M1 I got from CMP, but I'm having some trouble with the elevation knob and was hoping someone has some advice.

When I first got the rifle the rear sight was a mess. It had a nice helping of cosmoline in it, but worse than that, it was full of sand as well. Not just fine grit, but pieces the size of the head of a pin. The only thing I can figure is someone was taking apart the rear sight in the field at some point, dropped it in the dirt, then slapped it back together.
The knobs were very gritty at first, so much so they wouldn't turn. I pulled the entire sight apart and cleaned it up, but the elevation knob assembly still was crunching. With the help of plenty of Hoppe's, cleaning patches, and a thin jeweler's screwdriver I was able to work out quite a lot of debris, but I can tell there is still crud left inside. Is there any easy way to disassemble this part to clean it properly?

[0321jarhead]

It is easy to disassemble the sight.

Assuming you have the late sight, the tension nut within the windage knob just needs to be unscrewed as far as it will go. It won't come all the way out. That nut holds the elevation knob shaft. If you have the cross bar sight, unscrew the cross bar (watch for a spring under the cross bar). Push the elevation knob shaft from right to left. Unscrew the windage knob. Use your thumb to push up on the rear sight aperature. This will pop off the rear sight cover. Clean as needed. Oil when done. You don't need grease here, this is not a heavy wear area.

Reassemble.

http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/striphtml/detailstripsightone.html

[Garandimal]

How To Detail Strip An M1 Garand

(P.S. missed your link, jarhead)




GR

[0321jarhead]

You may have missed my link but, at least we're on target to help him as well as others here. It's all good.

[Fellblade]

I appreciate the replies. I think I might not have been clear. I've taken down the whole sight, but its the actual elevation knob itself that's giving me problems.

http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/nomenclaturehtml/nomenclatureelevationknob.html

The author says, "Special Notes: I do not further disassemble this part."

The issue I'm having is the grit and grime is actually inside the drum.

[0321jarhead]

That would require some tools you have in your garage hanging around. Yah right. I would suggest a plastic container (tuperware), fill with kerosene and let soak over night. Next day with an old or new tooth brush scrub. Rinse. Let dry. A VERY light coat of "Tri-Flow". Kind of like WD-40 but, way better, on the pinion. See how it goes from there. Here is a sample of what it would really require.

[Fellblade]

Thanks Jarhead. I had no idea it was so involved! I think your soaking idea might be the best. I think I got the largest part of the debris out of the knob, but since I can still hear and feel some grit inside I'd like to do a better job to reduce any unnecessary wear.
I can't imagine how so much crud got inside of it, the little slot holes in those springs(?) (bottom left picture) are just so small.

[kendog4570]

Loosen or take out the elevation drum tension screw and dunk the assembly in kerosene or mineral spirits, and while in the juice work the elevation drum back and forth to work any crud out. When I refinish these I blast them in 320 alox and the grit works its way in there. Comes out easy enough. If it wont free-up and is still really gritty you may need to replace the elevation pinion assembly.

It's not a bad idea to put a very light coat of grease on the wind and elevation journals, as well as the wind and elevation detents. Also a little on the pinion gear and where the base tracks on the receiver. The operative word here is light! Spread it around with an acid brush and try to wipe most of it off. Any more than that just attracts dirt.