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Ithaca model 37 doesn't load right

8K views 6 replies 6 participants last post by  TW2 
#1 ·
Ithaca model 37 doesn

I have an older Ithaca model 37 that darn near refuses to release a new shell when I work the action.

Sometimes if you really rack it hard, the shell will release, sometimes not.

If I hold the gun upside down, there is a flat metal bar, bent in at the end, that holds the shell in the magazine. If I push that a bit with my finger, the shell releases.

I bought it used a long time ago, and the problem developed the second year i had it. I don't know if there is just a bunch of dirt behind the bar (I didn't drop it in the mud or anything)

I have held the thing out by slipping a thin knife blade behind it and then sprayed copiuos amounts of WD-40 behind it. I really can't tell it that has helped a bit or not.

I am also wondering if:
the action it just so worn it doesn't retract it far enough to release the new shellthe magazine spring is losing its springiness

I have thought about carefully filing the end of the bar so the shell has enough clearance to release

I have a feeling if i brought it to a gunsmith it would cost more to fix it than it is worth

I bought it used about thirty years ago and I think I paid $165 for it.

I was thinking of trading it in towards an over/under if the local gun dealer offers me enough for it. Otherwise I will just keep it.

Any thought welcome.

Tom Williams
 
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#3 ·
I doubt the problem is all that serious, Could be a bent shell stop or just crud underneath. Disassembly is not that obvious but it is not really difficult. The key is that pin on the bottm face of the bolt that looks like a roller. You need to push that pin to the side of the bolt opposite of the slide bar which will release the slide from the bolt. From there you remove the large screws on the outside of the reciever and drop the trigger group out. Do all of this with the barrel off and once the slide and trigger group are removed the bolt can also be removed giving you good access to the slide stop. Don't file on anything, if the slide stop is bent beyond repair replace it, Brownell's has the parts, they also have a schematic on the 37 that will help you through this process.

If you don't think you can handle all this then pay a gunsmith to do it. The 37 in fair condition is worth alot more than $165 so it is worth fixing. You generally don't get much of a trade in allowance for guns that are in non working condition.
 
#6 ·
Probably just dirty. Disassembly and cleaning is not all that difficult, but putting it back together is a little tricky. I just disassembled, cleaned, then put away my 16 gauge Ithaca 37 until next hunting season.

Great gun.

I have the instruction manual. I can pdf it and e-mail it to you if you want it.

If its a 20 gauge, and you don't want to mess with it, I might buy it from you.
 
#7 ·
I found a PDF of the field manual and broke it down this evening.
There was a lot of burring where the pump slide enters the reciever, between the magazine and the chamber.
I ground it down a bit with my wife's Dremel and put enough of it back together to know I am on the right track. Another hour's work and it should be good to go.
 
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