How do you get into a brass gun button?

I think I have some spare tube available Ian. Have Pm’d you

Great pics again FLY.BUY, thanks. You’re probably best lightly adjusting the slot in the yoke. it would be a pity to lose the pipes and they should be visible. Interesting to see the screw thread, the extreme right hand bit is all that’s attached on my Blenheim example. Having scraped out some of the crud from around the edges I can feel the edge of the thread. Going to have a go at dismantling on Sunday. Pipe wrench and vice are poised and ready. The front will go on the Blenheim, the back on the Beaufort.

4 parts of gun button

Ian, having just tried it things are not that easy. It unscrews into a further three parts, in all it will break and twist down into 4 separate parts in total ( I will photograph these over the next day or two) It will then fit into the left hand yoke slot from behind. Now thats the easy bit!
The difficulty I am having is that the two square in and out pipe lugs at the end of the barrel of the button are stopping the button from fully going flush into the slot by about 2-3mm therefore not enabling me to screw all the pieces back together again from the front of the left slot. I guess my easy option would be to cut away both lugs and smooth them down level to the barrell. Pity as I have about 8-9 inches of piping. Another option perhaps is to make the groove for the pipe work at the rear of the left slot a little deeper?

Cheers FLY.BUY, those are brilliant photos. It looks like some interesting Southern hemisphere knurling on the safety. Did you get it from the same source and how much pipe do you have attached? There should be sufficient to just appear at the back of the column before it connects to the flexible rubber. A blow torch should help straighten it out, brass has a pretty high melting point so little risk of reducing it to a blob. I’m going to need to splice some extra onto my pipes. Its soaking in diesel now ready for a bit of wrench action. Good luck fitting yours together, it should look a treat.

Hope this helps somewhat Ian, for me it was a case of twisting it apart, I may have to manipulate the pipes some what in order to fit them around the yoke. I was wondering if heating the pipes with a gas torch may do the trick?

I will look into it chaps!

Googling joysticks, spadegrips and yokes usually brings you back to this very forum. Anything else out there would be very welcome, Tony. On the subject of gun button pneumatics this Dig WW2 clip always delights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PjLpqWFFEo

Rocketeer, I cannot speak for everyone but I would be fascinated to see how they are put together. I am sure a great many more forumites would agree!:)

Whilst not possessing one myself I am fascinated by anything mechanical so would be very interested in a video clip on youtube.

Tony,

The YouTube idea is a good one, but why not consider giving a live demonstration at an event like an Aeroboot / Aerobilia / Aerojumble sale or Cockpit-Fest; I know that you have done something similar before by working on you cockpit during an event, but why not formalise it and promote the fact that it’ll be taking place?

Anything that promotes and encourages aviation is a winner in my book!! 🙂

piston power has the right idea. You need to use the knurled part to turn (conventionally) to get it apart.
The issue is that there is a ring that has to engage with the brass post on the knurled section in order to unwind it……hence the need to soak well. I have dismantled approx 40 of these over the years and have only had one post snap _ boy was I annoyed!!). Without the post there is no defined detent for the SAFE/FIRE positions.

Ian, if you are around my area, happy to show you. I was thinking of doing a short youtube video on spade grips – doubt there would be the interest.
The earlier buttons were pneumatic with simple IN/OUT tubes. So compressed air went all the way to the gun from the stick. The button just completes the circuit, if you like.

Rocketeer, I cannot speak for everyone but I would be fascinated to see how they are put together. I am sure a great many more forumites would agree!:)

Cheers all, your replies improved an otherwise cold ridden and crap day. I’ll go the full diesel immersion (button not self etc…) and make up some hardwood blocks to grip the correct sections. Didn’t want to force the wrong parts. Cheers for the offer Tony, will take you up if no success. Always like a rummage in your shed.

Amusing posts aside, I always tend to use a couple of days soaking in a diesel bath on old components.

piston power has the right idea. You need to use the knurled part to turn (conventionally) to get it apart.
The issue is that there is a ring that has to engage with the brass post on the knurled section in order to unwind it……hence the need to soak well. I have dismantled approx 40 of these over the years and have only had one post snap _ boy was I annoyed!!). Without the post there is no defined detent for the SAFE/FIRE positions.

Ian, if you are around my area, happy to show you. I was thinking of doing a short youtube video on spade grips – doubt there would be the interest.
The earlier buttons were pneumatic with simple IN/OUT tubes. So compressed air went all the way to the gun from the stick. The button just completes the circuit, if you like.

I’d say that’s much too small for you to get into.

Start with large things like a dustbin – feet first – and work your way down. When sufficiently malleable, you can return and have a go at getting into things this size.

You have just won at Internet. Loving your work!

If this was mine i would soak it in wd40 or similar oil and leave it for 2 days keep giving it a squirt then clean any gunge out with a old tooth brush and gently unscrew the front ring with the finger notches on.

Going in without the above a receipe for disaster.

I’d say that’s much too small for you to get into.

Start with large things like a dustbin – feet first – and work your way down. When sufficiently malleable, you can return and have a go at getting into things this size.