Top cover hinge

[Franz20]

Can anyone post photos of the top cover hinge? I thought I had one, but it doesn't have a "screw" hole.

Thanks!

[anjongni]

Not all of them had the screw retainer setup. Some just had a simple peg to hang on the feed tray. They are interchangeable. Which one is older/newer, we haven't determined yet. I've been told that the threaded ones are IDF made. There are photos of both types on the site here. Good luck....Phil

[Franz20]

Thank you for the valuable information.

I have yet another question. I was wondering why my top cover is so difficult to to push down, it seems the feed tray is giving me some resistance. Is this normal?

Thank you for any future insight.

Franz

[www.Prussia.us]

Well it certainly should not be binding on you, but somewhere it is. Here are some dumb things (you likely already tried).

How does it close w/o the feedtray?

Also these can be a bit tricky to line up with the bolt knob that rides along your topcover on the underside activating your feed mech.

Try a different retaining pin in the receiver for your top cover (like a nail of same diameter) to see if the pin has a slight warp.

It may be as simple as some very fine filing on the ears of the topcover (where the retaining pin attaches it to the receiver). Working that topcover up-and down with the nail, or whatever holding it, you should be able to isolate the issue, again it may just need some fine filing somewhere.

Then if that does not work, when you check your feedtray to your topcover when they are not mounted on your gun, see if the feed mech is off on the underside of your topcover.

As you likely know, these parts were treated as scrap during importation, not cared for any way like we do. fairly common for the Mg42 receivers to be slightly caved in-binding the bolt later during a build, etc...this metal sometimes took a beating, plus when used these guns would wear in different places. Piecing one together is not like piecing together a Gew98 Mauser.

[Franz20]

You were right!!!!

I took out the pin and cleaned off a layer of cosmolean (leen? Laeen?)

Then it worked like a charm.

I have a question though regarding the dust cover. Is it always open? Or does it lock down somehow? Mine is spring loaded and won't stay shut.

Any advice?

Thanks

Franz

[Matt]

There is a little spring catch on the front of the trigger guard frame that holds it shut. When the trigger is pulled it opens the door. I had to fiddle with mine to get it to work and stay shut. - matt