[slickman]

Well after approx 3500 rounds of Federal .22lr bulk pack, my bolt/recoil spring guide broke. Took it home after  the range today and disassembled it for a cleaning. Lo and behold this is what I see when I disassemble the rifle for a cleaning:

Anyone have any idea how long for them to get a replacement part back out to me?

Thanks

 

[gbm5170]

My guess is that the replacement part will be in the mail tomorrow. Just call them in the morning! Now sending in the whole rifle is another matter, but if you can swap parts yourself, you should be good to go in no time. You might want to send them the broken part just so they can analyze it (benefits the rest of us, thanks for doing that).

 

[adamsesq]

My guess is that the replacement part will be in the mail tomorrow.  

My guess would be Monday. ;D

-Scott

 

[ktwm]

They should be able to send you a new bolt assembly today.  

did it malfunction during your range trip, or did you just notice the problem when you were cleaning it?

 

[slickman]

The range trip went fine, it was when I took it out for cleaning is when I noticed it.

Also I called Kel-Tec customer service this morning and the gentleman I spoke to said I had to send in the whole rifle for service which I thought was strange. He also said it would be a 4-6 week turn around time. Is this normal? Not sure if he was just confused on what I was saying but I would think that shipping the part alone would be possible. Anyone know any way around this so I can jsut get the part shipped out today?

Thanks!

 

[adamsesq]

Slickman - KTWM who just wrote to you is a Kel Tec employee, one of the design engineers IIRC. You might want to call back talk with Bill (probably the guy you talked to - kind of gruff, short sounding?) again and re-emphasize you only need the part and would like it shipped to you. If he won't do it ask to speak with the service manager. But whatever you do be very polite as no matter how short sounding these guys are they ARE very helpful.

-Scott

 

[slickman]

Well took your suggestions and called again and spoke to the same gentlemen. I think his name is Bill based on your description and explained the situation and that I can replace it myself without sending in the rifle. He agreed and is sending out the replacement part. Hopefully this new one will stand up better this time around

 

[adamsesq]

I love it when a plan comes together.

-Scott

 

[ktwm]

The new bolt carrier you are being sent is shaped a little different in the back (the recoil spring guide is strengthened where yours broke). I'm curious to see if yours was properlly heat-treated when it comes back.

 

[slickman]

Thanks ktwm for the info and the help on the shipment today. Just curious, was this a prior issue before hence the different shaped bolt assembly now? In any case, its good to hear the issue being addressed by KT

Thanks!!

 

[ktwm]

It was found to break like yours did after 6 to 8 thousand rounds only on un-heat-treated parts. That's why I am curious about the heat-treatment of your part. It also looks like the rear bolt screw came loose, which may have attributed to the failure.

The new designed rear is just plain stronger, and the thread-locker used now is also stronger and more oil-tolerant.

 

[gpr]

is this something that needs to be watched on the first batch of plr's also...gpr

 

[ktwm]

maybe,

I'll have to take a look at it and see exactly what caused this particular failure. could be bad heat-treat, could be the screws came loose, could be something else.

It doesn't hurt to look for a crack whenever you have the bolt out, and check to make sure the screws are tight.

 

[gpr]

 

[jst4kix]

1300 round examination under a high power photographer's loupe shoes no evidence any cracking or backing out of any bolts. Just like John Cameron Swayze's Timex - takes a licking and keeps on ticking..............

 

[The_Fall_Guy]

The bolt screws on my PLR-22 had backed out, after the first range trip. The recoil sping guide was loose, but is not cracked. It doesn't appear any lock-tight had been added to the bolt screws, so I added some.