Daisy Model 96 Front Sight Installation. Help!

[Garageshop]

I have restored a Daisy Model 96 and put it all back together, but I can't install the new sight. Does anyone have a suggestion? It's hard plastic and I can't bend it enough to snap in place. Should I heat it? I tried wedging a Q-Tip shaft under it to force a bend and shorten the length but I still can't snap it into place.

Steve

 

[teerex.otw]

I have restored a Daisy Model 96 and put it all back together, but I can't install the new sight. Does anyone have a suggestion? It's hard plastic and I can't bend it enough to snap in place. Should I heat it? I tried wedging a Q-Tip shaft under it to force a bend and shorten the length but I still can't snap it into place.

Steve

Steve,
I just took the sight out of the one 96 I have that still has one of these
to have a look at it.
The tab at the rear goes in further than the tab at the front (it doesn’t catch much).
The way I got it back in was to first cut a VERY small bevel on the bottom of the front tab, fed the back tab in as far as i could get it, then put the blade of a jewelers screwdriver between the front of the tab and the slot, and kinda’ pried back and pushed down at the same time, and it snapped right in place.
Note: I never realized how loosely these things fit when installed, this probably explains at least part of the accuracy issues I’ve had with this gun. (the last one I built got a homemade fiber-optic sight and it works just fine)
When I get around to it I’m going to do this again and reinstall it with some e-6000 adhesive to eliminate the movement…even if the tab breaks off next time that stuff will still hold it.
Good luck !
Rex

 

[Garageshop]

Steve,
I just took the sight out of the one 96 I have that still has one of these
to have a look at it.
The tab at the rear goes in further than the tab at the front (it doesn’t catch much).
The way I got it back in was to first cut a VERY small bevel on the bottom of the front tab, fed the back tab in as far as i could get it, then put the blade of a jewelers screwdriver between the front of the tab and the slot, and kinda’ pried back and pushed down at the same time, and it snapped right in place.
Note: I never realized how loosely these things fit when installed, this probably explains at least part of the accuracy issues I’ve had with this gun. (the last one I built got a homemade fiber-optic sight and it works just fine)
When I get around to it I’m going to do this again and reinstall it with some e-6000 adhesive to eliminate the movement…even if the tab breaks off next time that stuff will still hold it.
Good luck !
Rex

Thanks Rex! Success!!! I had been trying, most of the time, to drop the front in place first since it is larger and then trying to put the back tab in. I even tried using a small screwdriver for leverage and chipped a small piece of the tab on one side. I just tried again by inserting the back tab in first and slightly pulling up on the sight at the same time as I was trying to push the front tab in and it snapped into place. Yeaaa!! It seems to be solid and has no movement so it should not require any glue.