New Franchi I-12 - Can't assemble!

[Kacerdias]

I've gone through the instruction manual over and over but I can't get this thing assembled. I've cleaned all the thick goop from the parts with Break Free and oiled them appropriately. Following the directions I've removed the fore-end and dropped the bolt assembly in, then snapped the bolt handle in place. There is a fork-like piece that fits over the tubular magazine that looks like it's supposed to snap underneath the bolt face. When I pull the bolt handle back and push the cartridge release lever in, it locks in place like it should. However, once assembled the bolt assembly never closes the action. It gets stuck halfway there and refuses to move. It's locked up hard enough that I can only free it by knocking out the pin that holds the trigger assembly. Anyone else have trouble getting the I-12 together? :banghead:

Never had this kind of problem with my dad's old 1947 Remington Model 11.

 

[Kacerdias]

Figured it out. Found out that the action bar had to be seated under this notched part of the bolt assembly before the bolt assembly goes in the action. Strange, and it isn't mentioned in the documentation at all. Maybe this can help out another I-12 newbie....

 

[buck460XVR]

my son had the same problem with his when he first got it.........worried about scratching it or wrecking something on it, being brand spankin' new and all. Beautiful breakdown case, six choke tubes and very vague assembly instructions....go figure.

They are a nice gun tho.....