[Qtr_miler]

Leather wrapping, heat gun, large channel locks....comes right off

 

[Bobcat86]

CZ 457 MTR bolt handle. I am trying to unscrew the round ball factory bolt handle and install Area 419 bolt handle. Simple as that.

Q. What tool do you use to "grab" the smooth round ball on factory handle?

I put it in my vice with rubber jaws and when I try and unscrew ball from bolt it just spins. Tried hairdryer to expand. Have NOT clamped with vice grips yet.
What is the simple "trick" without sacrificing the handle ball?

I bought vice grips that have smooth jaws and the top and bottom stay parallel as they open and close. I cut a 4 inch piece of leather off of an old belt and wrapped that around the ball. I took a few attempts but I did manage to remove it with no damage. Just be patient, walk away if you get frustrated. I wish you luck.

 

[Neller393]

Clamp the bolt in a vice, I used a 1/4 inch strip of leather to protect the ball while using channel locks, I did have to heat it but came off nicely!

 

[dznnf7]

Post-heat, I'd start with hard rubber or plywood vise jaws, then go to lead sheet, then copper pipe hammered flat.

 

[Luisyamaha]

Old post, I know, but, pipe wrench is your friend. A small one.

Luisyamaha

 

[22 Drifter]

Depending on the thread locker CZ used, it can take 200 to over 400 F to get the ball off easily. A propane torch or even a butane lighter, can provide enough heat, a hair dryer, not so much. With torch, heat for 8 to 10 seconds, then, you can use either leather or scrap wood to pad the ball in a vice, or pliers with the leather. If it doesn't come off easily, try a bit more heat.

I made a new 1" diameter black Delrin knob the other day, much better feel than the "tiny" ball. Pic previously posted:

View attachment 365306

iThat is a nice looking CZ what kind of stock is that if you don't mind me asking?

 

[PEASHOOTER67]

Deleted

 

[bumperm]

iThat is a nice looking CZ what kind of stock is that if you don't mind me asking?

The stock is just the standard laminated wood stock that comes on the CZ457 At-One. Don't know about availability, seems for the last few years the various CZ 457 models have been on-again, off-again as far as what the dealers have on hand.

 

[JustinB]

I used a Bernz-a-matic butane torch on the ball itself to soften the loctite or whatever it is that CZ used on the bolt knob. Didn't take more than about 10 sec to get it warm enough to come loose with a little section of old leather belt to cushion the grip of vise-grip pliers, and it came right off - did the same thing to all three of my 457s.

This is the way

 

[bumperm]

When making or buying a bolt knob, it's a good idea to have the female threads "recessed" in the knob so the smooth "lead in" of the knob fits snuggly against the shaft of the bolt handle above the threads. The bolt handle shaft looks to be a Metal Injection Molded (MIM) part. MIM does not handle flexure well, so if there's an impact, such as dropping the gun that hits the bolt handle, it can snap off at the base of the threads.