Diana 34 EMS

[DanD]

...it has two tiny 3mm allen headed screws that go in at a 45 degree angle. The trouble is that they are very soft...

Sounds like Diana hired the old UK Webley and BSA engineers for the EMS project!

[HectorMedina]

Greetings
 
I purchased the Diana 34 EMS with the thumb hole synthetic stock and when it arrived 2 days ago it was -10  here in the Twin Cities area.  When I opened the box I watched it slowly change to a dull white color as the metal started to completely in case its self in ice.   All I could do was wait for it to melt and wipe it down as quickly as possible and that's what I did.  After seeing it freeze and thaw I knew that it got wet under the wood line (plastic) so as soon as it was warmed up I tried to take the stock off so I could get to the spots under the stock.  The 34 EMS in synthetic  mounts differently than any other 34 that I have seen.  Instead of the two large straight blade screws on either side it has two tiny 3mm allen headed screws that go in at a 45 degree angle. The trouble is that they are very soft and im not sure if they used locktite but those things are not going to back out easily.  Has anyone had any luck removing the stock from one of these new versions? Its supposed to be "easy" but would beg to differ.  I wish they used bigger fasteners than those dinky little allen heads.

Hmmmmm . . . . you sure you let everything come back to room temperature?
Steel and aluminum have different expansion constants, so a warmer aluminum part inserted into a colder steel part will have a tough time coming out.
Since "warmer" and "colder" are relative terms, it is almost certain that you are experimenting a temp-driven "seizure"

We opted for button headed M5 screws precisely because we wanted to limit the torque users put into the screws.
And, yes, they are not "10.9", nor "12.9" grade screws, we prefer that the screw fails than to allow the action to fail.
Sadly, since some users still think that it has to be as tight as possible and then some more, manufacturers need to put self-limiting points in order to prevent fatal failure.
Yes, I have disassembled and assembled by now more than a dozen, and 7 of them synthetic stocks.

No problem there.

Get a good grade allen wrench (Gorilla grip, or Wiha) and/or , if needed, use an impact screw driver to loosen the bolt, this one has proven useful:
https://www.harborfreight.com/6-bit-impact-screwdriver-set-with-case-64812.html
You will need to shim the larger hex to use common ¼" hex bits (again, use good grade bits).

If the head gets deformed, change the bolt, it is M5X0.8X15 coarse thread.
If you are unhappy, you can change those screws for button headed Torx, just use the Metric designation.

Be very careful when assembling the gun because if you are not careful, it is rather easy to "cross-thread" the screws, because they go in at an angle.

This angle allows a much better and consistent "bedding pressure" but it does require care when assembling.

HTH

Keep us posted!







HM

[Pierze]

I waited a few hours until it was room temperature and used a Wera allen key.  Since then I stood the rifle near my wood stove for a few hours to ensure what ever moisture was in there is gone now so now it doesn't bother me quite as much.  When I tried to back the first one out I made sure I applied pressure and just slowly went at it but started to strip immediately so I stopped.  I am considering holding my soldering iron on the screw to heat it up and give it a try but that would only help if its thread locked. But like I mentioned earlier I am sure that what ever moisture condensed on the exterior is now dry so I am fine just letting it be before I do any more damage.  Maybe someday I'll give it another shot but since its new and without any defects (besides one screw) I feel I should just leave it.  I just put the first 100 pellets threw it and it came out of the box dead on with premier hollow points at 60ft~ so I couldn't be happier with the purchase.

[Yogi]

Yeah, with luck you can shoot the stock screws loose.

-Y

[HectorMedina]

Yeah, with luck you can shoot the stock screws loose.

-Y

Yogi, you made me spit my coffee!

Pierze, apologies in advance, please, I'm not laughing at you, it's just that Yogi is absolutely correct, the vibrations may eventually loosen that screw.

Good one, Yogi, you just made my day.

Thanks!




HM

[A moron]

Yeah, with luck you can shoot the stock screws loose.

-Y

Sadly it's not a hw.  Mount a scope take 10 shots and pick up screws off ground.. That would be the easy way.. lol