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Dis-assemble a S/A revolver to replace trigger screw

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PT7
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Dis-assemble a S/A revolver to replace trigger screw

Post by PT7 » Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:18 pm

JEBar wrote:
Blackdog wrote:when I came in with my 94 he looked up and said - Oh, I don't work on antiques."
Guess I'll have to find an real "gunsmith" and not this self-taught wanna-be. M
Flinch wrote: A real gunsmith can work on just about anything.
trigger work on a Henry is as much art as it is science .... one simply can't turn a screw or install an aftermarket trigger .... doing so requires honing several parts to improve their interaction .... this requires micro adjustments followed by testing .... if the gunsmith hones too much material, he can't put it back .... I know this can be done because our gunsmith has taken care of 2 of ours .... finding a real gunsmith would serve you well
It was interesting today that I did a small gunsmith project on my 1890 Police revolver. However, that was before I read JEBar's response about trigger work in Henry thread http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6327. I especially appreciated the connection JEBar made of "art and science." His comments are apropos for not only Henrys, but all firearms. I saw this connection while working on the fix for my revolver.

OK, now to my mini project. First fact is I am not a gunsmith. The sum of what projects I have done is minimal, with only a few firearms. So without the training/knowledge, and all but zero DIY experience, there are two strikes down already.

Some of the screws on my Uberti .357 Magnum replica loosen up after 50-75 fired rounds. Twice when tightening the trigger screw, I really messed up the flathead slot. Getting "iffy" for easy future use. So I ordered a replacement screw.

Before I did this part replacement, I had checked at an LGS and asked that when I remove the trigger screw, how will that affect the trigger assembly? I was told it would come down, and be somewhat challenging to re-assemble. This morning I called CT_Shooter because he has a similar S/A revolver. He helped me find several videos on this procedure for the stripping down/cleaning/re-assembly of a Remington 1858 Army revolver. This was the foundational S/A design for the later 1890 Police model, which I have. One of the videos was excellent, great positional videography, slow-paced, clear voice and clear instruction. I decided to go with it.

During the re-assembly portion, the presenter took a side trail and decided to polish/smooth out his trigger pull. Wanted it to be crisper. At the top of the trigger is formed a sear. He took a stone and oil, and his words (my paraphrase):
I want to shape this sear to where it's nice and polished on top. Not too much....
(he did the polishing and continued...). I personally know this is close enough, so I'll quit.
This is where JEBar is again spot-on. If too much polishing is done, you cannot put back more metal onto the sear. Needless to say, I didn't go down this side trail.

All above from JEBar, and others providing gunsmithing cautions in that thread, is good advice. Yes, I would enjoy doing more gunsmithing. With pretty good "guidance" today through this fellow's video instruction, I was able to get this small project done okay. Nothing "fell out" of my revolver that I wasn't able to put back together.

A good accomplishment for a rookie!

PT7
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Re: Dis-assemble a S/A revolver to replace trigger screw

Post by markiver54 » Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:22 pm

Kudos PT!
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Re: Dis-assemble a S/A revolver to replace trigger screw

Post by Mags » Thu Mar 14, 2019 12:19 am

.
Good DIY tale. Congrats on the success. On my Uberti the bolt screw, the one just forward of the trigger screw, kept backing out. It was actually that way when I brought it home. Screwed it back in. Then this evening saw it was backing out again. Messed around cocking and easing the hammer and noticed every time the cylinder bolt jumped up to engage the cylinder the bolt screw turned a little bit. I've blue loctite'd it. Hopefully it holds. I would not want it to fallout and get lost while out shooting.
PT7 wrote:...
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Re: Dis-assemble a S/A revolver to replace trigger screw

Post by North Country Gal » Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:30 am

Good tip on the blue loc-tite. My Cimarron/Pietta Colt clone had the same issue with screws getting loose. From what I've been able to research, this is actually a very common problem on reproductions. In fact, I lost that one in front of the trigger guard while shooting at the range, once. Never did find it. Had to order replacements.

The dab of blue loc-tite has been working pretty good, though. No need to remove the screws, entirely, just enough to dab a small drop of loc-tite on the threads. Be sure those screws are not covered in oil, though. If so, wipe them down with some rubbing alcohol before applying the loc-titie.

Even so, I now check all screws for tightness before every shooting session.
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Re: Dis-assemble a S/A revolver to replace trigger screw

Post by Mags » Thu Jul 04, 2019 12:50 pm

.
More screws worked loose. Those 5 that attach the brass backstrap. The 3 either side of the trigger and the two either side of the hammer. Removed screws one at a time. Cleaned them. Blue Locktite'd each.
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Re: Dis-assemble a S/A revolver to replace trigger screw

Post by North Country Gal » Thu Jul 04, 2019 1:20 pm

I know do the blue loc-tite thing on all my Colt clones, right out of the box, before I even shoot them. Really does help.
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Re: Dis-assemble a S/A revolver to replace trigger screw

Post by PT7 » Thu Jul 04, 2019 1:24 pm

Yes, at least the blue loctite helps.
Regular happening on most Uberti replicas. Would be interesting to learn the why-of-it.

The one screw that always comes loose on my favorite Uberti revolver, the Russian, is the very large Stop Cylinder Plate Screw on top of the barrel's breech end. Only stays tight for about 40-50 shots. Since the same happens on both my blued and nickel models, I ordered two backup screws from T&C. I doubt if I'd loose one on the range because I keep an eye on it. But it could happen.
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Re: Dis-assemble a S/A revolver to replace trigger screw

Post by Mags » Fri Jul 05, 2019 12:14 pm

With this latest find, I've checked all the other screws nothing else has come loose.
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Re: Dis-assemble a S/A revolver to replace trigger screw

Post by JEBar » Fri Jul 05, 2019 2:50 pm

PT7 wrote:
Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:18 pm
I was able to get this small project done okay. Nothing "fell out" of my revolver that I wasn't able to put back together.

A good accomplishment for a rookie!

PT7

good accomplishment indeed .... I can't help but admire your willingness to take on such a project .... 8-)
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