My Ruger Vaquero has a problem.

[Rufus Hurt]

Hi,

One of my old Ruger Vaqueros (I've had this gun for around twenty years) has suddenly developed a problem.

When I attempt to cock the hammer it moves back about half an inch and locks up there. The cylinder stop does not move down into the grip frame and the hammer will not move backwards. When I release the hammer and attempt to cock it again it cocks just fine and may continue to do so three of four times before locking up again. The transfer bar is not broken, the cylinder stop is fairly new, the cylinder stop spring and plunger are new. What is causing this? Can you offer a suggestion? Thanks.

 

Lil' Weasel

SASS 61585

[Eyesa Horg]

Be sure the cylinder base pin is in all the way and the little plunger on the end is free.

[Dilli GaHoot Galoot]

My first thought would be dirty and dry, have you cleaned and lubed it? 

[Rufus Hurt]

Yep. I clean it after every match. It is well lubed and greased.

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

Grease is bad...

 

;-)

 

Phantom

[Mister Badly]

Hammer plunger?

[Snake-eye, SASS#45097]

Sounds like the transfer bar is running into the firing pin which would stop the hammer from moving all the way back. Make certain that the plunger on the end of the cylinder pin is functional .

[Rufus Hurt]

Checked. Removed it, lubed, checked the spring and plunger for damage

. All is good. moves freely in and out.

[Rufus Hurt]

The first thing I thought was that the transfer bar was getting caught under the firing pin but it is not. Thanks for your suggestion though Snake Eye. I am going to look closely at the end of the cylinder pin though. 

[Pb Mark]

 Assuming the base-pin is OK:

 

Push in on the base pin while trying to cock it.

Pull out on it while trying to cock it.

 

See if it cocks normally when pushing in the base-pin.

 

 

[Assassin]

Is the strut installed properly?

[Barry Sloe]

Take out the base pin and cylinder.  Can you cock it now?

 

BS

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

It's the new cylinder stop.

It needs fitting.

Why did you change it?

Put the old one back in and try it.

 

[Pb Mark]

More on the base pin.

Pushing and pulling can check the scallop cut that holds it in place.  Forgot to mention, double check the base pin latch to make sure it is not unscrewing itself.  Use the proper center cutout screwdriver or bit for this check.  Belt Moutain sells improved pins and latches.  

 

Is it locking up with the cylinder stop locked into one of the cylinder cutouts?  If so, probably not the base-pin per the  above Lumpy fitting issue.

 

Interesting situation - will enjoy learning what the issue is.  

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

13 hours ago, Rufus Hurt said:

the cylinder stop is fairly new, the cylinder stop spring and plunger are new.

 

Gunsmith rule 13 -

If some parts have been changed, tuned, monkeyed with recently - the problem is likely with the parts that were changed, or how they have been (mis) installed.

 

good luck, GJ

[Smokey P. Colt]

Replace the base pin spring with a stronger one from Wolff gun springs.

[Long Gulch, SASS #53035]

I'm with Mr Badly on this one. The problem sounds eerily familiar. Several years ago I had a similar problem and it ended up being the hammer cross pin. The pin was chewed nearly in half by a poorly fitting plunger. I replaced the plunger, cross pin and spring and all was good. It would be good to know your  fix for the problem.

 

Long Gulch 

[Mister Badly]

That's what happened to mine too 

[Uncle Ethan # 94321]

Yep what Mister Badly and Long Gulch said. The tip of the pin on mine had broke. I could get it to cock for ten rounds or so, them it would act up.