Jump to content
SASS Wire Forum

Recommended Posts

Posted

My original 1873 in 38/40 the lever goes all the way forward but the bolt won’t go back past flush with receiver and so cartridge rim catches on bolt tab??

Posted

Is this something that just happened or has it always been like this?  Could be a bent lever.  When the lever is closed all the way does it push up on the trigger safety tab like normal?

Posted (edited)

Did you have an Out Of Battery discharge?  Where gun fired with action partially open or while being closed (usually at speed)?  Or some other event which put enough force into the action to bend a part?  Usually accompanied by a strong thump that you feel in your lever hand when it tries to provide the locking action which the UNLOCKED toggle cannot since it has not gotten to "straight in-line links".

 

If so, the LEVER was probably what was bent.  Bending the lifter arm (which is pretty stout) with normal use is unusual.  So, you manually bent the lifter arm to get carrier back to "in time", but that fixed half the problem (just the rise of the carrier).  The lever being bent reduces some of it's rearward travel length (where the lever is pinned to the  back of the bolt).  So now you have the bolt not retracting far enough, even though carrier rises well. 

 

A bent lever can be reshaped (bent) back to factory, especially if you have an unbent lever to use as a pattern.  (Or a new one bought - perhaps a hardened one from Cowboys and Indian store.)  If you don't, then the best thing would be to let a good cowboy gunsmith have at it.  Get the lever "back into shape", then go back and set the lifter arm movement to be correct.   This is what is called Correcting the Timing of a toggle link gun.   Both motions - bolt forward and back and the carrier rising and lowering - have to be coordinated (timed) so there is no collision between parts and yet also proper amount of travel of bolt and carrier.  You worked on only half of the timing, I would guess.

 

good luck, GJ

Edited by Garrison Joe, SASS #60708
  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
Posted

 OBD  why I always use a load that just meets Power factor😉

Posted (edited)

And watch for those double powder loads. 

I won't trust a lifter lever that was bent as it may have weakened the steel.  Either replace it or check that it is perfect and have it hardened a bit.

 

One at a match, a pard had that problem.  I fixed using a rock, believe it or not.  I had a lucky hit that was just right to straighten it. 

 

We were both impressed - God is good!

It was a very carefully calibrated rock... :D

Edited by Marauder SASS #13056
  • Like 3

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.