Jackson Haller Posted March 19 Posted March 19 Hi all! The factory stock loading gate on my 1866 broke during a match; the little back tab snapped off. I seem to recall someone making a reinforced one in the past. Anybody know a source for such a critter? Thanks! Quote
Three Foot Johnson Posted March 19 Posted March 19 If you can't find one, it's not a particularly difficult thing to repair, although a bit time-consuming perhaps. The top one was broken completely off when I acquired the rifle in 2005, so I cut out a piece of flat stock shaped like a short lollipop, bent the stem up & over and back down to the center of the "lollipop", then curved the lollipop to fit the curve of the ladle, and soldered it all together. I probably drilled a hole in the center of the lollipop for the end of the stem to catch in so the solder joint couldn't crack and let the stem bend & break again. Use a wet rag wrapped around the ladle spring as a heat sink to keep from damaging it. The bottom one is just reinforced with a brace soldered on, then the hole filled in with something called Belzona E-metal - similar to JB Weld, but stronger. 3 Quote
July Smith Posted March 19 Posted March 19 Just out of curiosity... Will a Uberti 73 loading gate fit a 66? Quote
July Smith Posted March 19 Posted March 19 Thanks. Wasn't sure if Uberti had sort of standardized those parts or not. Quote
watab kid Posted March 19 Posted March 19 4 hours ago, July Smith said: Thanks. Wasn't sure if Uberti had sort of standardized those parts or not. im with you , i never looked that vclose at my 66 & 73 to see the difference , just thought they would be the same part , Quote
Buffalo gus Posted March 19 Posted March 19 As far as I’m aware of no one makes a reinforced loading gate. Vti does have a hardened one, but I’ve been told those will also break. So you’re best option is do like @Three Foot Johnson said and reinforce your replacement, either by brazing a piece of bar stock on or by using jbweld to add some extra material behind the tab. There’s a write up on the jbweld technique someone posted on the forum, this is the way I have done mine and I’ve had no issues. Knock on wood. 1 Quote
Dr. Zook Posted March 20 Posted March 20 Found this (not SASS forum) -- Reinforcing the Uberti Winchester 1866 loading gate | BPCR Long Range Shooting 1 1 Quote
Capt Stephen D Hill, SASS #56151 Posted March 20 Posted March 20 Contact Jason Widmer down in Texas!! Quote
Max Payne Posted March 20 Posted March 20 Cowboys & Indians used to sell them. I don't know if they're still in business? Quote
Frontier Lone Rider Posted March 20 Posted March 20 Several years ago, I bought one from Track of the Wolf. They are no longer available as they say these are no longer being made. I used the JB Weld Technique on my four. 1 Quote
The Coconino Pistolero, SASS # 72432 Posted March 20 Posted March 20 JB weld in the back of the tab has worked on my .44wcf 1866 for 17 years so far. 1 Quote
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