Cylinder Lockup

[Georgian87]

Hey yall. I just got my replacement parts in Monday from VTI. I had to replace the hand/spring in my Pietta 51 Navy. Ok, as far as I know, I put everything back right, and the hammer cocks, etc. fine. But when I put the cylinder on the frame, and then the barrel, I try to cock the gun, and the gun is just locked up. It will not cock nor will the cylinder rotate. I cannot figure out what the problem is, its pretty puzzlin to me, cause it just doesnt make sense. What could be making the cylinder lock up just because I put a new hand in it? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sjohns]

What shape is the bolt in?
It could be that its not dropping down as it should.

Take the barrel and cylinder off again and cock it and watch what happens with the bolt lug.

 

[oldwheat]

......The lockup section of the bolt may be too tall....I had this problem with one of my 1851's & found it necessary to 'take a little off the top'.....The symptoms were pretty much as you describe.......

 

[sjohns]

The lockup section of the bolt may be too tall

I agree that's possible also.

 

[Old Dragoon]

I think it is the new hand. Take your new one and lay the old one on top and finish to match. Most all hads are NOT a drop in fit and must be contoured. If your hand is too long it will not let your bolt drop. Whatever you do do not force the gun to full cock.

 

[sundance44s]

sundance44s

I beleive its the hand also .. the new hands do not come as a drop in fix part .. you`ll need the old hand that worked to adjust the new one to work .. it will take some careful fileing and finess to install , the new hand has the timeing off really bad causeing the lock up problem .

 

[sjohns]

That's possible too.

I would like to add that is you stone or file the hand tip that you might want to heat it up on the stove holding it with vice grips to get it as hot as the natural gas will allow and then dip it immediately (cool it off) into some oil to restore some of the hardening.

 

[oldwheat]

.......What we are really talking about here is that the cylinder is starting to turn before the bolt is out of the slot.....I overlooked the fact that you had installed a new hand in the original post so shortening (stoning) the end of it would be the logical way to go, making sure that you go slowly & keep the original angles......As sjohns states, restoring the hardening with oil or Casenite would be advisable...............