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HELP HELP HELP 1858 Piette Bison problem

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exbrit49

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Nov 21, 2011
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I was shooting my 12 inch Pietta 1858 Bison ( BH Year coode -1986) this afternoon when the cylinder failed to rotate. On closer examaination I found that the pawl that rotates the cyclinder was sitting back way to far. I looked and there is a spring behind it that is supposed to push it forward and it has either broken off a small piece or just got weak and wont force the pawl far enough forward. The pawl and the ratchet on the cyclinder are fine, it is just the spring failing to force the pawl forward far enough to engage the ratchet on the cylinder.
This is one of my favorite shooters as it is so accurate.
Does any one out there know how to fix this for me?
PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

ROger
 
Go to VTI or Dixie and order a couple of replacement hand assemblies.
This won't be the last time you break that spring, so get a spare while you're at it.
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_434_443_444&products_id=4256
The reason I would opt for VTI is that you can source thier terrific hardened screws while you're there.
http://www.vtigunparts.com/store/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=67&cat=Pietta+1858+Remington,+Tiro
It doesn't seem as if anyone sells just a spring for a Remmie like they do for the Colt repros..
You will need to file your new hand to match the original (they NEVER drop right in).
Besides the trigger/bolt spring (get yourself one of those too) , the hand and it's spring are the most worn and/or broken piece in your gun.
Myself, I would go the extra mile and modify it to use a Ruger plunger/coil spring assembly. It's a whole lot more involved, but it will never break again.
-specifically- pages 9 through 15 :
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Pietta_Part_Two.pdf
 
:DWow Towboat your a savior!!! Not only a 'How too" But source for the parts too!
Thanks so much.
Hate to buy the entire kit as I only need the Spring. So I might just pull it apart and see if I can either rebend it or make a new one from Spring steel
Looks I will be busy over the weekend!

Thanks so much for sharing your expertise!! Really appreciated!!
:D
Roger
 
Exbrit,
I've replaced hand springs on about 3 Colt repros. A couple of things I learned:
-It is easier to use the original hand so no fitting is necessary. A "new" hand and spring may not be the same dimensions and need tweaking to get everything timed right. That can drive you nuts.
-I use portions of bobby pins raided from my wife & daughter's bathroom drawers. Pick one with the same width as the original spring. If you have another Remington you may want to pull the hand & spring out so you can get the proper dimensions to reform the bobby pin segment to match the original.
-I put the hand in a padded vise and just barely flare the crimp holding the broken spring using a wood chisel or other sharp edged chisel. You only need to flare enough to get the broken fragment out.
-Cut the spring to length, bend it to match the original and grind or file two shallow notches or indentations along both edges of the portion of the spring that will be well within the crimped portion. The indentations will be where you stake the spring in place so it won't back out. Basically, you create an hourglass shape but with a fat waist toward the tip of the spring that is inserted into the hand then crimped & staked in place.

You typically end up with a stiffer spring. So what. Now the gun has a louder "click" but still has the original hand and should remain as well timed as before the breakage. I have not yet had a bobby pin hand spring break on me.
 
A long time ago I replaced the hand-spring on one of my BP revolvers by cutting up a sodacan and forming a small sliver of it into the right shape. Believe it of not, it worked fine.
 
I've fixed three of these fine revolvers before, I find that usually all I'd have to do is bend it forward to give it more "oomph" so that it will have the strength to push the hand out.
Here's a video where I fixed an Armsport Remington someone gave me, not only is it one of the coolest Remmys I've ever seen but it wasn't that hard to fix at all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx2nQLeki3E&list=UUQyanVLLSkwkvmZgcO3jrww&index=6&feature=plcp

I hope that helped!
~Levi
 
Its fixed!

Wanted to say a "BIG THANKS for all the help on this project and after looking at the instructions and videos , I am glad to report that I got the courage up to attempt a repair. I dissembled it and found that the spring was fine but there was a lot of wear on the “hand” itself. I purchased a new “hand and spring assembly” and spent a couple hours filing it to fit this afternoon. It took numerous tries as it was quite a bit larger than the original. I finally had an idea. I took the old hand and the new one and put a correctly sized drill bit through the screw hole on the old hand and the new one and clamped them together. This way, I could then see exactly where I needed to file and how much. I say file, but the new one was so hard I had to use my diamond stones to remove the material. Any way after several more tries Viola! , It was working just fine. Timing was right on and I am back in business.
Headed down to the range and shot of 4 cylinders full and Yippee! I am back in business and the credit goes to all you fine folks that posted the info that helped me on this project
THANK YOU ALL!:D
Roger

Have attached a photo of this treasure (one of my favorite Rems) and that 12” barrel makes it the most accurate handgun I have ever shot, and that includes my Blackhawk 45 Auto/45 Colt.
 

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For drilling on a curved surface start the hole with a "centering drill" . It is a very short thick bodied drill with a small tip on the bit . It is inflexible so it won't "walk" over a curved surface and it will give you a good pilot hole to work with. Got mine at Grizzly.com.
 
Exbrit49, Thanks for starting this tread. Lots of very useful information here and this helped me fix my 1858.

DMH
 
Yes great info

Hi DMH, I was so pleased to be able to fix mine and I hope that you got as much fun as I did in stripping that remmie down and getting it fully functional again, Yes there was a lot of great info from all the guys and I think it shows the great bunch of guys and gals that belong to THR

Again thanks to all

R
 
Bobby pins usually won't hold tension well enough to use for hand springs. I recommend either buying spring steel at a "big box store" or cutting up a binder clip which is usually excellent spring steel.

Jim
 
Exbrit,
There is a saying that Italian repros make gunsmiths of us all. I do not call muself a gunsmith but I'm getting to "advanced tinkerer".
 
I am interested in the Ruger hand spring mod, has anyone done this to a Remington? On the 1860 Colt, the hole for the spring is covered by the grip frame, what's the solution on the 58's solid frame?
 
Years ago, I had an O-ring in my gun, as a hand spring. It worked until being changed. This year I found the hand and cylinder gears all chewed up. Half the nipples were frozen and all were rusty. I made a nipple wrench from a small socket that worked great. The gun feels better than ever, and no cost. Couldn't have done it without my light and magnification gizmo. It is tricky oiling the nipples without risking contamination though.
 
icanthitabarn , Don't oil yer nipples. Put a wee dab of Anti-Seize on 'em.You can buy wee small packets of it at auto parts stores. One packet will go a long way.
IMGP1633.JPG
 
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