1851 Navy- Stronger Spring?

[Panzerschwein]

Hi all!

I've got a Cimarron (Uberti) 1851 Navy .36 revolver and my God, beautiful is an understatement.

I've had some work done to it, including putting a "cap rake" on to keep spent caps from falling into the mechanism. Since the install, a cap has never gotten into the hammer slot. However, the spent caps often will still come back and wedge themselves in between the nipple and cap rake. The rake keeps them from going any farther, but this still ties up the revolver. In addition to this, I sometimes encounter failures to fire on caps. I am using high quality, snug fitting caps that I push down with a wood dowel and am using Slik Shot nipples, so not poor quality nipples.

So, what I'm thinking is that my mainspring is too light. The hammer is VERY easy to pull back, almost effortless. I think the hammer is being blown back upon firing, allowing the cap to jam the action, as well as causing the light strikes.

Does anyone offer an INCREASED power mainspring for these guns? If not, what can I do to increase the power of my spring? If anyone out there could help me, it would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Fingers McGee]

Sometimes a weak spring will get by factory inspectors in addition to heavy ones. I bought a NIB unfired pocket police that had a spring so weak it wouldn't hold the hammer against the nipple. A replacement mainspring from VTI or Taylors will more than likely solve your problem.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Thanks! Yeah, mine is so weak I can just about blow it down with my breath LOL!

I think I will buy a replacement spring just to see if it's stronger. I would still like to hear some suggestions for increasing the spring strength if it turns out to be weak as well.

 

[44 Dave]

Before you spend the $5 on a new spring ask 45 Dragoon about his "kick ass" main spring.
If you have access to a trigger pressure scale you could also get some idea as to the spring tension.

 

[J-Bar]

Have you taken the grip farme off and looked at the spring? The screw that secures the bottom of the spring to the front half of the grip frame might be loose. Tightening that screw all the way down increases spring tension. That would be the easiest solution. Placing a spacer between the spring and the frame to prevent maximum tension is another trick that some use to reduce hammer spring tension, so if there is a spacer or washer of some kind between the spring and frame, remove it and see what happens.

However, if the gun has been worked on, I suspect the hammer spring has been lightened, either by replacing the factory spring, or narrowing the width of the spring. In either case, getting a new spring and starting over is the quickest and easiest solution, and probably the cheapest as well.

If you are not competing with the gun, there is really no reason to try to get as light a spring as possible. As you have found out, you are better off if the spent cap stays on the nipple where it won't cause problems. Besides jamming at the hammer slot, spent caps can also jam at the water table. One of the joys of percussion revolvers!

 

[Panzerschwein]

Before you spend the $5 on a new spring ask 45 Dragoon about his "kick ass" main spring.
If you have access to a trigger pressure scale you could also get some idea as to the spring tension.

Yes, this gun was worked over by 45 Dragoon and he did an excellent job. I just think the factory spring is too light, I'm pretty sure he didn't modify it. I will ask about his "kick ass" mainspring.

I do not compete with the gun. I just want it to be more reliable on the range and the trail.

 

[45 Dragoon]

Hey Cooldill !

You need an update!!

Cooldill was an early customer of mine and since that time, I have developed my own "details" and "nuances" which (I feel and it seems to be working) is by far, better in terms of function, reliability and longevity of the parts. This update is a NO COST update and the difference will be quite eye opening!! The " goons kick ass" mainspring is included!! (Thanks for that Dave! Lol)

I have called and sent a reply to Cooldills pm this afternoon.

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks

 

[Panzerschwein]

Yup, I'm sending it Goon's way!

In the meantime, I've got one bad mother of a .54 cal horse pistol to shoot!

 

[45 Dragoon]

That's awesome!

Thank you Sir!!

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks