Colt Agent w/loose (?) cylinder crane

[pefz]

I just came into possession of my father's 1983 Colt Agent .38 special. I have noticed that when the revolver is open (released the cylinder so that the crane is rotated open and the cylinder can be loaded/unloaded), the crane can move forward several millimeters. This causes the cylinder to likewise move forward. When in the forward position, I cannot close the revolver because the cylinder hits the forcing cone.

It is not a big deal because I merely need to push the crane back so that cylinder does not hit the forcing cone and the cylinder locks shut.

The revolver appears to be fine otherwise. Cylinder is locked and can not move when the trigger is pulled and fired, etc.

Is this movement in the crane normal in the Colt agents? If not, is it a serious problem, and is there an easy fix?

Thanks

 

[Jim Watson]

That is not normal and it is not right. I suspect the little crane lock detent has been lost out or maybe the spring is squashed. See parts 7,8,9 at
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Products.aspx?catid=6625

 

[pefz]

Thanks. That appears to be it. I took out the crane lock screw and it appears that that the detent and spring are jammed inside the screw. Almost as though the screw is on solid piece. That's the problem.

 

[pefz]

Tonight I managed to separate the detent from the crane lock screw using a magnet to pull out the detent. There is no spring, so that's the problem. The detent just sits far back in the screw.

Numrich is sold out. Anyone suggest a handy replacement spring and where I can get one?

I may just try to find a spring of the right inner diameter and clip to size....

thanks in advance
PEFZ

 

[Jim Watson]

http://www.jackfirstgun.com/

Jack First is a good source. Man, will the shipping eat you up on a $.50 spring. I hope you can find something usable locally. (I have a 1911 mainspring in a Weatherby XXII and the firing pin spring on my Python came off the primer plunger of an RCBS Rockchucker.)

 

[pefz]

I fabricated a spring from the mainspring of a Swingline stapler.

I removed the stapler spring, extended it so it had some "expansion" memory, and then turned it so one end screws into the detent. Then I just clipped the spring links off the other end until 1) the crane lock screw seated completely and 2) the crane was not too stiff to turn. Seems to be a cheap fix, and you can still use the stapler if you don't remove too much spring.

I'll take the gun to the range this weekend - we'll see how it holds up. This might be a replacement fix for the hard to find crane spring,,,