CZ-85 Hammer Removal?

[bountyhunter]

I have a CZ-85 Combat. I want to shorten up (and clean up) the SA trigger break. I have the only manual available, but it is for the CZ-75. I noticed an important difference between the manual and my CZ-85: the safety detent spring assy is not as described and I am afraid to pull the safety lever and launch the detent spring(s) into oblivion. How are the detent springs held in? Anybody know if removing the safety/sear assy will send them flying?

Please explain for the CZ-85:

1) Is it required to remove the safety and sear/ejector asembly prior to removing the hammer? I ask because:

I see the retaining pin that holds in the hammer mount (pivot) pin. It says to drive the retaining pin upward to enable removal of the hammer pivot pin, but it appears the sear/ejector assy blocks the retaining pin from going up. I tapped it lightly but it would not go up. Am I correct that the sear/ejector must come off first or is there a way to get the hammer off without removing the sear and safety?

2) As for shortening the SA pull, the height of the full-cock notch on the hammer clearly has some room for removal of material to shorten the SA trigger break. Any suggestions about how much to take off the top of the hook?


FYI: I noticed that the "safety" hook on the hammer in my gun is about 1/2 as tall as the full-cock hook... rather odd, as on most guns the safety hook is a shade taller to ensure catching the sear if the hammer follows from the full cock notch. Important in case anybody had considered putting a "relief" cut on the sear, as the sear would probably work perfectly with the full-cock notch but not capture the safety hook (very dangerous). Looks like the sear should be left alone (just polish the face).

I would appreciate any advice on the subject of sear/hammer mods for the typical trigger job from those who do them. I have done many, but none on CZ's.

Thanks.

 

[CZ-75]

If the safety has a hole in it, then stick a piece of paperclip through to hold the detent in place.

I think newer CZs, of which the combat is likely one, don't have this any more.

Did you ask on the CZ forum?

Walt Sherill and Stephen A. Camp would be able to tell you more.

 

[Destructo6]

On my CZ-75, there's a spring and a very small plate behind the safety lever. It's a royal pain to get back together if it pops out of place. My safety lever has the hole that the above poster describes. IIRC, if you put the safety lever midway between on and off, the paperclip will go through the lever and plate both.

Am I correct that the sear/ejector must come off first?

Yes, you are correct.

No idea on the sear modification.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

On the newer CZ, the "paperclip in the hole" isn't required, to remove the safety, but as indicated above, its a REAL PAIN if you have one that needs it, and don't use a paperclip or small pilot pin of some sort.

On the newer ones, only a little spring clip at the opposite side holds the safety in place. Lift the spring and pull the safety out. The rest is easy.

 

[bountyhunter]

Walt: thanks for the reply: my CZ-85 Combat has a safety lever on both sides. It also looks like there is a spring loaded something rear of the safety cross bar inside the sear assy. On each side, just behind the safety, there is a very small rectangular thing that looks like it has a slot in it's top that moves rearward as the safety is rotated (and the detent is compressed).

Is it possible a pin needs to be dropped into that part? If so, this pin must be really tiny.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I'm sorry... I was thinking CZ-75 when I wrote that, as that was the last one I detail stripped. I have some experience with the 75B and the pre-B 75, but I've never stripped my 85 Combat.

Look at the link below and you'll see that there are spring-loaded safety detents at both ends of the safety, holding things together... I've not tried to take my 85 Combat apart yet, but it seems similar to the 75B, just two detents instead of one -- one for each major part.

http://www.okiegunsmithshop.com/CZ_85.jpg

Be careful. I know from taking my 75B apart, that the detent and the little spring can be a terror if you let them go off on their own, without your guidance and control.