My Uberti short arbor fix

[white smoke]

There are a lot of suggestions for the Uberti short arbor fix and here is mine. I have done a few like this and it really seems to work well. My latest purchase is a Cimarron Uberti 1861 Navy with a date code of "21". All in all the revolver is beautifully fit and finished. My standard procedure with a new pistol is to take it completely apart and do some basic polishing and clean up. Of course the arbor was a bit short and the wedge slipped in and out too easily. I clean the hole that the arbor goes in to with alcohol and set the barrel assembly aside. I then take a small piece of J B steel stick and knead it thoroughly and make a ball of about 25 caliber and drop it in. I put a light coat of silicone on the tip of the arbor. Then I put the barrel assembly and cylinder on and tap the wedge in tight. If the wedge goes in too far too easily I pull it apart and make another smaller ball and repeat the procedure. Next I push the wedge in just until the spring pops up. I let it set like that over night. This procedure has worked very well for me. The picture shows the imprint from the tip of the arbor.

 

[Navy Six 2]

Thanks for posting this. I considered doing the same thing a few years ago but was concerned about long term durability of the Steel-Stick. Hope this woks well for you. I have a couple new Uberti 51/61 Navies squirreled away that are untouched. I may try a side by side comparison--one with the usual fitted steel washer and the other with the procedure you outlined. I have been happy with the steel washer routine, but as I am now retired I have time to experiment with these things.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

In my experience, JB Weld will not hold up well over time and tends to crack. How many rounds have you fired in your guns and over what period of time?

 

[white smoke]

Thanks for your input JCooper. Just to be clear I don't use regular JB epoxy. The steel stick steel reinforced putty is what I use. This pic is of the first one I did about 2 years ago on my Leech and Rigdon. It also happens to be the revolver I shoot the most. An honest guess would be around 200 rounds. Seem to be holding up well.

 

[dirt-poor]

In my experience, JB Weld will not hold up well over time and tends to crack. How many rounds have you fired in your guns and over what period of time?

I've been curious about that. I thought about trying J-B Weld with a shim, but have been uncertain about how well it can tolerate the pressure, impact, or whatever stresses it is subjected to in the arbor hole.

 

[gtrgy888]

Washers work best for me. With a pocket model I have, I’ll be using a small ball of compressed aluminum foil to make a similar fix, since washers aren’t usually sold that small.

 

[Captain*kirk]

JMHO, but JB Weld (of any type) is a structural epoxy. If you lay it on an anvil and give it a good talking to with a ball peen hammer, most likely you will crack, flatten, or pulverize it. Do the same with a steel washer and the difference becomes pretty apparent.
Your gun, your choice. But I wouldn't use it myself for that reason.

 

[white smoke]

Duly noted Captain Kirk. I’ll keep a close eye on it.

 

[Captain*kirk]

Duly noted Captain Kirk. I’ll keep a close eye on it.

Let us know what, if anything, happens!

 

[dickydalton]

Washers work best for me. With a pocket model I have, I’ll be using a small ball of compressed aluminum foil to make a similar fix, since washers aren’t usually sold that small.

In the 2nd gen Colts that I haven't yet sent to the Goon I wrap a washer in tinfoil at the proper thickness and it works very well.

 

[hawg]

I would think tinfoil to be a poor choice. Seems like it would just keep compressing.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

My own choice is to drill and tap the arbor and fit a button head screw to make up the difference, it's a bit time consuming but it ain't gonna fall out or get squished.

 

[Captain*kirk]

I would think tinfoil to be a poor choice. Seems like it would just keep compressing.

I concur.

 

[Captain*kirk]

My own choice is to drill and tap the arbor and fit a button head screw to make up the difference, it's a bit time consuming but it ain't gonna fall out or get squished.

I concur with this as well.

 

[vintovka]

On another ML thread guy was complaining that cyl pin to wedge was loose. When i saw the cyl pin pics i immediately knew that that the end of the pin had been drilled and tapped for an adjustable all thread type allenhead screw. I have seen this before. Everyone responded with various possible fixes until the op used an allenhead wrench to turn it out. After that it was noted that the wedge had been altered (side shaved) and was very loose in the slot . Replacing the wedge would have been best. In smithing i have seen many alterations. Many are multiple tries to cure the same problem. Some are just bubba fixes that were done to improve something that should have been left alone. The point to all of this is to really think about all the aspects of a proposed repair before you start and often the simplest is the best.

 

[shootemup58]

In the 2nd gen Colts that I haven't yet sent to the Goon I wrap a washer in tinfoil at the proper thickness and it works very well.

What is the purpose of wrapping the washer in tinfoil? To hold it in the bottom of the arbor hole?

 

[hawg]

What is the purpose of wrapping the washer in tinfoil? To hold it in the bottom of the arbor hole?

To take up space where another washer would be too thick.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

That set screw in the arbor was most likely a bearing type fix for the wedge, Goon does that on stuff he fixes as a wear compensation device. My fix is to rebuild the wedge or the slot in the arbor.

 

[dickydalton]

I concur with this as well.

If you keep compressing it one wrap at a time it is finally solid and stays together as one piece. It works fine.