New 1851 wedge problem

[Tinpan58]

Just got home with a beautiful 1851 navy I got at a local gun store, it is a pietta made in 2009 for EMF. and I cant get the wedge out I was hitting it pretty hard and it did not even budge, already put some little scratches on the gun. The guy at the gun store told me I had to remove the screw the knock the wedge out, but I was reading a thread that said the screw puts tension on the spring clip to push it down as you drive the wedge out. all my other guns are all 1858s so this is my first experience with the wedge thing. I am going shooting sunday and really want to shoot this gun. Will I be able to clean it up alright with out removing the wedge after shooting, the 58s start binding after 18 -24 rounds and I have to wipe down the cylinder pins, will I have the same problems with the 1851. any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thamk You

 

[72coupe]

I haven't owned a Navy since 1967 but with my other Colt clones, a Navy, couple different 1860 Armys, couple 2nd Dragoons, a 1849 Pocket and a 3rd Model Dragoon, I have always been able to push them out with my thumb after the first time.

I would just tap it out with a wooden or leather mallet. Leave the screw alone.

 

[Tinpan58]

I’m using a wooden dowel and a rubber mallet I have tried wiggling it back and forth tapping on one side than the other it just wont move?

 

[junkman_01]

Don't use the rubber mallet. Use a plastic or rawhide mallet directly on the wedge to start it.

 

[denster]

You are the unfortunate victim of Luigi the gorilla wedge setter. Pietta has recently corrected that problem but prior to late 2009 I think they installed their wedges with an arbor press. Generally you can use a brass drift and with the gun supported get it started. I have had them where I had to use an arbor press to get them out. You do need to get it out before you shoot it because you can't properly clean it without dissasembly.

 

[rcflint]

The Pietta has (usually) an arbor the full depth of the socket in the barrel when the barrel and frame meet, so it bottoms out, and a wedge driven in tightly, particularly at the factory where the blue is new and the parts are not broken in, can be jammed quite tightly. Try injecting some WD-40 or such to wet the surfaces. Keep trying, most posts here with the same problem eventually get it loose.

I agree with the above comment, a plastic mallet has more "shock" than a rubber one. You might also try a brass drift rather than wood. Of course, don't use steel.

An Uberti factory uses a shorter arbor which does not bottom out (though it should), so the problem of the jammed wedge doesn't happen as often.

 

[Tinpan58]

Thanks for the responses, I did read some things about this problem with pietta, but was hopping I might escape it, the mallet I am using is rubber on one-side and hard plastic on the other, I did squirt some WD40 in there and have been taping it lightly to try and work it in will get a brass drift tomorrow and give that a try, don’t have any heavy duty tools or even a vice for that matter, may have to take it to a gunsmith if I can’t get it out. Thanks again guess this is part of the learning process all part of the fun LOL

 

[arcticap]

If it still proves to be difficult using a brass punch, heating the parts should loosen them up a bit.
One idea would be to heat up some transmission fluid on a hotplate and then place the barrel into enough hot oil to cover the parts and then cook it there long enough for them to get nice and hot before trying to bang it out.
But because doing that using hot oil could get messy, another idea would be to perform the same process using boiling water. The hot water should mostly evaporate but there's the possibly of some water getting trapped and also for flash rust to form.

 

[junkman_01]

Tinpan58 wrote:

...and have been tapping it lightly

Be a man and hit it H-A-R-D-E-R! Give it a good bash. You aren't going to break it.

 

[J-Bar]

As suggested, let the WD-40 soak a while, then tap the exposed side of the wedge on the lateral side of the wedge...as if to make it wiggle from side to side.

If the end of the wedge is protruding on right side of the frame, hold the gun in your left hand with the left side of the gun next to your palm (to catch the wedge when it comes out), and smack the hell out of the tip of the wedge.

I'm bettin' it came out....

 

[junkman_01]

Like I said....

Be a man and hit it H-A-R-D-E-R! Give it a good bash.

 

[Hellgate]

Support the barrel with a block of wood near where the wedge is but allowing for it to clear, then using the edge of a brass house key for a drift, smack the key to knock the wedge out. Keep your fingers out of the way by holding the key on edge by the toothed part. Then clean etc. and grease the wedge before reassembling it.

 

[Tinpan58]

Yah!! got it off, just got home from work couldn't find any brass punches anywhere only metal ones so picked up a couple of brass machine screws, squirted some more WD40 on and with one whack and out she came. Going shooting in the morning to see how this babe matches up to the 58s one of them is the .36 police 6 1/2” so it should be a fair battle. Thanks again for all the help!