1851 Navy not working right

[M. De Land]

That is a great idea! I've replaced the springs with piano wire instead of flat springs and they worked perfectly.
Also Piano wire will last practically for ever with out breaking.
Thanks for suggesting that to him.

 

[crockett]

Well if the old hand ran like a champ then there was a hand that worked with all chambers (my thinking is therefore you don't have a ratchet problem). ALWAYS go with the cheap, easy to correct fix- in this case shortening the hand.
Polish the hand sides if rough so it slides up and down its slot okay.
Theoretically one hand and 6 chambers- the hand ought to wear 6 times faster than the teeth.
On old guns I think what happens is repeated use of ill fitting parts deforms the racket teeth in time- raises a bur. Also- on cheaper revolvers- poor machining.
AND.....all this points to the folly that years ago spare cylinders were carried for reloading quickly. All this hand fitting pretty much rules that out.
Question..my brain isn't in gear today but if the hand is a little too short but the cylinder is moving- will the momentum put it in the notch? In other words- in this case if the two jamming chambers are corrected then are the remaining 4 too short but even if short- doesn't make that much of a difference- if that makes sense.
Years ago I did one revolver where I was adamant for the bolt to pop up in the leade so there would not be a wear line on the cylinder. A lot of work and I'm not sure it was worth it. Functionally makes no difference- all cosmetic.

 

[M. De Land]

I would correct the two tall teeth to match the other four than fit the hand length to the end of the hammer stroke to where all felt bind is removed.
This will give even stressing and thus wear on all ratchet teeth.
The new long hand just revealed the out of spec teeth that would be corrected in a custom fitting job.
My 62 Police came to me in the same shape and I had to file two of the five teeth to match the three that were shorter but still carried up the cylinder. You will be able to feel the bind and the end of the hammer stroke if some of the teeth are tall.
I used a four sided Swiss file with one safe side and carefully mimicked the size shape and profile of the teeth that operated correctly.
I did not have to touch the hand nose to correct the 62 carry up function. It was completely do to out of spec ratchet teeth.
Now it carries up perfectly and smoothly on all chambers with the thumb drag test.
The cylinder should carry up with thumb drag pressure or it won't when it gets fouled.

 

[99whip]

Did you get it working smoothly again?

 

[M. De Land]

Most folks are deathly afraid to adjust a ratchet star with good reason.
I was as well but once watched a factory trained Smith and Wesson gun dealer adjust a revolver carry up. He got out his fine Barret file and gave the tall teeth on the cylinder a couple of strokes, installed the hand after dressing and it worked perfectly.
I believe Jerry Knunhausen shows how in one or more of his tune up manuals for various makes of revolver as well.
It is common practice with custom revolver smiths.
When the 62 police showed up at a local gun shop I cycled it and felt the tall teeth on two of the cylinders that I knew either came from the factory or the previous owner had broken the hand and tried to install a new one, failed and sold the revolver.
I was able to buy it at a substantial discount when pointing this out to the salesman behind the counter.
Mimicking the tooth shape and size of the three that functioned properly, just as I saw the Smith
& Wesson dealer do at his shop, resulted in the same effect, a perfectly functioning revolver without ever having to shorten the hand.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Sell it and get a single shot target pistol and forget about cap jams, adjusting ratchets, cap sucking, binding up, etc. etc.

 

[M. De Land]

I'm hopeless as I have three single shot target pistols as well.
Two Yazels and a Patriot.
I also find revolvers interesting though and am always picking up new tips and ideas from folks of how to tune them up.
Some ideas are not so hot but get one thinking outside the box and the end result is improvement in overall capabilities.
We can truly learn from anyone who has interest enough to contribute a thought.

 

[Frozenwinter]

Sorry for the long delay without an update.
Got it working, filing down the new hand slightly was enough to get all 6 chambers to engage.

As for getting a single shot pistol, well im probably heading down that road. I'll keep the navy but im looking at a few different single shot pistols, both flint and percussion. Leaning more twords flint as i seem to have been bitten by the flintlock bug.
Also kinda want a handgonne for some reason.

Thanks again for all the advice everyone. :v