.36 cal CVA binding up

[Thunder14]

Have a 1983 CVA 1851 .36cal Brass frame,its binding up after 3 shots its so tight you cant rotate the cylinder and you have to pry the cylinder off. This is the first time I’ve ever had this type of issue none of my other revolvers have ever done this.I load this the same as my other .36 cal revolvers they are Steele frame any ideas of what is going on.Cylinder gap is within margins nothing out of the ordinary with the gun As far as i can tell.

 

[sourdough]

Have you had the revolver long, and has it been doing this for the duration?

 

[Thunder14]

I picked this one up fom a fellow member it was brand new never fired,its been a bit of a temperamental gun from the start,the arbor is not pined and it just binds up after three shots when i say bind up i mean you need a screw driver to pry the cylinder off the arbor.I haven’t pined the arbor yet want to see about the binding issue maybe need to replace the arbor not sure.

 

[sourdough]

A couple of photos showing the arbor from the front of the recoil shield and the the rear of the frame beneath the hammer would help. Is the arbor loose?

 

[44Bro]

Measure the cylinder from the arbor hole out. It sounds to me like the arbor hole is off center. ASM did have some QC problems.

 

[Thunder14]

Thank you,checked arbor hole for center and it is not off center. Cylinder spins freely checked for runoff and it was fine.issue is only after third shot.Yes the arbor was loose I locktited it until i get a chance to pin it depending on if i need a new arbor.ill get some pictures out today.

 

[Thunder14]

I’m leaning towards the arbor as being the issue at factory settin the cylinder rubs the nose cone if i back the arbor out 1/2 a turn the gap is .018 with the hammer at 1/2 cock and wedge all the way in then its hit and miss on if it fires.wondering if taking a little off the nose cone would be the way to go or trying a new arbor.

 

[44Bro]

Short arbor syndrome. Make a shim for the arbor hole in the barrel. Try for ~.002" barrel cylinder gap with the wedge tapped into place. Also check that the cylinder face is square with the arbor hole.

 

[Thunder14]

Ya i was thinking that was the issue,thanks for the input

 

[Zonie]

Have a 1983 CVA 1851 .36cal Brass frame,its binding up after 3 shots its so tight you cant rotate the cylinder and you have to pry the cylinder off. This is the first time I’ve ever had this type of issue none of my other revolvers have ever done this.I load this the same as my other .36 cal revolvers they are Steele frame any ideas of what is going on.Cylinder gap is within margins nothing out of the ordinary with the gun As far as i can tell.

Did you grease the arbor?
Those grooves on the arbor were designed to hold grease and to keep the fouling from working it's way into the arbor hole in the cylinder.
If the grooves were not greased, it is a sure fire way of getting the gun to lock up.

 

[Thunder14]

Yes I keep it well greased,this gun has just been a stickler from the get go,#10 caps are a bear to get on #11 are way to loose its just the red head out of the group.I just keep in mind its an 1983 CVA there was not much in quality control back then.I just started shooting this one so it has never been fired until resently

 

[Musketeer]

Just a thought: since the cylinder is locking up, then getting stuck on the frame to the point it needs to be pried off, could it be that the cylinder stop/bolt is binding/locking up somehow after a few shots? That would certainly stop the cylinder from rotating and make it very difficult to get off the arbor.

 

[Thunder14]

I will check to see if the hand or the cylinder stop is binding, Ive never had any of my revolvers act up like this I’m anal about cleaning and maintaining my guns so its not neglect causing this. Could be as stated maybe getting a buildup of powder under the cylinder And causing the stop to jam