I recently purchased a very nice wheellock, and I am itching to try it out. I'll probably wait for some nice spring weather, but I started thinking about cleaning it, with the wheel, grooves, pan clearances, and places I probably can't get to well unless I take the lock apart, which I am loath to do. Any suggestions?
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Cleaning wheellock
- Thread starter Ohio.75
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Remove lock and go outside. Outdoors ... spray gun cleaner or brake cleaner of your choice. Definitely only use in a WELL ventilated area!
Works slick, then oil. I also grease the hub where the innermost axle of the tumbler is supported. Make sure the chain is oiled too.
Works slick, then oil. I also grease the hub where the innermost axle of the tumbler is supported. Make sure the chain is oiled too.
That's what I was afraid of. Do you have an opinion on modern solvents vs. BP?
Seems like solvents might be easier for the intracacies of a lock.
Or, just rinse well with room temperature water and then dry with a hair dryer or heat gun (on low) or in Winter time, place on a radiator or heat duct to dry.
Canute Rex
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Being a professional wet blanket, I'd say you should at least learn to remove the wheel and clean behind it. I don't know what kind of lock you have, but there will be a one or two screw retaining piece and probably two screws holding the pan on.
Keep track of the position of the dimple on the back and get that back where it was.
When reassembling you'll probably have to pull the sear (as if pulling the trigger) to let the other end of the sear move inwards, out of the way of the wheel.
A LOT of crud collects behind the wheel..
Keep track of the position of the dimple on the back and get that back where it was.
When reassembling you'll probably have to pull the sear (as if pulling the trigger) to let the other end of the sear move inwards, out of the way of the wheel.
A LOT of crud collects behind the wheel..
Thank you!
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Being sort of into wheellocks might we have a description or photoe perhaps. ? is it original, Old replica & by who . .Which is being nosey but might be one I made it would have a double headed loon if so on its Cheek stock . I washed mine , no solvents .
Regards Rudyard
Regards Rudyard
Brian Anderson built it last year. It is the only one I've ever handled, but I am very pleased with it. I will try to take some photos tonight after work.
So, my phone doesn't have a great camera, and I'm no photographer, but here are a few photos. I took the sidebolts out, and the lock didn't want to come out. I don't know if I would need to take the tang bolt out or not. I thought I would do some research so I don't mess it up. I don't know a lot about the design, obviously.
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bpflint2007
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Can’t help you but wanted to say that looks really nice.
Thanks! It certainly sparks well.
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It looks well ,I gather fine notches & strong springs are the fashion along with the Chinees pyrites .I use deeper notches & to date the' Fools gold ' form seems to work but being friable is more suited to hunting than range shooting what sourse is your Pyrite might I enquire . Regards Rudyard
Right now I have a few that Mr. Anderson provided. Before I learned that ebay had a ton, I did buy a couple 1/2" cubes from an online gem shop that are sourced from Spain. I haven't cut them up to try them yet.
Canute Rex
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The ones that Brian Anderson gave Ohio.75 he got from me and I got from eBay. They are the rough Chinese cubic ones. Look up "cubic pyrite golden" on eBay and you'll see listings for 100 gram and 1 kilogram lots of the rough cubes (as well as the shiny Spanish ones you should ignore). I cut them into 3/16" to 1/4" slices and they work fine.
I will try that search. Thank you.
DuncNZ
54 Cal.
Nice Wheel lock , My advise is never use any spray can cleaner on any part potentially under tension ie: springs , It can freeze the metal and cause it to snap, I found this out the hard way ,
I take mine to pieces , after every use and clean it with a Ballistol moose milk and a tooth brush, then dry it all off and oil with Ballistol , so what if it takes time , I get pleasure from sitting in my work shop cleaning my firearms .
Make sure you have a good set of screwdrivers which fit the heads properly.
I use a Dremel tool with a reinforced disk to cut the cubic pyrites .
I take mine to pieces , after every use and clean it with a Ballistol moose milk and a tooth brush, then dry it all off and oil with Ballistol , so what if it takes time , I get pleasure from sitting in my work shop cleaning my firearms .
Make sure you have a good set of screwdrivers which fit the heads properly.
I use a Dremel tool with a reinforced disk to cut the cubic pyrites .
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Thank you all for your responses re Pyrites I did buy some gray dull "Pyrites' at a Maine flea market I must find them & try . I cant forsee any rush to get wheellocks . They are what might be termed 'Cool' but some like a challenge ( & ime one of them ), Two pistols & three cheek stocked rifles & the one shoulder stock that Cutfinger has not exactly mass production but enough perhaps to have some clues but certainly enough to know Iv'e a lot more to learn .
Regards Rudyard
Regards Rudyard
I'd love to see some pictures of your work if you get a chance some time.
I'm sure that what Rudyard doesn't know about Wheel locks and Match locks would fit on a single Gnat's Testicle..Trust you are well Old Friend.. OLD DOG..
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