CVA Kit

[WindLaker]

I just re-finished my CVA Hawken. I built it in 1984 (or so), and the stock was pretty dinged & scratched up.

Anyway, I'm putting it together tonight, and the set trigger is working terrible. The regular trigger is fine.

In the re-finishing, all I did was the wood - never touched any of the metal. It's been so long since I set up the set trigger, I forgot the details of adjusting it. :hmm:

When I pull the set trigger, everything feels OK. WHen I then pull the regular trigger, it's no longer a "Hair Trigger"; I have to pull the regular trigger pretty hard to get the hammer to release.

Thanks in advance for any help.

WindLaker

 

Ya probably got a bind when you put the trigger back in. The most common reason for this would be over-tightening the tang screw that runs thru and attaches the trigger. I would start by loosening it by a half turn and then try it. You may have pulled it too far up into the trigger inlet, and are binding on something or you may have warped the trigger assy. Those would be the first things to check. Bill

 

[Zonie]

What Bill said.

If loosening the screws doesn't fix it, remove it from the stock and try it out of the gun.

If it works out of the gun, it is hitting something inside the stock.
Steal some of your wifes lipstick and rub a very light coating on the rear triggers vertical "blade", reinstall it and try it.
If it's hitting the wood, it will leave a lipstick mark.
Sand or chisle the marked area and try again.

If the trigger doesn't work out of the gun, get back with us and we'll figure it out.

 

[WindLaker]

The trigger does work out of the gun; the set trigger "sets", and the trigger will work with lighter pressure as I adjust the set screw.

I will try the lipstick trick tonight.

How can I tell if the trigger plate is warped? There is a curve to it naturally. Do I try to bend it the opposite way?

WindLaker

 

If it's working out of the gun it's not warped. Follow Zonie's advice, but I like candle or lamp oil smoke as a transfer media. I think its easier to clean up, and it's just too hard a decision what lipstick color to use, to match with my stock finish to :rotf: :rotf: Bill

 

[Zonie]

I suggested lipstick because it is usually easy to get (as long as your wife doesn't catch you). :grin:
To save some grief, it is usually best to go to her and tell her what you want and why. That way she won't start to wonder about your secret life. :rotf:

If you use the lipstick, be very careful when installing the trigger assembly making sure it doesn't rub on anything when you put it in, or when you later take it out.
Don't look just at the wood for lipstick. Look at the trigger assy for areas where you put it on, but it rubbed off. Sometimes that is easier to see than a slight smudge on the wood.

Zonie

 

[MikeChapin]

You may want to try the trigger function with the triggers in and the lock out of the rifle. If they work well with the lock out you might have deepened the inlet and got them too close to the sear. There is enough room to set the trigger but to release the rear trigger, the front trigger is pressing up against the sear before releasing the rear trigger.

If that's the case, you can shim the trigger plate out a little or grind some off the top to the triggers.

 

[WindLaker]

I'm back.

Marked the "blades" of both triggers (used the color "Mirage"). The front trigger hit the sear about 3/16" from the back of the blade. The set trigger's blade hit the sear about 5/16" from the back of the blade.

I tried the trigger assy in the gun, without the lock, and it still worked fine.

I hoping you guys can give me more help.

WindLaker

 

OK, we're getting somewhere. We now know the trigger's fine, and that probably it's the sear that has the bind in it. Put in the trigger, and leave it, then start by loosening the lock screws slightly and try it, or you can leave the trigger out, and try to engage the sear bar with a screwdriver to see if it is bound, or hard. If it's bound it's probably the hole that the sear bar fits into, or the lock itself. So it's time to check the the lock off the gun, same as you did with the trigger. Check that hole for debris, and if none, it's time for more lipstick on the sear bar (that's the piece the trigger wil engage). Both trigger, and lock mechanisims have to be free and clear in a very tight confine, so that lock mortice doesn't leave very much play room. Try those things, and let us know Bill

 

[MikeChapin]

I'm back.

Marked the "blades" of both triggers (used the color "Mirage"). The front trigger hit the sear about 3/16" from the back of the blade. The set trigger's blade hit the sear about 5/16" from the back of the blade.

I tried the trigger assy in the gun, without the lock, and it still worked fine.

I hoping you guys can give me more help.

WindLaker

From what you have said it sounds like the triggers are too deep. The front trigger is resting on the sear. The front trigger requires a little bit of travel to trip the set trigger. When you pull the front trigger it is pushing against the sear so by the time the rear trigger trips, you have already fired the rifle.

The quickest fix would be to put a shim between the trigger plate and the stock. A thin piece of wood or brass stock should work. It should not take much - just enough to give the trigger enough clearance to trip the rear trigger without pressing against the sear.

 

[WindLaker]

I played with the depth of inletting last night. I moved it in and out with the same results.

I'm really confused as to why I'm having these problems. When I refinished the stock, all I did was strip the finish, sand the scratches & dings, and re-stain & seal. I didn't touch ANY of the inletting.

I'll try some shims, to assure the trigger assy. doesn't move at all when pulling the triggers.

WindLaker

 

[WindLaker]

Thank you gentlemen.

After playing with the depth via tang screw, I dot it working again.

Hope to be shooting this weekend.

:bow:

WindLaker

 

See there Windlaker, that's what's so good about this here Forum, You'll get help til it's fixed or broke for good, beyond any repair :rotf: Let us know how she shoots, now that she's all gussied up, and pretty . Bill