cylinder alignment

[David Meister]

How do I check the cylinder alignment on my lemat revolver and adjust it if necessary?

 

[LeMat1856]

.
. july 11 / 11:55pm


to begin, there are two levels of disassembly - routine and full.. by looking down into the .44 barrel with a bore light, you should be able to see if the alignment is correct.

the routine procedure simply requires removing the grip screw and grips; removing the takedown lever or screw (depends on which model you have); then unscrewing the upper barrel.

this will expose the cylinder stop, return spring, and retaining nut.

the full disassembly routine requires a special bit to engage the spanner slots on the side plate nut.. you may also need a hollow ground screwdriver bit that is thin and wide enough to engage the right end of the hammer screw.

i have read that removing the sideplate can be difficult and might require heating with direct flame and a non-marring tool to aid in hitting the grip frame to 'bounce' it off without causing burrs by trying to pry it off.

once the left sideplate is off the major lock parts are exposed.. the hammer screw and trigger are easy to remove and replace.

from this point the hammer cam and cam timing adjustment screw can be reached.

that's as far as i can go.. none of the books i have actually explain how or what adjusts anything.

personally i wouldn't tinker with anything.. you know the old saying: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

good luck, and hope this helps,

~d~

 

[bob308]

to check cylinder to bore alinement you need a rod that will just fit in the bore you slide it down and see if it goes in the chamber without catching.

 

[David Meister]

when I look down the bore with a light I can see a small portion of the cylinder face on the right side

 

[LeMat1856]

.
. july 13 / 02:20am


that's not good.

i cycled through all 9 chambers on mine and each lines up perfectly.

can this be done at home with simple tools....

yes, and no. first, do you have any schematics that show the parts and their interaction ? if you don't have the original booklet that comes from pietta, you can download one from VTI parts company (http://www .vtigunparts .com) - they sell parts for lemat, etc..

from the home page, select pietta, then pietta lemat revolver.. that will give you a parts diagram with numbers that match their parts order list - not the handbook list.

the items of interest from that schematic are:
53 - Rension Spring Adjustment Screw
80 - Cylinder Stop Return Spring
82 - Cylinder Stop Retaining Nut
83 - Cylinder Stop Tension Spring
84 - Cylinder Stop Tension Spring Screw

these are the only adjustment parts that can be reached from the 'routine' disassembly.. all the others can only be reached by 'full' disassembly.

in order to do the full disassembly you will need the two pronged bit for the left side hammer screw nut and a screwdriver that fits the right side head of the hammer screw.. one member here, madcratebuilder, actually makes these and you should contact him to get them because they are not available anywhere else that i know of.. i got a set and they fit perfectly.

i just had a thought: is this still under warranty ? if so, send it back no question.

let me know what you think so far.

~d~

 

[madcratebuilder]

The LeMat cylinder is locked in position by a pin the protrudes from the recoil shield. The pin protrudes about an 1/8 inch and engages those small holes on the back of the cylinder. There is no adjustment in this area.
The only way I can see to adjust barrel alignment is working with the barrel release lever on the Calvary model or the knurled barrel release pin on the Army/Navy models. ie turning the barrel on the frame.
Have you shot this revolver? Does it spit lead, or have a poor accuracy issue? A minor misalignment is not always an problem. Revolvers have a forcing cone that assists in aligning the bullet as it leaves the chamber.

 

[David Meister]

This model has no forcing cone. I have tried turing the barrel with no effect. No I have not fired it I do not wish to with the alignment problem.

 

[Leatherbark]

Did Pietta make the Le Mat...........If so I've bought a few Pietta Colt types from Cabelas that had no forcing cone whatsoever and had to make one. An L.E Wilson (RCBS)de burring tool will cut that Tally steel like butter. Bob

 

[David Meister]

I believe all reproduction LeMats are made by pietta

 

[LeMat1856]

.
. july 23 / 03:20am


that is currently true.. there were, however, different companies that requested customized versions for their outlet - navy arms, for example had their name stamped on the barrel.. many other companies had special editions made long ago for some commemorations and whatnot.

it looks like you've got to send it back.. the only other way out of this is to buy replacement parts on a trial and error basis... very expensive and time consuming.. it could be months before a part is delivered and then *that one* might not fit perfectly..

this isn't the first time a lemon has gotten through pietta's quality control.. i've heard of worse.

tough luck and you have my sympathies - but, the good news is that they are on sale for $699 now at cabela's.. if you buy directly from them, you can send it back just because you feel like it - seriously..

suggestion: keep this for spare parts, buy a brand new one for shooting, and you'll have a lifetime of use between the two.. grips can break ($195 per set), loading levers can bend ($68), replacement hammer ($175), etc..

are you stuck with it or can you send it back ?

~d~

ps. sorry this took so long but at least we prevailed.

pps. and thanks madcrate, i know you're booked to next year. i owe you yet another one.

ppps. now that i think of it, i'll offer $100 for it as is.