Dragoon Arbor is Possibly Uneven

[Shankdaddy]

I recently bought a Uberti Dragoon and I’m trying to see if it has a short arbor or not. The only problem is when I try to put the arbor back in at a 90° angle to check arbor depth, it won’t fit (pic related). In fact, any angle past 5° either side of completely vertical does not allow the arbor to enter the cavity past an inch or so. Is my arbor just tight and will loosen up, or is it completely out of shape? Any advice is welcome!

 

[Phil Coffins]

Be sure your wedge isn’t interfering. Check the slot for burrs, this is common. Then carefully twist the barrel as you put it on to find where it’s tight, don’t force it.

 

[Bad Karma]

I recently bought a Uberti Dragoon and I’m trying to see if it has a short arbor or not. The only problem is when I try to put the arbor back in at a 90° angle to check arbor depth, it won’t fit (pic related). In fact, any angle past 5° either side of completely vertical does not allow the arbor to enter the cavity past an inch or so. Is my arbor just tight and will loosen up, or is it completely out of shape? Any advice is welcome!

I’ve found that some of these revolvers won’t allow you to check arbor length like this. What you can do is drop a shim or two into the recess until the barrel assembly shows a gap between it and the frame. Measure that gap and then measure the shims and subtract one from the other to tell you how short the arbor is. If any.

 

[Shankdaddy]

I’ve found that some of these revolvers won’t allow you to check arbor length like this. What you can do is drop a shim or two into the recess until the barrel assembly shows a gap between it and the frame. Measure that gap and then measure the shims and subtract one from the other to tell you how short the arbor is. If any.

I decided to do this, I got a stainless steel #10 washer and flattened it on a stone until the wedge clip came out the other side by hand. Not sure if that will be 100% correct but it definitely had a short arbor. I tried soldering it on the tip of the arbor but it kept falling off. I wish I had a more permanent fix, maybe I'll send it off to Goons one day.

 

[Dashing Leper]

I dropped a thin appliance washer down the well of my first Dragoon and could not get the wedge in. I will have to repeat the process with my other Dragoon and maybe the Walker as well to gauge their wells.

 

[Bad Karma]

I decided to do this, I got a stainless steel #10 washer and flattened it on a stone until the wedge clip came out the other side by hand. Not sure if that will be 100% correct but it definitely had a short arbor. I tried soldering it on the tip of the arbor but it kept falling off. I wish I had a more permanent fix, maybe I'll send it off to Goons one day.

You could build up the end of the arbor with jb weld and then file it to fit... now that you know the required dimensions.

 

[Shankdaddy]

You could build up the end of the arbor with jb weld and then file it to fit... now that you know the required dimensions.

I was thinking about using jb weld to keep the washer on the end of the arbor actually

 

[Bad Karma]

I was thinking about using jb weld to keep the washer on the end of the arbor actually

That should work too, degrease everything thoroughly first and it should last.

 

[Shankdaddy]

I got it attached and smoothed the jb weld out with a razor blade. Now to just let it cure for a few days! I’ll update and show how it comes out.

 

[Shankdaddy]

Mission successful, worked like a charm.