Traditions mainspring???

[PitchyPine]

Pretty hard too cock my new Traditions Kentucky pistol, is there a way to lighten it up ?
Can ya file the mainspring and if so any instruction would be appreciated.
It`s a percussion.

 

[Roy]

You could, but that may not be the problem. It could be binding a bit or maybe the surface of the tumbler could be a be soft. Lots of little things can create that same problem. :v

 

[PitchyPine]

Yep i agree and that spring looks like it could be hard to get off. May have to leave well enough alone.

 

[Roy]

Just need to get a spring vise, its all not too horrible to deal with. PT sent :thumbsup:

 

[PitchyPine]

Just need to get a spring vise, its all not too horrible to deal with. PT sent :thumbsup:

Will have a go at it, thanks for the help, Another member has outlined the procedure also so i will give it a try. :hatsoff:

 

[dmills]

The mainspring on my new Trad. Kentucky pistol was scraping the side of the lock. I used a small pair of vice grips to compress and remove the spring. Then I filed the inside edge of the spring at the big bend where it was rubbing. Much smoother now but still stiffer than the hammer on either the T/C or the GPR (but those have coil springs).

 

[PitchyPine]

Ok got her done, the lock plate was bowed so i fattened that out first and smoothed up the surfaces. I then took about 1/16 inch off the out side of the spring, using a grinder first then finishing with a file.
Put it all back together and oiled and now it`s at 15 lbs to cock it, lots better.
I may take a little more off it after i use it for a while.
Thanks for all the help by PT from Paul and Roy. :hatsoff:

 

[PitchyPine]

I`m never satisfied :rotf: took it out and narrowed it some more, at ten lbs even now and feels good. :thumbsup:

 

[Cherokee]

I have used the visegrip spring clamp a few times. It works well.
I will add this. My old CVA mountain rifle spring and my Traditions kentucky rifle spring are interchangable.

 

[PitchyPine]

And ya can buy a replacement spring for a little over five bucks.
I`m glad i did the job now.

 

[renovato]

Congrats on getting it tuned! How much did you end up taking off the spring to lighten it?

 

[PitchyPine]

Congrats on getting it tuned! How much did you end up taking off the spring to lighten it?

So there`s no misunderstanding i narrowed the spring i did not thin it.
I didn`t measure it but i`m guessing i took about 1/8 th off. narrowed it on the bottom leaf only the whole length except the very end where the hook is. Actually it`s about as wide as the hook end now .
Just kept trying it till i got it down too ten lbs.
Weight the gun on a scale then stand the gun on its butt on the scale and cock it, deduct the weight of the gun from the reading and that`s the pull weight.

 

[J.D.]

I do hope that you didn't create any sharp corners at the transition of the foot and th espring body.

I also hope that you tapered the spring in width as you filed it.

A spring that has a sharp "break" will ultimately break at the point of the sharp corner.

A spring that is ot tapered will not flex properly, causing undue stress near the bend that will ultimately cause faliure.

I suggest buying a replacement for future use.
J.D.

 

[PitchyPine]

I do hope that you didn't create any sharp corners at the transition of the foot and th espring body.

I also hope that you tapered the spring in width as you filed it.

A spring that has a sharp "break" will ultimately break at the point of the sharp corner.

A spring that is ot tapered will not flex properly, causing undue stress near the bend that will ultimately cause faliure.

I suggest buying a replacement for future use.
J.D.

Ya must of seen this thread late, in my first post i was asking for all that good info.
Yep, did all that, no sharp edges and finished with a file and left a slight tapper.
Thanks.