Traditions Trapper not holding half cock

[Jappo]

Have a question. I have a Trapper pistol. It holds at half cock but if the trigger is pulled the hammer falls. Works fine from full cock, whether I use just one trigger or the set. I took the lock apart to see if there might be a burr or something keeping the hall cock sear from holding. Didn't find anything. But I did notice the fly is missing. It has a place for one. Could this cause the sear from not engaging correctly?

 

[smo]

Winner , winner chicken dinner!

 

[Grenadier1758]

Have a question. I have a Trapper pistol. It holds at half cock but if the trigger is pulled the hammer falls. Works fine from full cock, whether I use just one trigger or the set. I took the lock apart to see if there might be a burr or something keeping the hall cock sear from holding. Didn't find anything. But I did notice the fly is missing. It has a place for one. Could this cause the sear from not engaging correctly?

Deer Creek should have the replacement fly and the tumbler if one is needed. The half cock position should prevent the hammer from falling. Is there anything in the lock mortise that might prevent the sear from entering the half cock notch in the tumbler. The Trapper pistol has the double set triggers and should have the fly to prevent the sear from going into the half cock notch from full cock to down. Absence of the fly shouldn't prevent the half cock notch function unless the fly was lost and the trigger pulled often enough when set. When firing the triggers set, the sear rides along the tumbler, the fly prevents the sear from going into the half cock notch. Repeated firing will damage the half cock notch retention slot, and half cock will no longer hold. Look at the tumbler. Will the half cock notch fully capture the nose of the sear? Are the trigger levers too high and preventing the sear in the lock from entering the half cock notch? My guess is that the tumbler is broken from abuse caused by firing the gun using set triggers while having lost the fly.

 

[wiscoaster]

....But I did notice the fly is missing. It has a place for one. Could this cause the sear from not engaging correctly?

Yes. Traditions does sell parts for their guns, but you can't order online. You have to call them on the phone and talk to a parts person. As detailed above you might need more parts than just the fly.

 

[Jappo]

Deer Creek should have the replacement fly and the tumbler if one is needed. The half cock position should prevent the hammer from falling. Is there anything in the lock mortise that might prevent the sear from entering the half cock notch in the tumbler. The Trapper pistol has the double set triggers and should have the fly to prevent the sear from going into the half cock notch from full cock to down. Absence of the fly shouldn't show to prevent the half cock notch unless the fly was lost and the trigger pulled often enough when set. When firing the triggers set, the sear rides along the tumbler, the fly prevents the sear from going into the half cock notch. Repeated firing will damage the half cock notch retention slot, and half cock will no longer hold. Look at the tumbler. Will the half cock notch fully capture the nose of the sear? Are the trigger levers too high and preventing the sear in the lock from entering the half cock notch? My guess is that the tumbler is broken from abuse caused by firing the gun using set triggers while having lost the fly.

Ah ok. I see what you mean. I bet that's what happened. The sear goes into the notch but kinda like in an angle. I noticed the sear is also buggered some. From what you're telling me I think i will need tumbler, trip sear and the fly. Might just replace the the whole lock. I'll check to see what is more feasible cost wise.
Thanks for that info. I really appreciate it.

 

[Jappo]

Found the parts at TOW. Is this what is called the Spanish Maslin lock. Be about 75 for the three parts.
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/763/1/lock-lr-01-c

 

[wiscoaster]

..... Might just replace the the whole lock. .....

Probably what I'd opt to do in the same situation, if cost doesn't prohibit, just to get the thing working. Then as least you know all the parts are new and properly mesh together to operate properly. I'm thinking that if just fixing it with parts is complex, and you're not sure of what you're doing with them, then sending the lock out to be fixed by expert repair (I'm thinking Paul Ackermann or Cabin Creek) is probably going to cost as much or more than a whole new lock anyway. More than just those parts, for sure. But .... OTOH ..... it might be fun just to get the parts and give it the old college try, if you don't mind gambling on the parts cost. Keep us posted on how you make out.

 

[Harry Marinakis]

Won't go into half cock. I assume it worked before but not now. Likely problems include:

Problem: Sear is in contact with the set trigger lever arm in the uncocked position.
Test: Try pulling the set trigger first to lower the set trigger lever arm out of the way. Then try going to half cock.
Solution: If you can go to half cock, then you've got to remove the trigger and adjust the trigger spring tension or backlash adjustment (if the trigger has one).

Problem: weak sear spring.
Test: Bend the sear spring open more:
Solution: If that fixes the issue, replace the sear spring. If you bend the sear spring then you should replace it regardless.

Problem: tumbler half cock notch worn or sear tooth worn.
Test: inspect those parts
Solution: Replace the sear and/or tumbler.

See this video

 

[Jappo]

Won't go into half cock. I assume it worked before but not now. Likely problems include:

Problem: Sear is in contact with the set trigger lever arm in the uncocked position.
Test: Try pulling the set trigger first to lower the set trigger lever arm out of the way. Then try going to half cock.
Solution: If you can go to half cock, then you've got to remove the trigger and adjust the trigger spring tension or backlash adjustment (if the trigger has one).

Problem: weak sear spring.
Test: Bend the sear spring open more:
Solution: If that fixes the issue, replace the sear spring. If you bend the sear spring then you should replace it regardless.

Problem: tumbler half cock notch worn or sear tooth worn.
Test: inspect those parts
Solution: Replace the sear and/or tumbler.

See this video

Looks like the sear tooth. Looks like the end used to have a lip and its about half gone. Probably been hitting the notch since the fly is missing. Full cock is still holding on though.
Those three items will have to be replaced for sure.
The parts shown at TOW say for the Tennessee. Will they work?
Either that or I'll call Traditions and see what they have. All they show online is the parts list but no way of ordering them.