Uberti 1849 Wells Fargo Problem

[FPrice]

My son recently purchased a Uberti 1849 Wells Fargo model from Midway USA. He tried to disassemble it for inspection and cleaning but ran into a problem. The barrel will not come off the frame as it is supposed to. The wedge was a bit stiff for removal but did come out. However the barrel seems to be stuck and will not move.

He tried to email Uberti the beginning of last week with no response. He plans on calling them later.

Has anyone else experienced a problem such as this?

Does anyone have any experience with Uberti customer service and their willingness to work with problems?

Thanks.

 

[kaotikross]

Probably a short arbor. It's a known issue.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Cut a wedge of wood with a slight taper that you can fit between the front of the cylinder and the lower part of the barrel. Tap it in to move the barrel forward.

 

[B P Arn]

Most BP revolvers are tight when new. They will soon enough loosen with use.

 

[SlidePicker]

With models having a loading lever, you turn the cylinder so the ram piston (whatever they really call it) pushes against the cylinder between chambers. Push the lever down and it pops right off. No lever on the Wells Fargo, alas.

 

[ZUG]

I have a newly purchased Walker that was STUCK FAST to the arbor. I had to use a rawhide mallet on the face of the cylinder to move the barrel off of the arbor. It looks to me that Uberti is now making their arbors a bit longer which in turn is binding at the bottom of the hole in the barrel - just my guess. After I got the barrel off I could see rub marks on the end of the arbor where it was rubbing on the bottom of the hole. Good luck with your 1849 Wells Fargo.

 

[user 51067]

Plastic toilet shims (available at any big box store) will work nicely as they are already wedge-shaped and shouldn't damage any finish.

 

[FPrice]

Plastic toilet shims (available at any big box store) will work nicely as they are already wedge-shaped and shouldn't damage any finish.

@Meggadeath
I am a little confused, for what purpose are you recommending these plastic shims?

 

[denster]

The problem folks run into with taking down a new Uberti is due to Uberti's half assed attempt to address the short arbor issue. What they did was increase the arbor diameter by a few thousandths to just in front of the cylinder making it slightly larger than the diameter of the arbor hole and ,at least for a period of time, keeping the barrel from being pulled to far forward by the wedge. However this causes the arbor hole to be forced up onto that increased diameter and sticking it in place. It will take a bit of force to get it apart. After a few takedowns the arbor hole will be wallowed out and it will no longer stick. Then you can deal with the short arbor problem.

 

[user 51067]

@Meggadeath
I am a little confused, for what purpose are you recommending these plastic shims?

The shims are wedge-shaped, and when tapped between the barrel and the cylinder will mover the barrel forward off the arbor without damage (like the wooden wedge previously suggested).

 

[FPrice]

The shims are wedge-shaped, and when tapped between the barrel and the cylinder will mover the barrel forward off the arbor without damage (like the wooden wedge previously suggested).

Any chance you could post a picture of one of these? It might help me find what you are suggesting.

 

[user 51067]

Any chance you could post a picture of one of these? It might help me find what you are suggesting.

Available at any of the "big box" stores or any plumbing supply.

 

[FPrice]

I appreciate all of the input but at this point it's a bit moot. We are expecting his revolver back today from Benelli. He shipped it back last week and they turned it around in just a few days with an email which read "repairs had been accomplished".

We shall see later today and I'll make a report on what happened.

 

[FPrice]

It just arrived and my son pulled it apart to see if they fixed it. Apparently they were able to remove the barrel. It's still very stiff coming off and shows no obvious damage. Nothing in the box about what they did.

At least he can now take it apart, clean off whatever grease/oil they ship it in, and then put it back together.

Now, to find/make some ammo.

 

[SSBN617b]

Now for the next step. Good luck in the future with your little gem.
Mitch

 

[FPrice]

Thanks, we are looking forward to testing it out.

 

[FPrice]

Like the man said after his hernia operation, "I stand corrected."

Bennelli DID put a note in the box with my son's pistol. It was stuffed in at the bottom and he just happened to see it when he went to throw the shipping box away. It reads:

"Relieved the alignment pins and base pin for ease of barrel removal. If in the course of shooting it does get tight again just put the gun barrel upside down in a padded vice, slide the wedge out and tap the front of the trigger guard with a plastic or rawhide mallet. Any of the tiny pocket pistols will always have the cylinder offset to the left or right. It's a tolerance stacking issue among the machining of the frame, hammer slot and base pin install at the factory. Rarely are they centered and there will be no more available for another year. JW"

 

[denster]

Like the man said after his hernia operation, "I stand corrected."

Bennelli DID put a note in the box with my son's pistol. It was stuffed in at the bottom and he just happened to see it when he went to throw the shipping box away. It reads:

"Relieved the alignment pins and base pin for ease of barrel removal. If in the course of shooting it does get tight again just put the gun barrel upside down in a padded vice, slide the wedge out and tap the front of the trigger guard with a plastic or rawhide mallet. Any of the tiny pocket pistols will always have the cylinder offset to the left or right. It's a tolerance stacking issue among the machining of the frame, hammer slot and base pin install at the factory. Rarely are they centered and there will be no more available for another year. JW"

With all due respect Bennelli's response to you was a bunch of horse hockey as Col. Potter used to say. They relieved the cylinder pin which means they removed a bit of the oversize diameter. The rest of their reasoning is crap. You will now need to correct the short arbor problem or other problems will soon rear their heads. Easy to do and a quick search for posts on the subject will educate you.

 

[Bad Karma]

Probably a short arbor. It's a known issue.

Probably not. Most of the latest generation of bp revolvers seem to be very tight on shipping to the dealers. It may well have a short arbor but that’s not what prevents removal of the barrel.

The arbor was apparently an interference fit with the bore in the barrel lug. It should function normally now. BTW, that’s a pretty good bit of information about taking the leverless revolver apart. Sometimes after an extended shooting session a revolver will resist field stripping. This seems like a better option than the lever if the gun is really being stubborn.

 

[kaotikross]

Probably not. Most of the latest generation of bp revolvers seem to be very tight on shipping to the dealers. It may well have a short arbor but that’s not what prevents removal of the barrel.

The arbor was apparently an interference fit with the bore in the barrel lug. It should function normally now. BTW, that’s a pretty good bit of information about taking the leverless revolver apart. Sometimes after an extended shooting session a revolver will resist field stripping. This seems like a better option than the lever if the gun is really being stubborn.

I'm glad they're better now, that's good to hear.