Why Is Everything Always Stuck!? Dragoon Edition

[jlutz]

Well, in my foray into VERY amateur blackpowder gunsmithing, the victims of which have been inexpensive auction finds, I find most of my time is spent trying figure out how to get one thing unstuck from another thing.

The latest culprit is a 2nd model Dragoon repro, which I posted about elsewhere for help identifying. I cannot seem to separate the barrel from the frame. I tried a liberal application of Kroil and, as another member suggested, using the loading lever to attempt to push things apartwith no success.

I’d appreciate any other suggestions others have to offer. I should note the cylinder will not rotate at present and I am uncertain of the relevance of that to my current issue.

Many thanks!

Jake

 

[hawkeye2]

With the wedge completely out of the way I'm guessing it's rust. It wouldn't take much rust between the arbor and barrel to hold it firmly or stop a cylinder from turning too. If I had it I'd take the grips off and drop it in the bucket of WD 40 I keep for issues like this and then forget about it till I realized I hadn't seen the gun for a few weeks. Keep applying a penetrant on the arbor so that it creeps into the barrel/arbor joint and into the cylinder too. Tapping on the barrel with a plastic, rawhide or wood mallet will help loosen it up. With the cylinder locked up you can't tell if the lockwork is frozen up also. I would begin disassembling the gun while the arbor is soaking.

 

[Dwight Rutherford]

IMO Kroll or PB Blaster are better penetration products than WD-40.

 

[andy52]

They're that way because people shoot them and don't clean them afterward. I picked up an 1858 remington, took me a week to get it loosened up enough to take apart.

 

[bang]

I had a new Dragoon that was that way from the factory. Even putting pressure on the ram with it between cylinder bore wouldn't budge it. Had to strike the back of the cylinder with a hard plastic mallet to get it apart.
Once apart I inked the arbor and very minimal fine filed the contact point till it would assemble and disassemble with minimal effort.

 

[SDSmlf]

Basic blackpowder gunsmithing question. Have you verified all six cylinder chambers are empty?

 

[jlutz]

Thank you all for the tips. Soaking in a penetrating oil sounds like a good next step!

SDSmlf, thanks for looking out for me. I did verify all the cylinders are empty!

 

[Sam squanch]

If the cylinder is empty, heat it, then stick it in your freezer. Smack with a no mar mallet. Only if it is unloaded!

 

[coloradoclyde]

Kroil+time=smile
Kroil+more time= bigger smile
kroil+ time+ vibration=

 

[Vaino]

Life is full of problems......the fun in life is how we solve these problems.,,,,,Fred

 

[Dude]

Life is full of problems......the fun in life is how we solve these problems.,,,,,Fred

I've heard it said that happiness is having the problems you want.

The best penetrating oil I've ever used was a 50/50 mix of Acetone/PSF (Power Steering Fluid). Much better than Acetone/ATF. The stuff is MAGIC!

 

[coloradoclyde]

I've heard it said that happiness is having the problems you want.

The best penetrating oil I've ever used was a 50/50 mix of Acetone/PSF (Power Steering Fluid). Much better than Acetone/ATF. The stuff is MAGIC!

ATF and power steering fluid are both hydraulic fluids and in some applications are interchangeable.

What particular brand/type are you using ?