Lost action

grymster2007 · June 11, 2007, 08:13 AM

I bought a Wolff extra-stiff hammer spring for my old Charter Bulldog and installed it yesterday. The spring is much stiffer than the one I took out and hopefully helps prevent the light strikes I had experienced. Problem is; now I have a double-action only revolver. Hammer won’t stay back for single-action operation.

Any ideas what I may have done wrong?

grym

jrothWA · June 19, 2007, 10:17 PM

should not affect single or double action.
I'm suspicious that the lifter hand from the trigger is not engaging the proper notch.

I would suggest dis-assemble and detail it lube and re-assemble.
If not fixed, take to smith.
What year, I believe some ealier made bulldogs had a over-tighten but nothing about single-action failure.

HammerBite · June 20, 2007, 06:30 AM

Sounds like push-off to me. The single-action engagement surfaces are worn or cut at the wrong angle. That gun was dangerous even before you changed the spring -- you could have pushed the hammer off with your thumb.

You need a gunsmith.

grymster2007 · June 20, 2007, 09:30 AM

I’m not sure of the year. I think the serial # is something like 21XXX.

I’ll take a look at the lifter hand/notch situation. HammerBite’s suspicion of the single-action engagement surfaces bear’s investigation, but with the original spring, I could not push the hammer off with my thumb.

If I don’t find an obvious problem, I’ll take it to the smith…. or just buy a good revolver… yeah, maybe that’s the ticket!

grym

HammerBite · June 20, 2007, 09:37 AM

Quote:

but with the original spring, I could not push the hammer off with my thumb.

I guess that eliminates that idea. I don't know if Wolf ever makes a mistake, but the new spring might not fit in the available space. It might be going into coil bind before you get the hammer to the single-action notch.

grymster2007 · June 20, 2007, 09:46 AM

Coil-bind. Now that may be a possibility. I did seem pretty tight in there. I’ll try and look tonight.

HammerBite · June 20, 2007, 09:59 AM

I don't know anything about the lockwork of Charter Arms revolvers, so the following might not be worth much:

If the hammer-strut is not pinned into the hammer, are you sure you re-installed it the right way? If the strut is in the wrong position, that might cause excessive compression of the spring.

Please let us know how this turns out.

grymster2007 · June 20, 2007, 08:38 PM

I first checked for coil-bind and while it’s close, that was not the problem (maybe Wolff does not make mistakes after all!). Upon closer inspection I noticed the main spring seat (as identified by Charter’s manual, but which I would refer to as a spring retainer) was not fully seated in its channel in the grip frame. It was cocked just a bit. It seemed insignificant, but I guess it changed the angle of the spring guide just enough to prevent the single-action surfaces from engaging. Once seated properly, the action works just fine. I double-checked and at full cock, I cannot push the hammer off with my thumb. I don’t think I could do it with both thumbs. So seems good to go. While I was at it, I carefully flat-sanded the mating faces of the grips, so they now actually lock out when the screw is tightened.

And now I like my Bulldog again!

Thanks for your help!

grym

June 11, 2007, 08:13 AM	#1
grymster2007 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: In the oak studded hills near Napa Posts: 2,203	Lost action I bought a Wolff extra-stiff hammer spring for my old Charter Bulldog and installed it yesterday. The spring is much stiffer than the one I took out and hopefully helps prevent the light strikes I had experienced. Problem is; now I have a double-action only revolver. Hammer won’t stay back for single-action operation. Any ideas what I may have done wrong? grym

June 19, 2007, 10:17 PM	#2
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	Replacing the hammer spring... should not affect single or double action. I'm suspicious that the lifter hand from the trigger is not engaging the proper notch. I would suggest dis-assemble and detail it lube and re-assemble. If not fixed, take to smith. What year, I believe some ealier made bulldogs had a over-tighten but nothing about single-action failure.

June 20, 2007, 08:38 PM	#8
grymster2007 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: In the oak studded hills near Napa Posts: 2,203	Fixed... I first checked for coil-bind and while it’s close, that was not the problem (maybe Wolff does not make mistakes after all!). Upon closer inspection I noticed the main spring seat (as identified by Charter’s manual, but which I would refer to as a spring retainer) was not fully seated in its channel in the grip frame. It was cocked just a bit. It seemed insignificant, but I guess it changed the angle of the spring guide just enough to prevent the single-action surfaces from engaging. Once seated properly, the action works just fine. I double-checked and at full cock, I cannot push the hammer off with my thumb. I don’t think I could do it with both thumbs. So seems good to go. While I was at it, I carefully flat-sanded the mating faces of the grips, so they now actually lock out when the screw is tightened. And now I like my Bulldog again! Thanks for your help! grym

June 20, 2007, 06:30 AM	#3
HammerBite Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 429	Sounds like push-off to me. The single-action engagement surfaces are worn or cut at the wrong angle. That gun was dangerous even before you changed the spring -- you could have pushed the hammer off with your thumb. You need a gunsmith.

June 20, 2007, 09:30 AM	#4
grymster2007 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: In the oak studded hills near Napa Posts: 2,203	I’m not sure of the year. I think the serial # is something like 21XXX. I’ll take a look at the lifter hand/notch situation. HammerBite’s suspicion of the single-action engagement surfaces bear’s investigation, but with the original spring, I could not push the hammer off with my thumb. If I don’t find an obvious problem, I’ll take it to the smith…. or just buy a good revolver… yeah, maybe that’s the ticket! grym

June 20, 2007, 09:46 AM	#6
grymster2007 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: In the oak studded hills near Napa Posts: 2,203	Coil-bind. Now that may be a possibility. I did seem pretty tight in there. I’ll try and look tonight.

June 20, 2007, 09:59 AM	#7
HammerBite Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 429	I don't know anything about the lockwork of Charter Arms revolvers, so the following might not be worth much: If the hammer-strut is not pinned into the hammer, are you sure you re-installed it the right way? If the strut is in the wrong position, that might cause excessive compression of the spring. Please let us know how this turns out.