Colt 1860 2nd Gen Cylinder ratchets

bigbuck007 · April 4, 2012, 04:12 AM

Dear Colt 1860 specialist,
My Colt 1860 2nd Gen has now approx. 60 rounds shot. If I take a closer look on the surface of the cylinder ratchets they look a bit scratched at the impact points of the hand. Is this normal and takes some time until the parts are worn in? Or is this going worse? I think the hand looks perfect. Is it advisable to polish the ratchet area as well as the hand? to reach a smoother movement. The general timing of the Colt is perfect no complaining.
Your advice is very welcome

bigbuck

Smokin'Joe · April 4, 2012, 04:23 AM

Don't touch a thing.

zullo74 · April 4, 2012, 06:16 AM

I second that. Do not touch a thing. You'll only mess it up. It is quite normal.

bigbuck007 · April 5, 2012, 02:46 AM

Allright,

I won't touch and just enjoing shooting.

Bigbuck

madcratebuilder · April 6, 2012, 06:53 AM

You may of had a tiny burr on the face of the hand. It's probably already worn off. You could feel the face with your finger tip. Running dry q-tip over it well find any burrs as the burr well snag the cotton fiber.

bigbuck007 · April 10, 2012, 04:04 AM

Yes there is no burr anymore.

BUT

during the last shooting the Hand spring is broken...

Is there a trick to find, make something simulare out of something?
I don t won t to make this hole in the receiver for an "upgraded" hand spring system.

Thanks for your kind support

bigbuck

Doc Hoy · April 10, 2012, 06:04 AM

In my opinion, you are right to shy away from the coil spring mod.

This is a good modification and many like the idea. I do too but it is a good bit of effort, requires good precision and is not without its risks.

I have not done one yet but I have a coupla junk frames I am going to practice on.

Tnx,

Smokin'Joe · April 10, 2012, 06:25 AM

Read post #17 of this thread:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...16#post4903516

Doc Hoy · April 10, 2012, 06:52 AM

Little confusion in my feeble mind?

I thought we were talking about the Pettifogger spring in this thread. Hope that is the case.

I have an 1873 with that set up and there is no plug in the hole.

The spring and rider relies solely upon the backstrap to hold them in place. So when I take it apart for cleaning, the spring and rider fall out. These are mighty small pieces.

Your mod solves all of that.

Andy Griffith · April 10, 2012, 08:30 AM

Thus far, I have not had a spring break unless it was rusty, or had rusted in the past (used gun). Just wanted to ask if y'all have had the same experience?

Beagle333 · April 10, 2012, 08:37 AM

Mine broke in a new 1860 after 4 cylinders of shooting. 'Replaced it and it has been going strong since '95. It must have been a "bad" spring on that first one.

zullo74 · April 10, 2012, 08:43 AM

Hand springs just break. There is no rhyme or reason to it. New gun, old gun, they are all fair game!

Hawg · April 10, 2012, 08:48 AM

Maybe I've been lucky but I've never broken a spring. I wore out a hand in a 40 year old revolver tho and replaced the spring with it.

Doc Hoy · April 10, 2012, 08:52 AM

Three replaced hands because of broken springs and all bore no evidence of rust.

I think they broke because the shooter (in one case that was me) tried to gain more tension by bending them outward one too many times.

I admit it. I aped the spring.

Hawg · April 10, 2012, 11:15 AM

Maybe they're more prone to breakage if you take them out a lot. I rarely tear mine down that far.

bigbuck007 · April 16, 2012, 07:52 AM

Servus,

I got my spare spring from a German smith (3,50€). some fine tuning on the spring and the new spring is back in place.

Works perfect i am pleased...

bigbuck

April 10, 2012, 06:04 AM	#7
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	BigBuck In my opinion, you are right to shy away from the coil spring mod. This is a good modification and many like the idea. I do too but it is a good bit of effort, requires good precision and is not without its risks. I have not done one yet but I have a coupla junk frames I am going to practice on. Tnx, __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

April 10, 2012, 06:52 AM	#9
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Oooops... Little confusion in my feeble mind? I thought we were talking about the Pettifogger spring in this thread. Hope that is the case. I have an 1873 with that set up and there is no plug in the hole. The spring and rider relies solely upon the backstrap to hold them in place. So when I take it apart for cleaning, the spring and rider fall out. These are mighty small pieces. Your mod solves all of that. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

April 10, 2012, 08:30 AM	#10
Andy Griffith Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2009 Location: Macon Co. NC Posts: 591	Thus far, I have not had a spring break unless it was rusty, or had rusted in the past (used gun). Just wanted to ask if y'all have had the same experience? __________________ Barney Fife: "Nip it, nip it, nip it!" Andy Griffith:"Oh now Barn'...."

April 10, 2012, 08:37 AM	#11
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Hand spring Mine broke in a new 1860 after 4 cylinders of shooting. 'Replaced it and it has been going strong since '95. It must have been a "bad" spring on that first one.

April 10, 2012, 08:52 AM	#14
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	I am in agreement with Beagle and Zullo Three replaced hands because of broken springs and all bore no evidence of rust. I think they broke because the shooter (in one case that was me) tried to gain more tension by bending them outward one too many times. I admit it. I aped the spring. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

April 4, 2012, 04:23 AM	#2
Smokin'Joe Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2010 Posts: 211	Don't touch a thing.

April 4, 2012, 06:16 AM	#3
zullo74 Junior member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Posts: 374	I second that. Do not touch a thing. You'll only mess it up. It is quite normal.

April 5, 2012, 02:46 AM	#4
bigbuck007 Member Join Date: March 5, 2012 Location: Bavaria Posts: 67	Allright, I won't touch and just enjoing shooting. Bigbuck

April 6, 2012, 06:53 AM	#5
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	You may of had a tiny burr on the face of the hand. It's probably already worn off. You could feel the face with your finger tip. Running dry q-tip over it well find any burrs as the burr well snag the cotton fiber.

April 10, 2012, 04:04 AM	#6
bigbuck007 Member Join Date: March 5, 2012 Location: Bavaria Posts: 67	Yes there is no burr anymore. BUT during the last shooting the Hand spring is broken... Is there a trick to find, make something simulare out of something? I don t won t to make this hole in the receiver for an "upgraded" hand spring system. Thanks for your kind support bigbuck

April 10, 2012, 06:25 AM	#8
Smokin'Joe Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2010 Posts: 211	Read post #17 of this thread: http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...16#post4903516

April 10, 2012, 08:43 AM	#12
zullo74 Junior member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Posts: 374	Hand springs just break. There is no rhyme or reason to it. New gun, old gun, they are all fair game!

April 10, 2012, 08:48 AM	#13
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,190	Maybe I've been lucky but I've never broken a spring. I wore out a hand in a 40 year old revolver tho and replaced the spring with it.

April 10, 2012, 11:15 AM	#15
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,190	Maybe they're more prone to breakage if you take them out a lot. I rarely tear mine down that far.

April 16, 2012, 07:52 AM	#16
bigbuck007 Member Join Date: March 5, 2012 Location: Bavaria Posts: 67	Servus, I got my spare spring from a German smith (3,50€). some fine tuning on the spring and the new spring is back in place. Works perfect i am pleased... bigbuck