1851 Question

gasmandave · July 15, 2015, 06:47 AM

I have a 1851 Colt Clone. The cylinder locks up in battery before the hammer gets to half cock. It worked fine when I first got it (very, very used). The cylinder locked up with a spent cap. I disassembled it cleaned it out and put it together now just before the hammer get lock in half cock the cylinder locks. This pistol was beat up pretty good when I got it and I didn't pay much for it. The wedge spring was missing and it looked like someone used a hammer to remove it...more than once.

Rookie21 · July 15, 2015, 07:16 AM

Possible timing issues (having to do with the hand and ratchets) and or a problem with the cylinder stop being worn out and it's releasing and becoming engaged with the same notch it had left as you started cocking the hammer and so the cylinder locks up and the hand can't rotate it at all. I had a smith and Wesson do it once and it needed a new cylinder stop fitted. Either way look at the hand, ratchets and cylinder stop after full disassemble and see if they are buggered up in any way. Bent, burrs, rough spots etc. I'm no gunsmith but that's my first thought having tinkered with this sort of thing before.

gasmandave · July 15, 2015, 07:33 AM

Okay, Thanks.

Rookie21 · July 15, 2015, 09:03 AM

If you could post pictures of the parts and or the positions of the cylinder stop as you cock the hammer that could help anyone here tell you what could be wrong with it.

James K · July 15, 2015, 10:21 PM

It sounds like the cylinder stop is not engaging with the hammer cam. Probably either the cylinder stop spring is broken or maybe in assembling the gun you got the spring in upside down.

Jim

Hellgate · July 15, 2015, 11:37 PM

I'm wondering if the wing/arm of the bolt is slipping off the hammer cam prematurely. Maybe it needs a little bending to snug it up against the cam. Otherwise you may have a worn cam and need a new hammer. Just my guess.

gasmandave · July 16, 2015, 05:10 AM

I'll have to take a look at it. I've been trying to find a picture of the parts brake down but havent quite come up with one yet.
I figured I assembled it wrong or bent a spring. It was a very used pistol and had more than one spent cap piece in the workings.

Doc Hoy · July 16, 2015, 06:23 AM

You might try CAREFULLY spreading the legs n the bolt.

gasmandave · July 16, 2015, 11:47 AM

If someone has a picture of the parts you are all referring to I would appreciate it. I usually just call them "thinga ma bobs" "do hickies" and "whatchamacallits".

maillemaker · July 16, 2015, 02:15 PM

Steve

Hellgate · July 16, 2015, 02:37 PM

Here's a link to a closeup picture of a cylinder stop AKA bolt stop. The photo is not the one in a Colt but looks similar. The two flat parts that extend from the bolt are variously called "legs", wings, or arms. Somewhere there is the explanation of proper terminology so real gunsmiths can talk to each other like surgeons using "doctor talk".

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Products/1409830.htm

gasmandave · July 16, 2015, 07:31 PM

Thanks. As soon as I can unload the pistol I'll take it apart again and see what I can figure out. I usually pull the cylinder and charge all 6 chambers and use a press to seat all six balls at once. Capping it after I reassembled it.

Doc Hoy · July 16, 2015, 08:30 PM

And also if the problem is the bolt dropping early, you might notice some minor damage to the cylinder notches.

James K · July 16, 2015, 11:15 PM

The other possible problem area is the trigger and bolt spring (No. 19 in the diagram).

Jim

Doc Hoy · July 17, 2015, 06:41 AM

It is easy to get the spring reinstalled in the wrong position and not notice it.

July 15, 2015, 06:47 AM	#1
gasmandave Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2012 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 223	1851 Question I have a 1851 Colt Clone. The cylinder locks up in battery before the hammer gets to half cock. It worked fine when I first got it (very, very used). The cylinder locked up with a spent cap. I disassembled it cleaned it out and put it together now just before the hammer get lock in half cock the cylinder locks. This pistol was beat up pretty good when I got it and I didn't pay much for it. The wedge spring was missing and it looked like someone used a hammer to remove it...more than once.

July 15, 2015, 11:37 PM	#6
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	I'm wondering if the wing/arm of the bolt is slipping off the hammer cam prematurely. Maybe it needs a little bending to snug it up against the cam. Otherwise you may have a worn cam and need a new hammer. Just my guess. __________________ With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell)

July 16, 2015, 06:23 AM	#8
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	What James said You might try CAREFULLY spreading the legs n the bolt. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

July 16, 2015, 02:37 PM	#11
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	Here's a link to a closeup picture of a cylinder stop AKA bolt stop. The photo is not the one in a Colt but looks similar. The two flat parts that extend from the bolt are variously called "legs", wings, or arms. Somewhere there is the explanation of proper terminology so real gunsmiths can talk to each other like surgeons using "doctor talk". http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Products/1409830.htm __________________ With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell)

July 16, 2015, 08:30 PM	#13
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	If the problem has existed for more than a coupla dozen rounds And also if the problem is the bolt dropping early, you might notice some minor damage to the cylinder notches. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

July 15, 2015, 07:16 AM	#2
Rookie21 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2009 Posts: 212	Possible timing issues (having to do with the hand and ratchets) and or a problem with the cylinder stop being worn out and it's releasing and becoming engaged with the same notch it had left as you started cocking the hammer and so the cylinder locks up and the hand can't rotate it at all. I had a smith and Wesson do it once and it needed a new cylinder stop fitted. Either way look at the hand, ratchets and cylinder stop after full disassemble and see if they are buggered up in any way. Bent, burrs, rough spots etc. I'm no gunsmith but that's my first thought having tinkered with this sort of thing before.

July 15, 2015, 07:33 AM	#3
gasmandave Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2012 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 223	Okay, Thanks.

July 15, 2015, 09:03 AM	#4
Rookie21 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2009 Posts: 212	If you could post pictures of the parts and or the positions of the cylinder stop as you cock the hammer that could help anyone here tell you what could be wrong with it.

July 15, 2015, 10:21 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	It sounds like the cylinder stop is not engaging with the hammer cam. Probably either the cylinder stop spring is broken or maybe in assembling the gun you got the spring in upside down. Jim

July 16, 2015, 05:10 AM	#7
gasmandave Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2012 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 223	I'll have to take a look at it. I've been trying to find a picture of the parts brake down but havent quite come up with one yet. I figured I assembled it wrong or bent a spring. It was a very used pistol and had more than one spent cap piece in the workings.

July 16, 2015, 11:47 AM	#9
gasmandave Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2012 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 223	If someone has a picture of the parts you are all referring to I would appreciate it. I usually just call them "thinga ma bobs" "do hickies" and "whatchamacallits".

July 16, 2015, 02:15 PM	#10
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	Steve

July 16, 2015, 07:31 PM	#12
gasmandave Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2012 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 223	Thanks. As soon as I can unload the pistol I'll take it apart again and see what I can figure out. I usually pull the cylinder and charge all 6 chambers and use a press to seat all six balls at once. Capping it after I reassembled it.

July 16, 2015, 11:15 PM	#14
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The other possible problem area is the trigger and bolt spring (No. 19 in the diagram). Jim

July 17, 2015, 06:41 AM	#15
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Agree again w/ James... It is easy to get the spring reinstalled in the wrong position and not notice it. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.