Colt-Walker Cylinder Jam

sfhurst · June 23, 2009, 01:20 PM

I have a Colt-Walker .44 sold by Colt, but built for them by Uberti. VERY high quality, but if I correctly tighten the wedge that binds the barrel to the receiver group the cylinder will not turn, i.e. tightening the wedge forces the barrel back against the front of the cylinder eliminating the very small gap.

Help. Any others experiencing this problem? Any solutions?

Shotgun Willy · June 23, 2009, 01:51 PM

How far are you inserting the wedge, and are you inserting the wedge from the left side of the gun? The Walker wedge goes in from the right side. I don't know if that could cause your problems, but it's worth a shot.

Hawg · June 23, 2009, 03:52 PM

On a new gun the wedge should just barely be past flush on the side opposite from the screw.

fineredmist · June 23, 2009, 04:18 PM

I had the samne problem and the correction is simple, drive the wedge inuntil it stops and then reverse direction and when the small finger touches the frame, stop. The cylinder should turn with no binding and the barrel clearence should be very close.

Hawg · June 23, 2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

I had the samne problem and the correction is simple, drive the wedge inuntil it stops and then reverse direction and when the small finger touches the frame, stop. The cylinder should turn with no binding and the barrel clearence should be very close.

Doing that creates undue wear on the wedge. That much wedge showing might be alright on an older gun with some wear on it but not on a new one or one that hasn't been used much. Ideally you should have .006-.008 cylinder gap altho more wouldn't hurt. Too tight a gap and you won't fire many cylinders before it starts to bind. Just because it turns free when it's clean and unfired doesn't by any stretch of the imagination mean it'll turn once it's fouled.

olmontanaboy · June 23, 2009, 06:49 PM

Sounds like a short arbor, the problem is discussed here: photos 11-12-13 http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...a_Part_One.pdf

olmontanaboy · June 23, 2009, 07:08 PM

This thread provides a solution: http://www.theopenrange.net/forum/in...p?topic=6616.0

Wobble · June 23, 2009, 09:57 PM

Had the same problem on my Uberti Walker. I adjusted the wedge slightly to correct the problem but wasn't happy that the gap was that tight. I filed down the barrel forcing cone a bit, polished it off, and re-blued it. Problem solved.

SamStafford · June 24, 2009, 04:07 AM

Don't have your wedge in so tight.

madcratebuilder · June 24, 2009, 07:40 AM

While you can use the wedge to control barrel gap to a certain extent, having the proper arbor length is the correct method. Plus it works so much better and you don't fubar the wedge. You should insert the wedge with firm thumb pressure and a gentle tap should remove it.

CaptainCrossman · June 27, 2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

I have a Colt-Walker .44 sold by Colt, but built for them by Uberti. VERY high quality, but if I correctly tighten the wedge that binds the barrel to the receiver group the cylinder will not turn, i.e. tightening the wedge forces the barrel back against the front of the cylinder eliminating the very small gap.

Help. Any others experiencing this problem? Any solutions?

I have that same problem with a Colt cartridge conversion 44 Colt caliber- I don't drive the wedge in all the way, just enough to cinch it to barrel. It's not a bad idea to leave it that way, because if you shoot the gun a lot, eventually it's going to loosen up a bit, so having it tight to begin with, you're getting a head start on barrel/cylinder gap.

AdmiralB · June 27, 2009, 04:48 PM

I've got six Ubertis, and only one shows that problem (arbor too long). It's a London model 1851 Navy.

I wound up finding some washers that were the same diameter of the arbor, after the chamfer (so really a little smaller than the arbor). I built them up until the fit was correct, then JB Welded them to the end of the arbor. Problem solved!

enyaw · June 30, 2009, 12:29 AM

I wonder what people do when they add washers to the end of the arbor so the cylinder gap is wide enough and then find the space between the barrels bottom lug and the frame is too wide or find the wedge won't go into it's slot anymore?

madcratebuilder · June 30, 2009, 07:47 AM

Quote:

I wonder what people do when they add washers to the end of the arbor so the cylinder gap is wide enough and then find the space between the barrels bottom lug and the frame is too wide or find the wedge won't go into it's slot anymore?

That's a very good question. You fit the arbor length for proper barrel/lug fit to the frame, .000-.002. If barrel gap is tight you remove material at the forcing cone. If the gap is excessive you go back, remove material at the lug/frame, that moves the barrel back. The 60 and 61 model you can remove at the barrel lug, the 51 you have to pull the two pins and remove from the frame.

If you only are making a very minor adjustment, .005 to .010 you generally do not need to alter the wedge slot. For larger adjustments you need to weld the front the the arbor slot and file/machine it for proper fit. The wedge contacts the front of the arbor slot and the rear of the barrel lug slot, be sure you are working the right area.

For short arbors I machine a button from drill rod that fits the arbor hole in the lug. I drill and tap a 6-40 hole in the center so I can remove the button if needed. I make the OD a light press fit.

enyaw · July 1, 2009, 08:03 AM

Madcratebuilder, the 6/48 is a good size for that since it's small. Do you drill a blind hole that's only a few threads(like the holes in a barrel when installing a Hawken Rifles under rib) deep? Keep as much of the end of the arbor intact for strength? I like to do blind holes with an end mill bottom cut so the bottom of the hole is not concave. That way I can keep it shallow and still get a few threads to screw on the button. I grind a bottoming tap flat across the bottom so it can tap right to the bottom of the hole.
It onmly takes a few threads to keep the button on the end.
I like to take the button and leave it a little long. Make a hole in the middle.....have it welded to the end of the arbor so there's no weakening of the arbor end. The heat doesn't seem to bother it. After it's on I file it to the diameter of the arbor so it's always even with the end of it. Works out good.
I've used a screw that works real well but the smallest it comes in is 8-32. The lock screw than keeps the lock on a muzzleloader rifle. Has a big head that really works nice for making an arbor end button. You know...for people without a lathe. Track of the Wolf sells the lock screws. It's like the tang screws but the tang screws have a domed head.

June 23, 2009, 01:20 PM	#1
sfhurst Junior Member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Posts: 2	Colt-Walker Cylinder Jam I have a Colt-Walker .44 sold by Colt, but built for them by Uberti. VERY high quality, but if I correctly tighten the wedge that binds the barrel to the receiver group the cylinder will not turn, i.e. tightening the wedge forces the barrel back against the front of the cylinder eliminating the very small gap. Help. Any others experiencing this problem? Any solutions?

June 23, 2009, 06:49 PM	#6
olmontanaboy Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2009 Location: Northeast for now Posts: 266	Sounds like a short arbor, the problem is discussed here: photos 11-12-13 http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...a_Part_One.pdf __________________ Olmontanaboy No good deed goes unpunished. A loaded gun, a faithful dog,,, consider yourself lucky.

June 23, 2009, 07:08 PM	#7
olmontanaboy Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2009 Location: Northeast for now Posts: 266	This thread provides a solution: http://www.theopenrange.net/forum/in...p?topic=6616.0 __________________ Olmontanaboy No good deed goes unpunished. A loaded gun, a faithful dog,,, consider yourself lucky.

June 23, 2009, 01:51 PM	#2
Shotgun Willy Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Oklahoma Territory Posts: 98	How far are you inserting the wedge, and are you inserting the wedge from the left side of the gun? The Walker wedge goes in from the right side. I don't know if that could cause your problems, but it's worth a shot.

June 23, 2009, 03:52 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	On a new gun the wedge should just barely be past flush on the side opposite from the screw.

June 23, 2009, 04:18 PM	#4
fineredmist Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2008 Location: Wethersfield, ct Posts: 128	I had the samne problem and the correction is simple, drive the wedge inuntil it stops and then reverse direction and when the small finger touches the frame, stop. The cylinder should turn with no binding and the barrel clearence should be very close.

June 23, 2009, 09:57 PM	#8
Wobble Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 163	Had the same problem on my Uberti Walker. I adjusted the wedge slightly to correct the problem but wasn't happy that the gap was that tight. I filed down the barrel forcing cone a bit, polished it off, and re-blued it. Problem solved.

June 24, 2009, 04:07 AM	#9
SamStafford Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Portageville, MO. 63873 Posts: 162	Don't have your wedge in so tight.

June 24, 2009, 07:40 AM	#10
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	While you can use the wedge to control barrel gap to a certain extent, having the proper arbor length is the correct method. Plus it works so much better and you don't fubar the wedge. You should insert the wedge with firm thumb pressure and a gentle tap should remove it.

June 27, 2009, 04:48 PM	#12
AdmiralB Member Join Date: March 27, 2009 Posts: 88	I've got six Ubertis, and only one shows that problem (arbor too long). It's a London model 1851 Navy. I wound up finding some washers that were the same diameter of the arbor, after the chamfer (so really a little smaller than the arbor). I built them up until the fit was correct, then JB Welded them to the end of the arbor. Problem solved!

June 30, 2009, 12:29 AM	#13
enyaw Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2008 Posts: 134	I wonder what people do when they add washers to the end of the arbor so the cylinder gap is wide enough and then find the space between the barrels bottom lug and the frame is too wide or find the wedge won't go into it's slot anymore?

July 1, 2009, 08:03 AM	#15
enyaw Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2008 Posts: 134	Madcratebuilder, the 6/48 is a good size for that since it's small. Do you drill a blind hole that's only a few threads(like the holes in a barrel when installing a Hawken Rifles under rib) deep? Keep as much of the end of the arbor intact for strength? I like to do blind holes with an end mill bottom cut so the bottom of the hole is not concave. That way I can keep it shallow and still get a few threads to screw on the button. I grind a bottoming tap flat across the bottom so it can tap right to the bottom of the hole. It onmly takes a few threads to keep the button on the end. I like to take the button and leave it a little long. Make a hole in the middle.....have it welded to the end of the arbor so there's no weakening of the arbor end. The heat doesn't seem to bother it. After it's on I file it to the diameter of the arbor so it's always even with the end of it. Works out good. I've used a screw that works real well but the smallest it comes in is 8-32. The lock screw than keeps the lock on a muzzleloader rifle. Has a big head that really works nice for making an arbor end button. You know...for people without a lathe. Track of the Wolf sells the lock screws. It's like the tang screws but the tang screws have a domed head.