New Pietta 1860 stuck Wedge

Snerd · November 27, 2014, 11:02 AM

Just purchased a new Pietta 1860 and am trying to break it down to clean all the shipping oil out of it. Problem is I can not get the barrel wedge loose. I've gone thru two clothes pins and a dowel I shaved down to knock it out. It doesn't look like the spring catch is even touching the barrel yet so I don't think it is that!
Would loosening the retaining screw on the other side help?
Any advice is much appreciated!
Thanks,
JJ

Dragonflydf · November 27, 2014, 11:23 AM

tap it with a brass drift and hammer, mine was tight as well

zworld · November 27, 2014, 02:34 PM

Yep what he said. Seems they put them in tight. Smack it good!

dr1445 · November 27, 2014, 04:03 PM

i got mine sept. and had the same problem. it moved about 1/32 and then refused to move. i made a drift out of some aluminum flat stock and nothing. then i tried tapping it side to side and then it came out!

bn12gg · November 27, 2014, 05:00 PM

They loosen up. My Walker was pretty tight to begin with as well. I tapped mine with a screw driver using cloth between its' tip and the metal piece.

It's a pretty common minor item.

.02

David

44 Dave · November 27, 2014, 05:03 PM

When I opened my new '51 Navy on Monday, I was delighted to only need good hard thumb pressure to remove the wedge. It had a few other minor issues.
Remember these are "kit guns" if you don't plan to fine fit things just take them out of the box clean off the cosmoline and hang them on the wall!

45 Dragoon · November 27, 2014, 05:35 PM

Ha ha!! Well said . . .er . . .typed 44 Dave!!!

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com

44 Dave · November 27, 2014, 11:18 PM

Should add 45 Dragoon is the one who knows how to do them up to their best.

45 Dragoon · November 28, 2014, 01:51 PM

Wow! Thanks Dave (checks inna mail!! Lol)!

DD4lifeusmc · November 28, 2014, 05:37 PM

Yes sometimes the retaining screw does bind against the wedge during shipping.
Loosen the dang thing up.
Some retaining screws have a flat spot on head, some don't.
Then use the brass drift and a tapping hammer.

Hellgate · November 29, 2014, 04:29 PM

I use the edge of an old house key that is usually made of brass or bronze. Put a piece of wood under the barrel with the gun on its side so the wedge has room to move. Hold the toothy end of the key in your fingers and the edge of the other end against the tip of the wedge and whack away. A brass hammer wielded onto the tip of the wedge is best. Next best is the key or a brass/bronze drift punch. If you use any steel drift or hammer you will bugger up the barrel when you bounce off the edge of the wedge. A little bit of penetrating oil never hurt either. Then grease the edges of the wedge before reinstalling.

Snerd · November 29, 2014, 11:04 PM

Was successful getting it apart tonight!
I fashioned a driver out of a solid brass door bolt, gave it a good rapp and it came loose.
Thank you all for the help!

Beagle333 · December 1, 2014, 11:11 AM

That's what I did..... got a brass door bolt from Home Depot (be wary: some of those are coated steel) and it worked like a charm. (too bad I didn't just have a charm..... but it worked anyway)

November 27, 2014, 11:02 AM	#1
Snerd Junior Member Join Date: November 22, 2014 Location: Michigan Posts: 2	New Pietta 1860 stuck Wedge Just purchased a new Pietta 1860 and am trying to break it down to clean all the shipping oil out of it. Problem is I can not get the barrel wedge loose. I've gone thru two clothes pins and a dowel I shaved down to knock it out. It doesn't look like the spring catch is even touching the barrel yet so I don't think it is that! Would loosening the retaining screw on the other side help? Any advice is much appreciated! Thanks, JJ

November 27, 2014, 11:23 AM	#2
Dragonflydf Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2014 Posts: 217	tap it with a brass drift and hammer, mine was tight as well __________________ Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!! https://www.facebook.com/shoot.the.guns.of.history

November 27, 2014, 11:18 PM	#8
44 Dave Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Posts: 584	Should add 45 Dragoon is the one who knows how to do them up to their best. Last edited by 44 Dave; November 28, 2014 at 05:14 PM.

November 28, 2014, 05:37 PM	#10
DD4lifeusmc Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2012 Location: Wyoming Posts: 351	wedge Yes sometimes the retaining screw does bind against the wedge during shipping. Loosen the dang thing up. Some retaining screws have a flat spot on head, some don't. Then use the brass drift and a tapping hammer.

November 29, 2014, 04:29 PM	#11
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	I use the edge of an old house key that is usually made of brass or bronze. Put a piece of wood under the barrel with the gun on its side so the wedge has room to move. Hold the toothy end of the key in your fingers and the edge of the other end against the tip of the wedge and whack away. A brass hammer wielded onto the tip of the wedge is best. Next best is the key or a brass/bronze drift punch. If you use any steel drift or hammer you will bugger up the barrel when you bounce off the edge of the wedge. A little bit of penetrating oil never hurt either. Then grease the edges of the wedge before reinstalling. __________________ 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)

November 27, 2014, 02:34 PM	#3
zworld Member Join Date: September 25, 2014 Posts: 48	Yep what he said. Seems they put them in tight. Smack it good!

November 27, 2014, 04:03 PM	#4
dr1445 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2009 Location: CT Posts: 199	i got mine sept. and had the same problem. it moved about 1/32 and then refused to move. i made a drift out of some aluminum flat stock and nothing. then i tried tapping it side to side and then it came out!

November 27, 2014, 05:00 PM	#5
bn12gg Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 470	They loosen up. My Walker was pretty tight to begin with as well. I tapped mine with a screw driver using cloth between its' tip and the metal piece. It's a pretty common minor item. .02 David

November 27, 2014, 05:03 PM	#6
44 Dave Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Posts: 584	When I opened my new '51 Navy on Monday, I was delighted to only need good hard thumb pressure to remove the wedge. It had a few other minor issues. Remember these are "kit guns" if you don't plan to fine fit things just take them out of the box clean off the cosmoline and hang them on the wall!

November 27, 2014, 05:35 PM	#7
45 Dragoon Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2013 Posts: 656	Ha ha!! Well said . . .er . . .typed 44 Dave!!! Mike www.goonsgunworks.com

November 28, 2014, 01:51 PM	#9
45 Dragoon Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2013 Posts: 656	Wow! Thanks Dave (checks inna mail!! Lol)!

November 29, 2014, 11:04 PM	#12
Snerd Junior Member Join Date: November 22, 2014 Location: Michigan Posts: 2	Was successful getting it apart tonight! I fashioned a driver out of a solid brass door bolt, gave it a good rapp and it came loose. Thank you all for the help!

December 1, 2014, 11:11 AM	#13
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	That's what I did..... got a brass door bolt from Home Depot (be wary: some of those are coated steel) and it worked like a charm. (too bad I didn't just have a charm..... but it worked anyway) __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.