Author Topic: Coil Hand Spring Plunger  (Read 5455 times)

Offline Coal Creek Griff

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Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« on: February 04, 2016, 10:10:13 AM »
As will become clear, I am not a gunsmith, but I am comfortable disassembling/reassembling guns, stoning burrs, replacing parts, etc.  I recently purchased a Uberti single-action revolver and disassembled it to inspect and clean it up a bit before firing it.  I had never worked on a gun that had a coil hand spring and somehow didn’t know that this gun had one until I removed the hammer and hand.  When I saw the lack of spring on the hand, I realized that there must be a frame-mounted coil spring.  The spring itself was still there, but somehow the plunger had gotten away.  I can’t imagine how I lost it.  Considering the way I was holding the gun at the time, it should be on my bench, but I can’t find it.

The spring is sharply tapered at both ends, so I suspect the plunger is cylindrical, without a shank to fit into the spring, but I don’t know.  I used a piece of a drill bit (the smooth part) to fashion a temporary replacement, rounding and polishing the end to reduce drag and wear on the hand.  I could order a replacement, but it seems like a simple part and I think my drill bit replacement could work permanently.  My concern is getting the right length; I don’t want it to be too long and put too much pressure on the hand.  It seems that that would cause undue wear on the parts.  On the other hand, too short and there would not be enough tension.

Is it reasonable to find the length of the original plunger and make mine the same length?  If so, can anyone let me know how long they are?  I could keep shortening the one I made until it becomes unreliable, then make another one just a touch longer, but I’m not sure if that is the best course of action.  On the other hand (no pun intended), perhaps I should just pay the $4.50 (plus shipping) and order a replacement plunger.  What advice can you offer?

Thanks.

CC Griff
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Offline Good Troy

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2016, 10:27:22 AM »
CCG....
Been there, and done that...almost the same scenario as you described with my Uberti Cattleman.

I fashioned a temporary one from a nail, but after one more search on my hands and knees, I found the little booger.
I should have a spare in my parts box (I replaced the hand and now have a leaf spring).
I'll get a measurement for you this evening and post it...

BTW, good thinking about it being too long and too much pressure on the hand.  This didn't occur to me when I made mine.  I  estimated the length from looking at a picture on the VTI Gun parts website.
Good Troy
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Offline Coal Creek Griff

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #2 on: February 04, 2016, 12:36:42 PM »
That would be a huge help.  Thanks!

CC Griff
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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #3 on: Today at 12:43:55 AM »

Offline Pettifogger

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #3 on: February 04, 2016, 01:30:35 PM »
Go can go to VTI and order the proper part or just take drill bits and insert them inot the frome hole until you get the proper size.  Then just cut about 1/4" off the end of the drill bit.  Round one end and drop it in the hole followed by the spring.

http://www.vtigunparts.com

Offline Coffinmaker

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2016, 01:42:34 PM »
Plus one to Pettifogger.  
Plus an additional tip.  Uberti includes a really cute little set type screw to retain the spring.  If you get your plunger a little long, just
remove the little itty bitty loseable screw.  Now that you know it's a coil spring and plunger hand, the Gripframe will retain the little
spring just fine. ;D

BOTH the spring and the little plunger are very easy to lose across the shop, under a bench and in the dust bunnies.  DO NOT ask
how I just happen to know this fact. ::)

Coffinmaker

PS:  Once you find the correct drill size, make your own plunger.  The postage for the Plunger is way more than the cost of the plunger.
Go ahead ..... ask how I happen to know that fact  ???

Offline Coal Creek Griff

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #5 on: February 04, 2016, 02:23:17 PM »
Quote
just cut about 1/4" off the end of the drill bit.  Round one end and drop it in the hole followed by the spring.

Thanks, fellas.  That's exactly what I did.  I was just concerned about making it too long and creating wear to the internal parts.  I was also wondering if the itty-bitty screw was important, although I haven't lost it.  Yet. 

I'm glad that two of our gunsmiths think I was on the right track with my home repair!

CC Griff
Manager, WT Ranch--Coal Creek Division

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Offline Pettifogger

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #6 on: February 04, 2016, 04:21:09 PM »
Thanks, fellas.  That's exactly what I did.  I was just concerned about making it too long and creating wear to the internal parts.  I was also wondering if the itty-bitty screw was important, although I haven't lost it.  Yet. 

I'm glad that two of our gunsmiths think I was on the right track with my home repair!

CC Griff

I always trash the screw.  Can't figure out why Uberti put it in there in the first place.

Offline Coal Creek Griff

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #7 on: February 04, 2016, 04:54:47 PM »
How critical is the plunger length?  Am I worrying about nothing?

CC Griff
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Offline Good Troy

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #8 on: February 04, 2016, 07:46:47 PM »
FWIW...I measured the replacement pin at 0.298".  I ordered a couple of kits from Uberti that had the pin, spring, trigger, bolt, trigger/bolt spring, etc. as spares. 
Good Troy
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Offline Coal Creek Griff

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #9 on: February 04, 2016, 07:53:53 PM »
I very much appreciate the help. Thank you.

CC Griff
Manager, WT Ranch--Coal Creek Division

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Offline Coal Creek Griff

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #10 on: February 04, 2016, 08:37:43 PM »
I just pulled the one I made out.  It measures .285.  I'd say that's close enough.

Thanks again, gents!

CC Griff
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Offline Good Troy

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #11 on: February 05, 2016, 08:33:39 AM »
Yep...I'd say that's close enough! ;D
Good Troy
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Offline Coal Creek Griff

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #12 on: February 06, 2016, 04:32:22 PM »
Well, of course, you know what I found on the floor of my shop today...  Now I have an extra for next time.

CC Griff
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Offline Coffinmaker

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #13 on: February 06, 2016, 08:07:03 PM »
In deference to Pettifogger, that little screw is actually critical.  When it pops off the end of your tiny little screwdriver and hits the floor,
just like the plunger, it well enable you to display your knowledge of fowl words.  You'll repeat words you didn't know you knew.  It will
also enable you to have more than a passing relationship with the area under your workbench, way back by the baseboards, where you
can't reach anyway.  It will always be about a foot further away than your magnet on a stick will reach.  Then when found, the reason it
popped off the screwdriver, is hone half of the slot head is ........ broken off. 

It is only after this three day ordeal, and having ordered several new ones, that you discover it is absolutely useless, except to over tension
the plunger spring.  Pietta fortunately omitted the durn thing.

Coffinmaker

Offline Coal Creek Griff

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #14 on: February 07, 2016, 10:41:03 AM »
 ;D I've always wanted to learn another language!

CC Griff
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Offline Pettifogger

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #15 on: February 07, 2016, 12:10:15 PM »
Just wait untill you are out in the garage with a sifter sifting the dust you swept up off the floor looking for a little, bitty part they don't make any more.  I think they call it speaking in tongues.

Offline Blair

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Re: Coil Hand Spring Plunger
« Reply #16 on: February 07, 2016, 01:22:58 PM »
There is a "Shop Monster" that lives in every workman's shop through out the world that make off with such small parts and springs that go missing.
I think another name for them are "Gremlin's".  ;D
My best,
 Blair
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