1873 Hammer Spring

[Scot]

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Hello all...I have a Taylors 1873 Winchester Copy....have it torn down to clean up etc. and am having some trouble re-installing the hammer spring without damaging the spring screws threads because of the inherent tension built into the design. Is there a trick to installation? Seems you could relieve tension by using a clamp but of course seems it would damage the tang

[Coffinmaker]

Scot,

Yep.  Easy little trick.  With the lower tang still out of the rifle, release the hammer by pulling the trigger and allow the hammer to travel all the way forward.  With the hammer all the way forward, hook the main spring on and install the screw thru the tang.  Works a treat.

Coffinmaker

PS: To install the tang, pull the hammer back to half cock and it will slide back in.  Ah .... watch the edges on the frame, the are SHARP!!

[Pettifogger]

First, make sure the hammer is all the way forward.  Also, back out the strain screw so it doesn't touch the spring while installing it.

Or, if the trigger guard is out of the rifle, do what Coffinmaker suggests.

[Scot]

Thanks guys...I'll give it a look see..I don't have the tang removed (only the buttstock).

There is no tension on the strain screw but even still the spring has that radius to it that requires force to align it with the screw coming in from the exterior of the tang...that's how I messed up the screws slot trying to get it in straight the first time  ...this is the replacement for that little boo-boo and I'm trying to avoid that slight mishap this time around 

[Scot]

'tis why I asked

Piece-a-cake if done properly...thanks again boys.

[Montana Slim]

Curious if your mainspring had a series of deep, crosswise grinding marks on it as are present on all the Uberti rifles I've had apart?
I ground / polished all the marks out (lenghtwise) on mine...after having a mainspring snap after about 10,000 rounds.
The replacement spring had the same deep grinding marks (before I "fixed" the new part).

I don't recall using any tricks to reassemble either repro or originals.....maybe just a weak memory 

Regards,
Slim

[Coffinmaker]

Sunday Morning Trivia,

Those little transverse grinder marks on the back of the Uberti spring create "Stress Risers" in the steel.  The stress of flexing concentrates in the deepest of those little grinding marks and that is where the spring will fail.  Removing those grinding marks and polishing the spring will extend it's life indefinitely.

French Toast isn't French.  It's actually traced to 4th century Rome.

Coffinmaker

[Scot]

Curious if your mainspring had a series of deep, crosswise grinding marks on it as are present on all the Uberti rifles I've had apart?
I ground / polished all the marks out (lenghtwise) on mine...after having a mainspring snap after about 10,000 rounds.
The replacement spring had the same deep grinding marks (before I "fixed" the new part).

I don't recall using any tricks to reassemble either repro or originals.....maybe just a weak memory 

Regards,
Slim

You know...I'm not sure...I wasn't looking for it but those types of things tend to jump out at my eyes so I'm inclined to say it was clean but can't be positive.  I'll be back into the gun once I've finished up a few other rifles I'm "fixing  " and I'll have a close look at it then.