can finger lever cam be repaired on Uberti 1860 Henry ?

[stepnmud]

Purchased this 44WCF Uberti Henry new in 2003 and has had many thousands blackpopwder rounds thru it at CAS matches. Most recently the timing seems to be off when retracting and ejecting empty rounds and cases are dragging on top of carrier. After complete take down and cleaning, including bolt removal and reassembly, it's still not right. After looking at the finger lever cam where the left lever spring rides, looks to be worn down and rubbed raw maybe as much as 1/8". VTI list a new lever part #89 for $65/$70 and may be the easier possible solution, Not entirely sure that the finger lever thing is all the problem but do have spare replacement parts as far as new lever springs, original spring also seems to be worn. Would it be worthwhile trying to have the cam on the finger lever repaired?  Or just add the finger lever to old parts box.

[Pettifogger]

The Italian parts are surface hardened, but the interiors are very soft.  After the hardening has worn through, the parts wear very fast.  Not at all uncommon for the lever cams, triggers, and hammers to wear.  Unless you can weld and re-harden it yourself, it is cheaper to just buy a new one.

[stepnmud]

Thanks Pettifogger,

That's what I kinda thought.  I'll leave the welding alone and bite the bullet.

[Coffinmaker]

Along with replacing the finger lever, I'd suggest you also get rid of the original factory lever side spring on the left, or cam side.  I'd suggest you replace it with a "Slixspring" unless your adept at "spring Grinding 101."  A stock factory side spring will just ruin your new finger lever.

Coffinmaker

[Cypress Sam]

You wrote this about three weeks ago so this may be too late to be of service.  But, the cartridge dragging on the lifter is not a symptom of the left hand spring and the lever cam wearing.  The right-hand spring is the one that bears on the lifter and controls the height of lifter rise.  The function of the left-hand spring and lever cam is to hold the lever closed when your fingers are out of the lever.  The gun will function just fine without the left spring, but the lever will flop around when you are not holding it.

[Coffinmaker]

Ah ..... Sam,  The Finger Lever is still Kaput and should be dealt with.  The step on the lever may be peened and or the bottom of the Carrier Block Arm may be peened and or the Carrier Block Arm may be slightly bent.  But,  one thing at a time??

Coffinmaker

[Judge Lead]

My thoughts would be to replace the lever first and then look at the block arm being bent. It would seem to me that the carrier block is not moving down far enough to give the small amount of clearance needed for smooth case extraction. I would suspect the loading into the chamber may also be a little off. This is also a function of the carrier block arm.

Whilst all this is going on, replace the truck leaf springs with something a little more conducive to easier use and longer lasting.
Whisper springs from Bill English at The Smith Shop will help in this regard.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

Regards

[Montana Slim]

Maybe it was just a bad apple....my 1866 (44-40, I'm a BP shooter) has been well used. It was new in 1998(?)...it has between 20-25K on it. The mainspring did snap after about 8-10K...but I don't expect to replace the one I put in (after smoothing out the factory grinding). Everything else is peachy. BTW, I've only gone inside it 2-3 times at most.

Also.....Wondering if you've checked the cartridge guide/retainer on the bottom of the bolt (opposite of the extractor)...Rough extraction can be a result of the tab being broken off.

Slim

[Abilene]

Parts diagrams for the Henry seem to show the cam is a replaceable part (item 72) ?

[Coffinmaker]

Abilene,

The cam use to be a replaceable part, retained by a cross pin.  No longer the case.  Cast integral with the rest of the lever and the cute little cams are no longer available as a "part" unless Cimarron happens to have old stock laying around.
I think Stepnmud's rifle is new enough to have the solid lever.

Coffinmaker

[stepnmud]

Well the good news is I  have recieved the new finger lever from VTI, but haven't had a chance to mess with it yet. Been kinda busy with work unrelated to CAS. So far so good and thanks for all the replies.

[stepnmud]

Way to go Abilene, I checked my finger lever and sure enough has the removable cam. Rifle was new in the box in 2003,but don't know for sure the actual date of manufacture. Called VTI again and cam is available so I gots one of them coming too. Soon will have enough parts for a Frankenstein Henry. Pretty neat idea to have a replaceable cam.

[stepnmud]

Installed the new little cam for the finger lever from VTI, it had a few small burrs but easily filed off. Also already had a set of the wire springs. Reassembled and everthing appears to be working fine. Next coming up match is next weekend for a true test.  This rifle has had lots of work and has had the Snover short stroke kit for 5years and also a threaded chamber insert to 44 special and a set screw in the carrier on driver side to act as a stop for 44 Russian rounds. VTI seemed to have the Henry parts available when the '66 & '73 parts where on back order, so was good for me. Also had VTI send a new carrier with the flat bottom on Henry's.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Stepnmud, did you make some sort of orientation mark on the lever so as to align the new cam properly when installing? 

[stepnmud]

There was a shadow of the old cam on the finger lever and new cam matched up and seemed pretty much straight forward. I used the original pin and once started onto the finger lever and cam, I used a press to seat the cam.

[Montana Slim]

Everyone tells me these mods make a rifle more reliable 

Slim