Parts help?

[shooter93]

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone can give me some help. I have owned a number of guns bought from Cimarron and made by Uberti. To date...I have never had one that didn't need work done to it. I'm not talking smoothing or trigger jobs here. I'm talking about functional problems and soft parts that break with very little use. Most recently I bought a matched set of Open Tops in 44 Special. I fired a grand total of 25 factiry 44 Specials when the base pins bent downward and the cylinder wouldn't turn. I suspect soft parts again. Anyway...I don't mind buying the parts to fix them but they can't be found anywhere. Not Cimmaron,Uberti, both of whom have been little or no help at all, VTI parts or Taylors. Seems strange to me that guns currently listed for sale have no parts available so it leaves me with an set of expensive paper weights. Does anyone know where these parts could be purchased. Thanks.

Scott

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Shooter,
I'll try to help if I can....So, first question, are you sure the arbor is bent? Is it loose, can you move it with your hand? And, does it turn with out the barrel attached? The reason I am asking is I've never seen one bend (have seen them break though), just from firing the gun. Check the loading gate to see that it doesn't protrude above the recoil shield. Are you shooitng smokeless cartridges?

If I'm not mistaken these are black powder or equivelant only revolvers. If the arbor is tight in the recess made for it in the barrel, then it probably isn't bent and may be binding in the area of the ratchett teeth at the rear of the cylinder...one last thing, check to see if any of your primers have backed out on you... The only place I know to get spare parts is VTI.....

OCB

[Major 2]

I have yet to see any problem with Uberti or Cimarron Customer Service...
I'd send the gun in for warranty, Uberti is very good at Customer satisfaction.

assuming the guns were used with loads they are designed for 

[Abilene]

Shooter93,
I too have never heard of an arbor bending downward, on one gun much less two.  And when the gun is assembled, the end of the arbor is in the back of the barrel assembly, so it can't really bend.  I would suspect something else is wrong.  Like Ottawa Creek Bill says, sometimes the loading gate doesn't line up perfectly with the recoil shield and the brass rim will hit it and keep the cylinder from turning.  And even with smokeless ammo, the cylinder can lock up if the wedge is in too far.  Or, sharp firing pins can pierce primers and they can flow into the firing pin hole in the frame.  If you know anyone experienced with setting up these guns you might let them take a look, or send them back to Cimarron as Major 2 suggested.

Good luck! And keep us posted.

[shooter93]

Ok Guys...let me see if i address each issue...No...the base pin isn't loose and the loading gate is fine. I know all about the wedge being to tight and that's not it either. The base pin truly looks like it bent downward where it enters the rear of the revolver. The firing pins did pierce the primers on the first shot so that was fixed before anothe round was fired through them All ammunition fired was factory 44 Specials or Cowboy loads, both of which are well below standard psi ratings for the cartridge. The Gunsmith I use to build many different Custom rifles and pistols for me is very experienced at these things and I myself have done hundreds of pistol and Lever action rifle tune ups and other work. As I said I've had numerous problems with this makers guns but always fixed them. I figure this in the price anymore. VTI has told me personally that they can't get the parts. taylors is looking into it but it's not looking very good. As far as warranty...to those of you who have used it sucsessfully...congrats...Their answer to me on this issue...we don't think it a fault of the gun but send it in and we'll check it over, however we won't be able to supply the repair parts at this date and don't know when they will be available. A few years ago I bought a Special order Deluxe 73 from them in 44-40 caliber. I fired a box of factory ammo through it and it split every piece of brass. Chamber casts and such showedthe chamber was 40 thousands oversize and egg shaped. Shipped the rifle, brass, chamber casts and everything back. Got a phone call....It does appear to be slightly oversize and we can SELL you a new barrel at current retail pricing. That has been a very typical dealing with them.  Despite what it says at the VTI website...they cannot get the parts so I was hoping someone knew of another source. Thanks guys...I'm still looking.