Centaure parts

[Thompsongunner]

Does any of you know if the centaure frame to barrel alignment pins are removable and if they whose replacement pins might work if I screw these up?

   Thxs, Gunner

[Montana Slim]

On all 1860's I've fooled with they are removable...but I don't have a Cenataur.

Measure diameter with calipers & look for straight dowel pins of proper length at a well stocked hardware store. They should press in (tap with a hammer). Use a drop of locktite if needed.

You should be able to remove them with a pair of pliers. If the protruding ends are a bit buggered, you might be able to end-for-end them & not spend a dime.

Slim

[Thompsongunner]

Slim, that is a possible solution. But the pins in my Pietta 1860 appear to be stepped. Smaller dia. in the frame and larger in in the barrel assy.

[Coffinmaker]

Curiosity killed the kat.  I'm really curious. 
What seems to be wrong with yer Pins??  Although I just worked on a Pietta with the pins and corresponding barrel ugh holes WAY
out of alignment.

Coffinmaker

[Montana Slim]

Slim, that is a possible solution. But the pins in my Pietta 1860 appear to be stepped. Smaller dia. in the frame and larger in in the barrel assy.

I have several Pietta, ASM, Uberti & Colt. I've had several fall out over the years. Don't recall seeing any that are stepped. But they don't ask me before making changes. I've swapped them end-for-end before & used ed loctite to keep em in place.

Could drill the holes to the same size & use dowel pins. Note one end of a dowel pin is smaller with slight taper.

Also easy to reduce diameter of existing pins or make new ones using a poor mans lathe...aka a power drill.

Best,
Slim

[Thompsongunner]

Slim, maybe taper would have been a better choice of words. But when your eyes start getting old sometimes it's hard to tell a taper from a step.

Coffinmaker, there is a slight overhang of the barrel to the frame that I would like to eliminate by lapping the 2 pieces together. So I need to pull those pins out.

Thanks for the replies,

[Coffinmaker]

I may be seeing your problem "backwards" in my mind's eye ....... but it sounds like the barrel overlaps the frame??  If that is the case,
I would think the barrel/arbor fit is the problem.  Addressing a "too deep" hole in the bore for the arbor may be a much simpler
solution to the problem.
If you lap the frame to move the back, you may well adversely effect the Barrel to Cylinder gap.  If I'm being the problem correctly, I
would suggest dropping a brass flat washer down the bore and see what the difference is.  If the washer opens the spacing at the front of the frame slightly, the washer can be surfaced to fit.  The washer can be attached to the end of the arbor with a dab of JB Weld and
then the washer dressed to fit.
Or ....... I'm not seeing it correctly and you can ignore the above and return to our regularly scheduled wild a$$ guesses 

Coffinmaker

[Long Johns Wolf]

Are you possibly talking about the typical "Centaure step"?
Long Johns Wolf

[Thompsongunner]

Coffinmaker, you saw it right. But I was trying to kill two birds with one shot. The overhang is only a few thousands over and I was going to close the barrel to cylinder gap by that much. I was actually trying to close the gap some and that is why I didn't go with the washer idea and that's why I wanted the pins out.  After using heat and alot of kroil both pins snapped off so I will be cleaning it up. Drilling new holes and making some new pins for it.

Long Johns, My centaure doesn't have a pronounced step like that. I was referring to the alignment pins. And when I put my cheater glasses on the pietta pins do have a step in them.

Thxs, All

Gunner

[Long Johns Wolf]

Which, Thompsongunner, kind of confirms what I suspected for a few years now.
Namely that the 1860 clones we know from the April 1963 ff did not strive to replicate Colt's M1860s of the 19th century but the Belgian Centaures aka "1960 NEW MODEL ARMY".
Long Johns Wolf