Very tight fitting arbor?

[Cowtown]

One of my Cimarron OTs is very difficult to disassemble. The arbor fits very tightly in the arbor hole. I cannot simply pull the barrel assembly off the frame without a lot of twisting and a bit of very gentle and careful prying. I'm guessing this ain't exactly how it is supposed to be as my other Cimarron OT, the same model comes apart easily after the wedge is removed-not loose easy, just without force.

What is the best way to remedy this super tight fit?

Appreciate any comments.

[Coffinmaker]

There are two steps.  First inspect the hole in the barrel lug for burrs.  To remove the burrs and to smooth the bore up, use about a 6 inch dowel with a slot cut across one end (cross grain).  Cut some 220 wet/dry paper into 1 1/2 inch strips then cut those strips into pieces 2 1/2 inches long, fold in half long ways and put the in the slot, fold around the dowel then chuck it up in a drill motor and run it back and fourth in the hole.  Make it smooth.  Then finish it with a couple of passes with 600 wet/dry.

Next, put the frame in a padded vice of some sort.  Cut some strips of 220 or 320 wet/dry paper, then wrap around half the arbor and play "Polish the shoe."  Flip the frame and polish the other side.  Try-fit until it slides in and out of the barrel.  Finish it with a 1000 wet/dry polish.

You may find the worst part of the arbor is at the very front.  Look closely at the arbor as you try fit.  The problem areas will leave faint marks.  The most common areas for burrs are the wedge slots in the Arbor, Barrel lug and the inside of the bore for the wedge screw.

Coffinmaker

PS:  Almost forgot.  Almost ALL Open Top pattern guns, Cartridge or Percussion, need to have the Barrel bore and the Arbor cleaned up in the fashion to some extent.

PSS:  Once the gun will go together with a simple hand push, you will probably find the Barrel to Arbor fit is wonky and need to fix that as well.

PSSS:  I ever mention, I really really really hate auto-correct??

[Cowtown]

Coffinmaker,

Thank you. I'll give your method a try this week.