Ruger Base Pin Issiue

[Modoc]

OK, here is a "fun" one...............  It has my dad and myself stumped.

I am replacing the cylinder base pins in a brace of OM Ruger vaqueros with Belt Mountain's colt style pins.  Pistol #2 is a perfect drop-in, no fitting needed.  Now Pistol # 1 has been a booger in that the base pin fits both the cylinder and frame without needing any polishing (this is good).  Function check without the cylinder on is fine.  The hand moves correctly, the bolt moves correctly and the transfer bar moves through the full range  of motion.  Once I put the cylinder in, the action binds up at about 1/4 to 1/3 of hammer draw.  The bolt is dropping and the Transfer bar is rising, but they stop with the lock up of the hammer.

The only change has been the base pin.

Thanks for listening.

[Pettifogger]

"Now Pistol # 1 has been a booger in that the base pin fits both the cylinder and frame without needing any polishing."  This is slightly unclear.  Do you mean the pin will go into the frame OK and it will go into the cylinder OK, but there is some binding when the cylinder is in the frame?  The Belt Mountain pin tends to be slightly larger in OD than the stock Ruger pin.  It may be the cylinder base pin hole is slightly off center and when it rotates it is binding on the pin.  If the cylinder is in the frame and the pin is installed, when you open the loading gate does the cylinder spin freely or does it drag in certain spots?

[Modoc]

It appears to rotate freely.  Looking at the cylinder gap, there is no change as I rotate the cylinder. 

[Hoof Hearted]

The spring loaded pin in the end of the cylinder pin could be binding and not allowing the transfer bar to rise.
Have you swapped from pistol to pistol to eliminate either weapon or pin?

HH

[Dirty Brass]

I'm no expert, but it sounds like a loading gate/cylinder latch problem. This is a normal occurance if the loading gate is open - all the symptoms you describe happen in that scenario......

[Modoc]

HH and All,   

I finally had time to get back to this project this evening .  In the process of elimination, I swapped the  Belt Mt. pin from Pistol #2 into #1 with the same results.  Now  I can cock pistol #1 if I have pressure on the trigger, otherwise it still hangs up.  Pistol #2 functions flawlessly (haven't shot it yet).  I am also waiting for a reply from Belt Mt., but Push comes to shove - I'll be heading in to see my custom smith.

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Are you using the Belt Mountain pin with the set screw? Tightening the set screw too much will bend the pin ever so slightly, causing the cylinder to bind.

[Modoc]

Here is the reply from Belt Mt.

"When a new larger pin is installed, this can speed up the timing. It
sounds like the cylinder latch isn't disengaging fast enough before the
pawl starts to move the cylinder. I would take 2 strokes off the top edge
of the pawl and see if the extra clearance cures this problem. Call me if
you need to, afternoons and evenings are the best time.
Kelye @ Belt Mtn"


I just need to make the time to get back to this project

Driftwood, this is just the plain Colt Style pin.