Loose barrel wedge

Cody Bill · February 19, 2023, 09:28:55 PM

Is there a fix for a loose barrel wedge on a open top. I've already tried another wedge, it seemed to work at first until I shot it then it loosened up.

Abilene · February 19, 2023, 10:05:20 PM

Quote from: Cody Bill on February 19, 2023, 09:28:55 PM
Is there a fix for a loose barrel wedge on a open top. I've already tried another wedge, it seemed to work at first until I shot it then it loosened up.

Cody Bill, are you at all familiar with the "short arbor" syndrome with Uberti opentops and percussion guns? There has been a lot of discussion on it. You should look that up, especially on the STORM forum. The short answer fix may well be to drop a number ten split washer down the arbor hole in the barrel to take up the extra space. Try that and report back. Good luck.

Cody Bill · February 20, 2023, 03:58:27 AM

Yes the arbors been fixed but the wedge is still loose

45 Dragoon · February 20, 2023, 07:46:26 AM

Loose as in won't get tight at all or loosens up when shooting?

Coffinmaker · February 20, 2023, 08:59:29 AM

Cody Bill

Same same question 45 Dragoon is asking. Although I also want to know if you are talking about a generic "open top" as in a garden variety percussion gun, or the actual "Open Top." Big difference.

Cody Bill · February 20, 2023, 05:00:10 PM

It's a Uberti 1860 percussion. The original wedge was just loose period. I tried another wedge from my Uberti 51 navy and it was tight until I shot it, then it loosened up.

Abilene · February 20, 2023, 05:52:46 PM

Is the arbor still screwed/staked tighly into the frame?

Cody Bill · February 20, 2023, 06:35:35 PM

Quote from: Abilene on February 20, 2023, 05:52:46 PM
Is the arbor still screwed/staked tighly into the frame?

Yes

45 Dragoon · February 20, 2023, 07:13:52 PM

I'd guess the arbor isn't fixed. I always check for a loose arbor by chucking the arbor in a vice and see if I can wiggle the frame. You'd be surprised how many NIB revolvers have loose arbors!!
If the arbor is tight, the length corrected, and the wedge driven in tight, it should be solid as a rock! I shoot +p ammo in my 45acp converted '60's ( Uberti's) with absolutely no problem at all.
Can you post pictures?

Mike

Cody Bill · February 20, 2023, 07:57:40 PM

I can't detect any movement in the arbor. When I got the gun the arbor had been fixed but there was a gap between the bottom of the barrel and the frame were the lugs are and the wedge would barely fit. I relieved the arbor until the barrel met the frame like its supposed to. That's when I got the loose wedge problem. It seems to me as though the slot in the arbor is a little oversized but not for sure.

45 Dragoon · February 21, 2023, 01:28:07 AM

Ok, 2 things.
When you remove material from the end of the arbor, you are indeed opening up the wedge slot. Number 2, make sure the wedge slot in the arbor goes further back than the rear of the slot in the barrel assy ( this can happen depending on how much material you remove).
To make the wedge you have work from now on, drill and tap the end of the arbor all the way into the wedge slot for a 1/4" X 20 by 3/8" long set screw. Smooth the end of the set screw. Now you have the ability to "adjust" the wedge slot as needed/ wanted for wedge width/position. Go slow and be careful not to break the drill bit when you reach the slot !!
Mike