Is my hand to short

[Shootemup]

I have a Pietta 1861  that I bought a Howell conversion  cylinder  for. When I installed it  the hand would start to turn the cylinder before the bolt dropped and would not turn at all. After reading many posts on here I decided I needed to shorten the hand so I did. Got the cylinder to turn but it stops  just short of lockup when I cock it slowly.
The percussion cylinder was also binding just a little bit and was peening the locking notch.

So my question is did I take a few to many strokes of the file and did I go about it the right way?

Thanks in advance.

         
   

[Hawg]

Yes your hand is too short and your bolt is out of time as well. The bolt should be locked with the hammer down.

[Shootemup]

Thanks Hawg
The bolt  does lock the cylinder with the hammer  down. It also seems to pop up into the approach  when cocking  roughly  a bolt width before the locking notch. But I will have to get a new hand and try again. I guess maybe I should get a couple of them 🤔

[kendudley]

consider taking a little ;off the top of the bolt. the hand was probably all right.  a little goes a long way here.  Ken

[45 Dragoon]

You can stretch the hand by removing the spring and heating it up. Lay a nail or screwdriver across it (the sides) and hit it fairly sharp with a hammer.  Straighten it up with taps from the hammer. Install the spring and test.

 Removing material form the bolt head will also allow the bolt arms further back which you probably need. The locking notches are a little more shallow than the cap cyl.

Get the full cock/ lockup  (hand length) first and then the bolt release (cam pick up) and drop  can be dialed in.

Mike

[Shootemup]

Posted by: 45 Dragoon
« on: August 03, 2021, 08:05:19 AM »Insert Quote
You can stretch the hand by removing the spring and heating it up. Lay a nail or screwdriver across it (the sides) and hit it fairly sharp with a hammer.  Straighten it up with taps from the hammer. Install the spring and test

Since I haven't ordered a new hand yet I may just try this. I only need to stretch it a tiny bit as it almost locks up.