N Frame Hand Fitting

[art mc]

What do you use to an overisze hand for 8 shot n frames. Original one has a deep cut down the inside of the hand. Does anyone have a pic and what tools to use.

Thanks In Advance

art

[toothguy]

What do you use to an overisze hand for 8 shot n frames. Original one has a deep cut down the inside of the hand. Does anyone have a pic and what tools to use.

Thanks In Advance

art

I use diamond files from Harbor Freight. They are cheap and a diamond file works well on the hard steel of the hand.

[art mc]

Thanks for the input. N frames require a lot of material removal.

art

[Toolguy]

Only the 8 shots require a lot of material removal. The 6 shots require only minor tuning, if any.

[snertley]

I was talking with Kevin the night before and now we are wondering if it is the hand torsion spring! He has a new one coming and we will see if it is as simple as that.

[art mc]

Tool Guy

You have stated before that only the hand tip requires cutting. Is that true for the 8 shots?

thanks in advance for any advice.

art

[Toolguy]

Yes - only the tip needs cutting because that is the only part that contacts the ratchet. The rest of the hand is riding in the slot of the hand window. The thickness of the tip should be just enough to slide up between the frame on the right side and the ratchet on the left side. That is why you only file on the left side of the tip. If the hand is too wide, it binds when going past the ratchet and pushes the cylinder too far counter clockwise. In that case, you file the hand with a diamond file to get the right thickness.

As with any hand fitting operation this is a try and fit where you do a little and see how it is and do a little more, check the fit, etc. till it's just right. You have to sneak up on this because once it's too narrow you have to get a new hand and start over. Too narrow makes for late timing where the cylinder is not locked by the cylinder stop before the hammer falls.

For cylinders of more than 6 shots (7,8,& 10) the hand has to be thinner than normal because the cylinder doesn't turn as far per shot as with only 6. The hand (tip) gets progressively thinner every time you add another shot. On the 10 shot .22 there is hardly any tip left.

If I have to thin a hand more than just slight fitting I use the surface grinder that can take off a lot quickly but can also do a thousandth of an inch or less when I am getting close to size.

You're welcome Art! All the Best - Warren

Edited October 18, 2012 by Toolguy