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Is there any adjustability designed into the mainspring assembly ? I recently cleaned up my 1873 and tightened the mainspring. It seems that the hammer is harder to cock now. secondly, there is a screw on the lower tang, in front of the mainspring screw, that will press on the underside of the mainspring if tightened. What is the purpose of this screw? I have a disassembly guide that says this screw serves no purpose (I find that hard to believe) & to leave it alone.
May 2, 2009
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It does just what you thought, adds tension to the spring. It never really has to to be used unless you left the gun cocked all the time and the spring loses some of its tension.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
December 1, 2012
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[email protected] said
I have a disassembly guide that says this screw serves no purpose (I find that hard to believe) & to leave it alone.
If you have a guide that says that, I’d get rid of it and use an accurate one. Here is one from the NRA:
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
June 5, 2015
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[email protected] said
Thanks for responses, I will get the NRA guide.
Less than $4 and free shipping !!
Updated edition
Vince
Southern Oregon
NRA member
Fraternal Order of Eagles
“There is but one answer to be made to the dynamite bomb and that can best be made by the Winchester rifle.”
Teddy Roosevelt
Vince,
Thanks, It looks like the NRA book covers all (most) makes and models. I’m going to keep looking as I would like to get a good gunsmithing/assembly guide on all Winchester lever guns or specifically the early ones- 66,73,86,92 and 94.
I will print off the PDF that Wincacher provided. Now that I’ve had the 73 apart I pretty well understand it- at least assembly
JimB
December 1, 2012
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If that’s the copy of the NRA manual I have, and it appears to be, it was printed back in 1972 and doesn’t include anything made after that, which is fine with me as I only own antiques. It also doesn’t have the 1876 or anything Winchester made prior to the 1873 but I saved copies of the old American Rifleman from back when it was a sportsman’s periodical and they occasionally issued assembly instructions on antiques.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
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