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March 8, 2023
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Hi Guys,
I have a Winchester 1873 rifle in 38-40 that has a single set trigger. When I got this rifle is was pretty dirty and I cleaned it I cycling the action was good and it ejected a dumped my round from the magazine into the carrier, bolt seated the case and ejected nicely. The set trigger did not work could not be set but the half cock and full cock worked correctly. I cycled and fired a few rounds and it shot fine and the cases looked good with centered primer hits.
I saw the set scew was scewed in so I unscrewed it a little and it still would not set. It was at that time I dissassembled the action to look at the parts. Taking the plates off the toggles were in good condition but dirty so I removed those and the lifter, carrier and cleaned them. I removed the buttstock and removed the hammer spring so I could look at the trigger assembly. I removed the finger lever screw and pin removed the finger lever. Then I tooked out the lower tang screws with the idea of removing the lower tang but it would not move. I tried socking it with Kroil oil and gently pulling and trying to rock it but no go. Gently used a brass hammer but nothing. I then decided to clean the muck out of the set trigger assembly using degreaser a small brush and compressed air. Once done the set trigger worked correctly. There was a lot of gunk in it mostly dired oil. I lightly oiled it and then resembled the rifle. Once it was reassembled I cycled the action and found that the bolt drove the hammer back but would not go back enough to engage the full cock. Pulling the lever back the hammer would follow back and stop at the half cock. The half and full cock notches are in good shape and both work great. When shooting the rifle I could put it in half cock and it held and could cycle and full cock would hold until the trigger was pulled. Now after cleaning I have a working single set trigger but cannot cycle the bolt enough to get the full cock to engage,
So I am at a loss at why this is happening. It looks like the bolt needs to travel about .125″ more to fully engage the full cock. Not sure why I can’t remove the lower tang and not sure why after cleaning the full cock will not engage when cycled, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Rob
June 4, 2017
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Is the retractor installed correctly in the breech-pin? T/R
May 2, 2009
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Rob,
You can remove the stock and the left sideplate and watch it as you cycle the lever. You just leave the right sideplate on and lay the gun on that side so the toggles don’t fall out. You will be able to see why its not going in to full cock.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
March 8, 2023
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Yes it is
Rob
March 8, 2023
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Hi Bob,
Yes I have done that and it almost travels far enough looking at it from inside the receiver. I have a couple other 73’s and comparing the cycling the only difference is bolt position that I can see. The hammer is in good condition and the bolt fave is not overly worn
Rob
March 8, 2023
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Hi Bob,
I am going to disassemble the receiver again and reinstall the retractor I am sure I put it in correctly but it doesnt hurt to redo it just in case
Rob
May 2, 2009
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Check the retractor, long side points up and short end down with the longer part towards the back. Excessive play in the toggle pins and hinges could cause the bolt to go back far enough but it worked before you took it apart. This would be odd but other thing that might of happened is when cleaned it up you removed a build up of grime at the end of the firing pin where it bottoms out in the bolt that now the firing pin goes in farther causing the firing pin to not go back far enough.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
June 4, 2017
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Nice picture Bob but you didn’t have to cut up a good gun to take it. That going the extra mile. Tom
March 31, 2009
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Ah, brotherly love
March 8, 2023
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Nice picture indeed. I have the retractor in correctly but I noticed the firing is sticking out and hard to move. It should be free floating right? So maybe I found the issue?
Rob
March 8, 2023
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The retractor does not rotate or move at all and it seems the firing pin is not moving either
Rob
May 2, 2009
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It should float back a forth about a 1/4″ as long as the action is not all the way open. At that point the retractor will be pulling it back. The firing pin should not rotate much. Its kept from rotating by the gas grove on the firing pin riding against the bottom of the extractor and the retractor.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
March 8, 2023
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Thanks guys I got it working it turns out it was the retractor, the firing pin was stuck in the bolt. Puting the retractor in with the pin stuck didnt do anything and the bolt didnt go out enough to st the full cock. I think it got stuck because I cleaned it out and lightly oiled itand pushed it in and didnt make sure it was free. But when I reassembled everything the pin was still stuck so it didnt work. So I pulled the retractor loosened up the firing pin then reinstalled the retractor then put everything back together and now it works! Its not the first time I have taken these 73’s apart both the Uberti’s and originals and I have never had that happen before. But this is my first single set trigger in a 73.
Anyway thanks for all the help I really appreciate it, if you have a better explanation than I explaned it I would love to hear it.
Thanks again
Rob
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