Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Craftsmanship => Gun Building and Repair => Topic started by: KHickam on January 25, 2014, 04:59:20 PM

Title: Fowler will not hold full cock when I put it in the gun
Post by: KHickam on January 25, 2014, 04:59:20 PM: Well, I just got through shooting my fowler and I have noticed that when I snug up the lock the gun will not go to full cock - loosening it up a bit ( a good bit because the lock will move in the mortise) it will hold full cock but wiggles like the dickens and I really want my smoothie to hold full cock snugged up in the mortise - I have shot this gun a bunch (not sure how much but in the 1000s of rounds) and this is starting to be a problem =

I know I could take some wood out of the mortise but this is pretty thin to begin with
Title: Re: Fowler will not hold full cock when I put it in the gun
Post by: rollingb on January 25, 2014, 06:06:01 PM: Not a traditional fix,... but have you considered glass-bedding the lock?
Title: Re: Fowler will not hold full cock when I put it in the gun
Post by: Captchee on January 26, 2014, 09:52:17 AM: i would say your sear is dragging or making complete contact once you tighten the lock down .
some places to look .
A) lock inlet between sear pivot and sear hole
B) back , bottom edge of sear hole
C) inside bottom of the sear hole . IE the end of the sear arm is bottoming out
D) contact with the top of the trigger bar

it actually doesn’t take much to block the sear from engaging the full cock . there is normally only about 1/32 drop in the sear between the 1/2 and full . so any contact can cause a problem .
IE if the lock inlet is not level , it will allow the lock to tip slightly as you tighten it down.

i would use a little inletting black or just a black marker and coat the sear . put the lock back in and tighten it down . work the lock , then take the lock out . the place that rubs will then have a black mark . simply and gently take off the wood that is marked and then repeat tell the lock works properly .

Now another place to look that I have seen cause a problem , is the main spring not having enough clearance when the lock is tightened down . IE it contact either the edge of the barrel or wood around the lock bolt and or barrel area . Again because the lock inlet isn’t level and when tightened down , the lock tilts just enough . Again it doesn’t take much .

As to not having enough wood ??
You should be able to remove the troublesome areas as they are inside the inlet.
The two areas that can cause issues with thin stocks would be B,C above .
With B) you can take your lock out and bring it to full cock . Note that the sear will drop to very near the bottom edge of the lock . So your sear hole must also be even with the bottom edge of the lock .

With C) if the gun is real narrow , then you may not be able to deepen the sear hole . In which case you simply remove a little off the end of the sear bar . It actually only need to be long enough to cross the trigger bar .

Ill send you a PM with my # if you need me to walk you through it over the phone , i can do that
Title: Re: Fowler will not hold full cock when I put it in the gun
Post by: Sir Michael on January 26, 2014, 12:01:24 PM: What Capt said.
Title: Re: Fowler will not hold full cock when I put it in the gun
Post by: Buzzard on January 26, 2014, 01:12:54 PM: Yep. Capt's got it.
Title: Re: Fowler will not hold full cock when I put it in the gun
Post by: KHickam on January 26, 2014, 01:28:26 PM: Thanks Capt Chee - Took a dremel with a small flat bit and did what you said - now the positive click is audible and holds full cock no problem
Title: Re: Fowler will not hold full cock when I put it in the gun
Post by: Captchee on January 26, 2014, 06:43:35 PM: good to hear .