LOCK ISSUES

[burch]

I`m having a bit of trouble with the lock on my flinter. When I cock it, it wants to go off all my itself.  I have a 36cal. Hatfield Rifle. Also, how do you time a lock and is this something I should have done or do myself ?

                     Burch

[biliff]

You need to be a little more specific. Are you saying the gun won't go to full cock? Half cock?

Could be anything from a broken/worn sear to simply overtightening the screw that holds the lock in place.

What happens when you take the lock out of the rifle and cock it?

[Bigsmoke]

first, check the tension screw on your triggers.  If it is in too far, the lock will not hold full cock.
If that's all right, then take the lock out of the rifle and visually inspect what is happening when you bring it to full cock.  That should let you know where the problem is.
Regarding the timing of the lock, I will let more flint involved people answer that.  Myself, I'd just lay it next to a clock overnight and see what happened.    Probably not the way to do it.

[burch]

You need to be a little more specific. Are you saying the gun won't go to full cock? Half cock?

Could be anything from a broken/worn sear to simply overtightening the screw that holds the lock in place.

What happens when you take the lock out of the rifle and cock it?

 It`ll go to full and half cock. When I cock it to full is when it fires by itself. I loosened the screw that holds the lock in place and it doesn`t seem to be doing it any more. I`m going to shoot it this afternoon and see what happens. I also took the lock out of the rifle and it didn`t do it. I hope it was just having the screw too tight. I`d rather have to take the dummy award then buy parts  

[burch]

first, check the tension screw on your triggers.  If it is in too far, the lock will not hold full cock.
If that's all right, then take the lock out of the rifle and visually inspect what is happening when you bring it to full cock.  That should let you know where the problem is.
Regarding the timing of the lock, I will let more flint involved people answer that.  Myself, I'd just lay it next to a clock overnight and see what happened.  :lol:

[Loyalist Dave]

Sounds like a standard problem with production flinters...., it's not the lock, it's the wood.  (At least I found it to be common)

When you mentioned releasing some pressure with loosening the lock screw, it gave me a hint, though I couldn't be sure unless I looked at the lock, but...,

Wood changes over time, with moisture, etc.  I have found several times that wood when it swells, can push on some internal parts of a lock.  I have found this only with mass produced items such as Hatfield, McCoy, Navy Arms, and Pedersoli flintlocks.  The wood may be pressing on the sear, or messing with the sear spring, or another internal part(s).  It's an easy fix, AND you need to have it tended to.  A looser lock may leave a very small gap between where it meets the barrel and the pan..., you don't want powder collecting below the pan inside the lock mortise.  

Just take a candle, and blacken the "internal" area of the lock all over, then gently replace the lock but don't tighten with the screws.  Give it a gentle tap once it is seated, now tighten the screws to where you used to tighten them, and then carefully remove the lock.  You should see black marks on the wood where the lock parts are rubbing, thus giving you a clue where the problem lies.  You may then want to show it to a person who has installed locks to be sure you only remove what wood you should.

LD

[burch]

Sounds like a standard problem with production flinters...., it's not the lock, it's the wood.  (At least I found it to be common)

When you mentioned releasing some pressure with loosening the lock screw, it gave me a hint, though I couldn't be sure unless I looked at the lock, but...,

Wood changes over time, with moisture, etc.  I have found several times that wood when it swells, can push on some internal parts of a lock.  I have found this only with mass produced items such as Hatfield, McCoy, Navy Arms, and Pedersoli flintlocks.  The wood may be pressing on the sear, or messing with the sear spring, or another internal part(s).  It's an easy fix, AND you need to have it tended to.  A looser lock may leave a very small gap between where it meets the barrel and the pan..., you don't want powder collecting below the pan inside the lock mortise.  

Just take a candle, and blacken the "internal" area of the lock all over, then gently replace the lock but don't tighten with the screws.  Give it a gentle tap once it is seated, now tighten the screws to where you used to tighten them, and then carefully remove the lock.  You should see black marks on the wood where the lock parts are rubbing, thus giving you a clue where the problem lies.  You may then want to show it to a person who has installed locks to be sure you only remove what wood you should.

LD

That is pure genious Dave, i`ll try it. Also, as a tip i`ve always applied Johnson Paste Wax inside the stocks of all my guns just for that very reason. I use most of my guns for hunting and with the morning dew or getting caught in the rain it`s never failed me yet.  

[Firewalker]

As  Dave said, blacken the inerds of the lock real well and tighten it up. If the lock mortice inside is dark wood you my not see the soot. In that case try some light colored lipstick on the lock instead.

[burch]

As  Dave said, blacken the inerds of the lock real well and tighten it up. If the lock mortice inside is dark wood you my not see the soot. In that case try some light colored lipstick on the lock instead.

  What color lipstick do you prefer :lol:

[Firewalker]

Whatever you have in your purse.  

[burch]

Whatever you have in your purse.  

     

[Loyalist Dave]

DUDE!

ASK the wife or significant other for a shade she will let you use...., don't just grab one out of the purse, for I have found it's nearly a Capital Offense to 1) Enter the purse w/o permission 2) Remove a lipstick for gunbuilding purposes as you will always grab a color she really likes, and probably just bought, and ..., they KNOW what the tip should look like so there's no way of disguising that it's been used for something not intended by her....,  

LD

[burch]

DUDE!

ASK the wife or significant other for a shade she will let you use...., don't just grab one out of the purse, for I have found it's nearly a Capital Offense to 1) Enter the purse w/o permission 2) Remove a lipstick for gunbuilding purposes as you will always grab a color she really likes, and probably just bought, and ..., they KNOW what the tip should look like so there's no way of disguising that it's been used for something not intended by her....,   :evil:  Apparenty, you sir need to pull your man card and tell her who the boss really is. It`s just like when I need money or my man card. I just go straight to the purse and get it  

[Captchee]

im sorry i did not see this post .
 a few  things . dave  has a good point . but for inletting black i use an indelible marker . its not a messy as lipstick or  candle soot
 also not only can this happen in the lock mortise but also in the trigger inlet. especially if someone had over tightened the tang screw  to many times and thus the triggers are now riding alittle to deep
 the other issue can be with your set trigger adjustment .  if you have the  adjustment screw to far in  it can cause the lock not to stay at the full cock  because the   back trigger bar is now to high . thus it holds the  sear from making good contact .

 As to timing a lock .
 Are you meaning Tuning by chance ?

[burch]

im sorry i did not see this post .
 a few  things . dave  has a good point . but for inletting black i use an indelible marker . its not a messy as lipstick or  candle soot
 also not only can this happen in the lock mortise but also in the trigger inlet. especially if someone had over tightened the tang screw  to many times and thus the triggers are now riding alittle to deep
 the other issue can be with your set trigger adjustment .  if you have the  adjustment screw to far in  it can cause the lock not to stay at the full cock  because the   back trigger bar is now to high . thus it holds the  sear from making good contact .

 As to timing a lock .
 Are you meaning Tuning by chance ?

 yes - tuning.  Also, what about flints chipping and is this normal ?   Also, is their a way to hardin` the frizzen ?