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September 4, 2018
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I've been fussing off and on with my "potential" son in laws "very" used DW44 for several months. I finally have found what is causing the action to lock up upon cocking. The transfer bar is striking the bottom of the firing pin when attempting to cock. Everything stops short of the hammer cocking - and if you push the firing pin forward the transfer bar can slip by and it cocks normally.
I've got some ideas about how to fix this, but to tell the truth, I can't see what has gone wrong to cause it.
Before I go off "half cocked", do any of you experienced DW folks know what is wrong and how you've fixed it in the past?
"Admire those who succeed and learn from their success."
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February 22, 2009
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You'll have to get into it but my first check would be whether or not the hand spring may be installed incorrectly, bent/ broken, or worn. That's the spring between the connector (transfer bar) and the hand that rotates the cylinder. It's not uncommon for a previous owner/ gunsmith to have installed it incorrectly or for it to slip during installation. I don't have a large frame disassembled right now but I think the strut interacts with the connector as well (can't recall)- so check the strut spring and plunger too. Regards, Ron
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
September 4, 2018
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Thanks for the quick response. I have to admit, as part of diagnosing this lock-up I tried assembling the revolver with various parts left out. For instance I left out the hand and transfer bar to make sure the hammer would lock and release without a hitch. I installed the hand without the transfer bar and hammer to make sure the cylinder would rotate and lock.
When I installed the hand and transfer bar without the hammer OR hand spring was when I was able to replicate the lock-up condition. That's when the transfer bar was bumping up against the firing pin. A closer look showed that rotating the frame muzzle up would allow the transfer bar to drop back away from the firing pin (gravity). Basically gravity was doing what would happen with a good hand spring installed.
The hand spring looks ok... The pin that the transfer bar pivots on (common to the hand) seems to be a bit tight in the hole. (Not sure how it could tighten up with age...)
I think I'll get after that pin with some kroil and see if I can work it a bit more free. Then reassemble all the parts to see if it works better.
I see CZUSA lists a complete spring kit that includes the hand spring. I think I'll contact them and see if I can get just the hand spring or if I need to "spring" for the whole she"bang".
Again, thanks for the ideas.
"Admire those who succeed and learn from their success."
February 16, 2016
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MACE_Hardware said
I see CZUSA lists a complete spring kit that includes the hand spring. I think I'll contact them and see if I can get just the hand spring or if I need to "spring" for the whole she"bang".
You are going to have to pay $9 for shipping regardless, so may as well make it count.
September 4, 2018
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OK, I put it all back together today. I had stoned a few small burrs off the hand and polished the edges and pivot pin of the transfer bar (connector) very conservatively. I soaked the frame in ATF and ran it through an ultrasound cleaner. Installed the hand and connector using the thread trick I learned here.
Well, it all seems to be working just fine. Woot!
I dry fired the piece about 100 times with all kinds of angles and I have not been able to get it to jam the action.
Did I say "Woot".
I plan to test fire tomorrow, and return the revolver to my "almost" son-in-law Saturday. (I may just order the spring kit - just in case.)
I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow. I'm pretty sure this DW is a candidate for ugliest ever, but I think it might shoot just fine now.
"Admire those who succeed and learn from their success."
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