Repairing The Lifter Height in a Winchester Model 1873 Rifle.

I have an original Winchester Model 1873 rifle made in 1883. The carrier block does not lift the cartridge high enough to be chambered by the bolt. I discuss the problem then show how I dismantle the rifle and repair it.

[@usnchief1339]

Looking at the gouges on the top of the carrier block, someone most likely beat down on it and somehow bent the lifter lever. Most likely due to fouling or letting it sit around without proper cleaning. On my current Win 1895 project, someone pulled the lever so hard that the lever was bent. I'm also working on an 1873. Just a major cleaning/preservation. Hopefully she last another 135+ years. Thank you sir!

[@TheMemoryOfAllThat]

Great video, thanks. I appreciate that it was difficult to film.

[@japoofry]

Good Morning from about 30 south and 30 east. Your video has assisted me in confirming a diagnosis made for my Uberti.357 1873 rifle. In your case the carrier block did not travel high enough to bring the round into battery, and in my case the carrier block gets pushed too high . So I think my lifter arm has to come down a bit, which should stop the friction on the firing pin extension, and make the gun cycle easier. When the hammer is in the cocked position my rifle cycles perfectly, but to cock it at the same time makes it very stiff. Your book reviews are interesting as well. On an aside , Nic White faked by going down on his knees. In soccer you get a card for that, and Eddie Jones is right by saying" the Wallabies scrum-half as “the biggest niggler of all-time” Thank you for the video as it has been very usefull !

[@456eec]

When I got my old Winchester one of the fingers on the main spring was broken off. I bought a Uberti one but it was much heavier and made the rifle hard to cycle. I ended up finding an original one off a Model 1892 Winchester which are the same and it cycled great thereafter. I still have the Uberti one and it is thicker that the original. The SASA Western Action crowd get their Uberti's slicked by replacing with lighter springs so it may be worth looking into that. If you have any trouble contact this business and they may be able to send you a light spring. singleactionsuppliesaustralia.com.au/ Unfortunately I am from South Australia where Rugby Union is not really known. It is Australian Rules Football (AFL) country. I had to Google to see who Nic White is! To bend the lifter arm I had a length of 1" steel water pipe about 70cm long as a lever. I drew an arrow in marker pen on the lifter to show which way to bend so I didn't get confused when I got to the bench, clamped it in a vice and then closed my eyes and felt the give of the metal as it bent ever so slightly. I put it back in and it was better but not quite enough. I repeated the process and it was perfect.

[@ishikawa686]

Very nice work mate! She's a beaut! I recently bought a Miroku reproduction 1873 and loving it. Subscribed!

[@Master...deBater]

Well done on the repair. It looked like after you reassembled the action the lifter spring may not have been tight enough. I notice at 29:09 with the lever open but not yet touching the lifter, you were able to push the carrier block up with little resistance with your finger. If the lifter spring was tighter it would hold the lifter...and therefore the carrier in the down position until the lever actually started pressing against the lifter. The way you have it set up, gravity is the only thing keeping the carrier in the down position until the lever is fully closed holding the lifter down. The best way to adjust the lifter spring tension is to hold the rifle upside down while you run the lever. If the carrier starts to fall into the action before the lever hits the lifter and begins physically lifting it, you need to increase tension on the spring. You'll know the tension is right when in the upside down position the carrier stays flush with the bottom of the receiver and has physical resistance until the lever makes contact with the lifter and it begins lifting the carrier. Always check it in the upside down position. If the carrier begins moving before the lever makes contact with the lifter, the spring needs tightening. But only tighten it until the carrier no longer moves unless acted upon by the lifter via the lever. Hope this helps...cheers.

[@anilone1481]

❤thank you guys so clear

[@henrysara7716]

Thy for sharing.

[@568843daw]

Question: when steel is bent like that, it creates stress within the steel, how did you release that stress so the part would not break in the future?

[@456eec]

Just bent it back to where it started in the first place. This gun will only be used occasionally and fairly gently. If it breaks in the future I will deal with it then.

[@sidekickbob7227]

A bit late response, but you can release the stress in steel by heat it to a certain temperature for a certain amount of time. But then you would need to temper it again afterwards. That's a pretty risky business if you not are familiar with this certain steel. I believe he does the right thing, by not doing anything about the stress this time. The old steel is often rather soft, and can take some bending before it turns hard and brake.

[@DeathMond.]

800wet dry sandpaper, to polish those surfaces would do wonders to Smooth out that action.

[@regisalmeida9252]

BRAZIL VÍDEO LEGAL

[@satireguy8595]

On bald and bankrupts video with kolya you said he has parkinsons. Are you sure its not just the alcoholism? Srry to comment on ur vid but it wount let me do it over there

[@456eec]

I just saw this comment for the first time. You can see even when he is sober and lucent he has uncontrolled movements including intention tremors. If you know anyone with PD it is very recognisable.