I need some help. My 659 has the adjustable winged rear sight. Was at the range following some eye surgery and needed to adjust the sights. Elevation was fine. When turning the windage screw the blade did not move. Figured it needed to be cleaned and lubed. No I didn't loose any of the detent pins or springs. Those little buggers did try to escape though. Upon reassembly same problem. Seems like there is some interference between the blade and the threaded collar on the left end of the windage screw. Had it apart and back together a couple more times but don't seem to get it right. What am I doing wrong?

Thank you in advance for helping me.......Jim

What can't you get right? The re-assembly or figuring out why the blade isn't moving?

So is the windage screw turning but the blade isn't moving? If so the threads on the blade must be striped.

You're turning the screw from the right side, correct? The left side is a locking nut & really shouldn't turn when you turn the screw from the right side. The left side's end of the screw is flared into the nut to keep is from coming unassembled when you turn it.

If the screw & blade are not turning then maybe they are rusted together or damaged?

Does your's look like this?

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Waiting for the break of day

Your diagram is exactly what I have. Prior to assembly the sight blade threads on to the windage screw perfectly and moves freely back and forth in the slot. Once I install the lock nut on the left side the blade will not move.

Okay, sounds like the left end of the windage screw is not flared anymore. It needs to be flared (to hold onto the nut) to allow it to work correctly.

When you removed & disassembled the sight were you able to remove the windage screw & was it separate from the nut? If so that's wrong. (You normally have to break the two to remove them & buy a new set to reinstall it properly.) Either the end is broken or needs to be re-flared, if enough of the hollow tip is still there.

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Waiting for the break of day

Partner, I have been on my hands and knees with a magnet for the last hour and a half. That tiny pin and spring from the head end of the windage screw took off like Apollo 13 and ended up on the floor. You guessed it. CARPET! I got it back together. Still does not work correctly. Who makes a replacement sight for the old girl. I'm not giving up on her. She was my last duty weapon so I have a fondness for her.

I appreciate your help.

The windage nut on the left side should turn with the windage screw.

It should not be tightened down against the sight body.

The windage nut should be lightly threaded on to the windage screw and the end of the windage screw peened to retain the nut.

If the windage nut is overtightened, it will not allow the blade to move.

John

Thread the blade onto the windage adj screw (about mid way or a little less) and then slide the assembly into the rear sight base.
Keeping that ultra tiny detent 'click' spring and plunger in place in the windage screw head is tricky as you've already found out!

With the screw with it's blade attached pushed into the slot,,then place the locking nut in the recess on to left side of the sight base.
The windage screw will be poking out into that recess already, so you have to carefully hold the locking nut in place and then turn the windage screw RH to thread the nut onto the windage screw.

-Don't push the windage screw back out in order to drop the locking nut into it's recess to do this,,,sounds like it'd be easier to pick up the thread, but it pushes the head of the windage screw back out on the right side and that tiny detent plunger and coil spring are unprotected and take another magic carpet ride on you.

Once the nut is threaded on to the windage screw, (a small 2 spur spanner made from a cheap screw driver helps to hold the nut as the screw threads on thru it),,tighten it up only to the point that any sideways movement of the screw and it's blade together are taken out of the now assembled parts in the base.
The screw turns but it does not advance or back off itself.
It just stays in that captured position between the abutments in the sight base.
The blade on the other hand moves back and forth on the threads as they are turning giving you windage. The 'click' detents from that miserable little plunger and spring hold those adjustments in small increments.

To keep the screw in it's nicely adjusted position with no play in it..the lock nut must be ,,,locked,, to the end of the screw when that perfect position is found.
The factory stakes the end of the screw shaft into the slot of the nut so they become one piece and turn as an assembly.
Some are individual stake marks into the slot, others appear to be a more simple smash-em centered mark into the threaded end of the screw.
The result has to be the same,,the nut ends up being attached to the screw and turns with it as adjustments are made.

If there's not enough mat'rl to re-stake the end of the screw to the nut,,sometimes there isn't after you take these apart. I've put them back together with a tiny amt of thread locker on the threads of the nut when assembled.
Don't over do it and get the stuff into the adj threads or you'll have a fixed sight gun. Just a dot inside those tiny threads and screw it on,,adjust it for no play and let it set up.

Thank you JohnHL and 2152hq. Should have never had the eye surgery. I really appreciate the tutorial. I think I'll give the thread lock a try.

Jim

You guys are Einsteins. I did the thread lock and staked the screw in the nut on the left. Works perfectly. If I ever have to call for cover again I hope you guys show up. Thank you.

Jim

You're welcome, Jim!

I've had eye surgery, also.

What a nightmare!

But I'm glad to say it turned out OK, but could have been better if the doctors hadn't made mistakes.

John

Glad it went back together OK.
Them little parts can be difficult no matter how good your eyes are.
I can't see anything to work on w/o wearing an optivisor w/a 5X lens. Gets my noggin awfully close to the lathe chuck,, but so far no damage to the chuck.

If my hands would quit shaking that'd be a big help..