Stuck Rear Sight Blade Replacement

balin · #1 10-06-2014, 10:55 AM

Got the sight blade replacement kit. Broke the screw. Got the plunger and spring out without a problem. But while trying to tap the blade out it seems to be stuck. Without getting a bigger hammer!!!! I watched the video from Midway. Does the nut need to be unscrewed? I did not see him doing anything with the nut and it is not threaded on the outside from what i can see. Are there any tips that you guys can give me? Thanks.

tomcatt51 · #2 10-06-2014, 12:06 PM

You have to remove the remains of the windage screw after you break it. Screw the nut and remains of the windage screw out to the LEFT, then slide the sight blade out to the RIGHT.

When installing the new blade, screw the new windage screw into the blade until the plunger hole is UNDER the blade. Rotate the screw so you can install the spring and plunger into its' hole. Rotate the screw while depressing the plunger so the plunger is trapped under the blade. This is MUCH easier to do than fighting with the spring and plunger with the blade and screw in the sight base as Larrys' video shows. Then slide the blade/screw/spring/plunger assy into the sight base (right to left) and screw the nut on, adjust it and flare the screw end.

Based on the ones I've seen Larry shouldn't be making videos about working on S&W revolvers...

H Richard · #3 10-06-2014, 12:10 PM

On a couple of older guns I have had the blade "frozen" in place. I dribbled Kroil in on both sides and let soak for a day, then I used a flat end punch and 2 oz. hammer and tapped it out. They can get rusted in place, especially on old retired police revolvers.

balin · #4 10-06-2014, 03:42 PM

I am replacing the v notch blade with the more traditional blade on mt 329PD as my old eyes don't pick up the present notch well. Good info thank you kindly.

Alk8944 · #5 10-06-2014, 10:02 PM

Balin,

I haven't seen the video, but from what others have said Larry is 100% WRONG!!!. They have said he tells you to turn the screw LEFT until it breaks. And I bet you did this if you watched the video. The correct way is turn the screw RIGHT as though tightening, which you are, until it breaks.

If you do it correctly, when the screw head breaks off the sight slide is all the way to the right. Then all you do is PUSH the slide all the way to the left of the sight and the screw and nut will protrude from the left side of the sight base and all you need to do is use your fingers to unscrew the windage screw and "slide out" the slide to the right.

If you do it the way Potterfield tells you to, you end up with the broken screw, the slide all the way to the left with no where to go, and the nut jammed firmly in its' recess in the sight base. Sound familiar? He "may" have changed his video, but I doubt it. If so you simply "screwed up".

You MAY be able to use a spanner screwdriver bit to turn the nut, but will probably just break the bit! The screw will be TIGHT!!!

In case you wonder why I know Potterfield is wrong, I have been changing these things for probably nearly as long as he has been alive! I have done hundreds of them.

balin · #6 10-07-2014, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alk8944

Balin,

I haven't seen the video, but from what others have said Larry is 100% WRONG!!!. They have said he tells you to turn the screw LEFT until it breaks. And I bet you did this if you watched the video. The correct way is turn the screw RIGHT as though tightening, which you are, until it breaks.

If you do it correctly, when the screw head breaks off the sight slide is all the way to the right. Then all you do is PUSH the slide all the way to the left of the sight and the screw and nut will protrude from the left side of the sight base and all you need to do is use your fingers to unscrew the windage screw and "slide out" the slide to the right.

If you do it the way Potterfield tells you to, you end up with the broken screw, the slide all the way to the left with no where to go, and the nut jammed firmly in its' recess in the sight base. Sound familiar? He "may" have changed his video, but I doubt it. If so you simply "screwed up".

You MAY be able to use a spanner screwdriver bit to turn the nut, but will probably just break the bit! The screw will be TIGHT!!!

In case you wonder why I know Potterfield is wrong, I have been changing these things for probably nearly as long as he has been alive! I have done hundreds of them.

Yes that seems to be the case...............now scratching my head.....

gwpercle · #7 10-07-2014, 12:55 PM

If that's the case I would be giving Mr. Potterfield a phone call to discuss this situation. Least he could do is send you another kit and maybe fix that video.
Maybe you could talk him into a replacement sight, be cheaper than a gunsmith repair bill.

tomcatt51 · #8 10-07-2014, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balin

Yes that seems to be the case...............now scratching my head.....

If that's the case take a 3/32" drill bit and drill thru the windage screw in the nut. You're drilling from left to right. It will center nicely and drill easily. Go slowly and after the nut falls off you can push the sight blade out to the right.

I don't break the screws but "drill the flare" and just unscrew the nut. Then I turn the windge screw so the plunger is under (and trapped by) the sight blade and slide out the blade/windage screw/spring/plunger together. Once the assy is out it's easy to remove the plunger and spring without launching them...

balin · #9 10-08-2014, 03:56 AM

That was my plan to drill the flare off the screw. Thank you all much.

TAROMAN · #10 10-08-2014, 01:52 PM

Been there, done that.
Drilling is the only answer.

Duvallmark · #11 10-09-2014, 01:08 AM

I am God I was not the only one to trust Larry, lose plungers and springs, spend too much to fix. Curse you Larry Potterfield