Hook ratchet lever to trigger-HELP

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I have took the ratchet lever (turns the cyl) off the trigger and now I can't get it back together so the cyl. will turn. What do I need to do other than take it to a gunsmith? It's a second model .44. Larry
 
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I believe you are describing the hand that attaches to the upper part of the trigger.
I too would like a tutoring of how best to reattach the hand in the trigger slots to get it
aligned with the trigger vee spring wo using
3 hands for an older neat sighted old fart
so it springs back into place correctly..
Thanks..
 
OK guys, if you look at the hand, there's 2 studs at the lower end. One is longer than the other. Now you'll need a 3/32 or 1/8 inch pin punch. If you look inside the center slot of the trigger, you'll see the end of a spring. You'll use the punch to move the spring upward.

Now, insert the end of the long stud into the hole above the small slot in the right side of the trigger. You don't want the shorter, lower stud to be far enough in to stick out into the center slot in the trigger. Hold the hand in that position.

Now, use the end of the pin punch to press the tension spring upward so you can press the hand inward so the shorter hand stud will be under the spring and the spring will rest on it's top.

If the hand now has spring tension that moves it forward, you'e done it right.

You don't need 3 hands, just two, but one needs a certain amount of dexterity. You could, if necessary clamp the trigger gently in a vise.
 
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Still need help! I was having trouble raising the spring and I misunderstood the part about using a vise and I removed the trigger. I think I understand the 2 parts and can get them back in the gun but that small pin came out and I don't know where it came from or what part it plays. It is about 1/2 in. long and about 1/8 in. has a smaller dia. Larry
 
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I think i have the pin figured out and have the trigger back in the frame but that ratchet lever (hand?) is about to get on my last nerve. Larry
 
You're going to have to be more specific if you're going to help us help you!

1. What exactly does this mean "...but that ratchet lever (hand?) is about to get on my last nerve." ??

2. It's a hand.

3. Do you have the hand under spring tension pushing it forward? If not, the trigger should not be back in the gun yet.

If yes, it must be held in the rear position to clear the recoil shield and go under the side of the frame into its slot in the breech face, as the trigger is being pushed down into the frame.
 
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You're going to have to be more specific if you're going to help us help you!

1. What exactly does this mean "...but that ratchet lever (hand?) is about to get on my last nerve." ??

2. It's a hand.

3. Do you have the hand under spring tension pushing it forward? If not, the trigger should not be back in the gun yet.

If yes, it must be held in the rear position to clear the recoil shield and go under the side of the frame into its slot in the breech face, as the trigger is being pushed down into the frame.

"Getting on my nerves" is when something is very annoying and aggravating. "My last nerve" means it has gone through all my nerves but one.:D
I took the hand out before taking out the trigger so I thought I needed to put the trigger back in before the hand. I will take out the trigger and try putting it back in in one piece.
I just wanted to replace the spring for the cyl. latch. I think maybe I did that correctly. I should have known that working on a gun was above my pay grade. :D Larry
 
Uh, you do realize that the hand has to be installed in the trigger BEFORE you install the hand/trigger in the frame? Ok, seems you got that part.

Removing the hammer makes installing the hand/trigger one heck of a lot easier. The hand/trigger goes in and out as a unit.

By the way, your fuzzy picture shows the cylinder stop and what I think is it's spring. That goes in before the hand/trigger. Make darn sure you don't kink the cylinder stop spring and it operates in a straight line. If you have the fifth screw (in front of the trigger guard) to install the cylinder stop spring, the spring just drops in there.
 
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I'm not sure I understand what the OP is referring to but I'll go with what I think is happening.
First if the hand return spring is not in the proper position the hand will not function. It's almost impossible to engage the return spring with the trigger installed, it needs to be done with the trigger out.
Here are a couple of photos of the trigger with the hand remove and installed, I did the best I could to show the position the spring should be in.
 

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You guessed right but I think you mean with trigger installed.

Great photos.

Bottom of trigger slot with leg of spring all the way down. Must be pushed up past the hole for the hand pin, then hand pushed into trigger:

attachment.php

Photo credit: andy52

Top of trigger slot with spring leg captured above the hand pin, and hand pushed to the rear for installing the assembly into the frame:

attachment.php

Photo credit: andy52
 
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You guessed right but I think you mean with trigger installed.

Great photos.

Bottom of trigger slot with leg of spring all the way down. Must be pushed up past the hole for the hand pin, then hand pushed into trigger:

attachment.php


Top of trigger slot with spring leg captured above the hand pin:

attachment.php

You right that's what I get for not proof reading my post...:D
 
The first time I had to do this I agree with the three hands statement. I then learned that a small screwdriver (flat blade) that I ground down to just fit inside the trigger recess. Use that to depress the spring leg and hold it in place while hand is attached.
 
The first time I had to do this I agree with the three hands statement. I then learned that a small screwdriver (flat blade) that I ground down to just fit inside the trigger recess. Use that to depress the spring leg and hold it in place while hand is attached.

A small punch or even a allen wrench will serve the same purpose.
I used a allen wrench when reinstalling the hand in the photo.
 
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