Need help with a Colt Trooper Mk III

[slicksleeve]

I am working on a Colt Trooper MkIII nickel 4 inch in .357 magnum. The trigger broke right at the top where it rides on the "axle" (for lack of a better word). Now I installed a new one and it will function in single action fine, but in double action it will only work one time. Meaning after you pull the trigger, rotating the cylinder, thus dry firing, the trigger does not reset. Another pull of the trigger results in the cylinder indexing to the next hole but the hammer does not cock back with it. You have to pull the trigger forward from behind to make it reset before it will work in double action again. So what did I do wrong and what can I do to make perform properly? Replies appreciated, Joe.

 

[Jim K]

The trigger is not returning far enough to allow the hammer strut to re-engage. Why that is, I can't say without seeing the gun, but here are some thoughts.

If the trigger return spring is OK and engaging the trigger properly, I think the trigger could be binding. Another possibility is that the strut is binding or the strut spring is too strong, but since you didn't replace the hammer, those seem unlikely.

One trick is to loosen the front sideplate screw and see if that corrects the problem. If so, the trigger is a bit too wide and needs careful stoning down. Look on the trigger for places that show wear from binding and work only on those spots. You can use magic marker or Dykem also to locate binding spots. You could remove metal from the sideplate, but I always try to adjust the new part rather than work on parts that were not changed.

When those guns first came out, Colt would not sell parts, insisting that any repairs be done by the factory. I guess you can now figure out why.

Jim

 

[slicksleeve]

Thank you Jim, I will try your suggestions.