pietta colt .44 navy revolver is stuck and won't disassemble

[chandler41]

I found a colt .44 navy revolver replica (pietta) at an estate sale that is stuck and will not disassemble. It appears in good shape and I cannot find any rust on it. The wedge came out ok and the loading lever works ok but I cannot remove the barrel and the hammer will not quite make it to the half cock position. Also, the cylinder will not move. What can I do to alleviate this problem?

 

[rcmodel]

Penetrating oil soak on the cylinder arbor / cylinder joint.
Heat the cylinder with a heat gun.

The cylinder is rusted on, or stuck on the arbor with old dried oil.

Do Not continue to try to cock it or you will break the lock work.

rc

 

[chandler41]

Thank you. Is there any type of oil that you recommend? When should I heat the cylinder? Before the soak, after or intermittently during the soak?

Thanks

 

[rcmodel]

kroil, or Liquid Wrench.

Try the heat-gun first.
If it's dried oil or grease that might do it.

rc

 

[BBBBill]

50/50 mix of acetone and ATF has been recommended by some as superior to Kroil, which has been my go-to. I've not had a need to try it yet.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Put a stick of wood across the cylinder face and run the rammer on it, accepted way to remove the barrel from a colt.

 

[raubvogel]

I wonder if those ultrasound bath thingies would help

 

[Dmitri Popov]

Use a heated ultrasonic cleaner with an appropriate cleaning solution first. They are very gentle on metal and finish, but do an excellent job of getting deep into small crevices and working out loose stuff.

 

[Dframe]

Kroil or other penetrant oil soaking the barrel arbor area well, then often you can tap on the back of the barrel first one side then the other with a plastic mallet or tap it with a sturdy plastic wedge and a hammer. Patience is your friend here. Don't become too enthusiastic with the hammer. Eventually the barrel will move foreward and off the arbor. There are two small pins at the bottom of the frame that index into the bottom of the barrel. Take care not to break them by hammering anthing sideways on the gun. Once the barrel is removed the cylinder should be relatively easy to remove. Clean everything thoroughly and reassemble with a non petroleum based lube. I like Bore Butter, but any black powder specific lube will do.