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Hammer on sharps won't stay cocked! (Read 1190 times)

Chris W Junior Member Offline Posts: 96 Joined: Sep 14^th, 2020	Hammer on sharps won't stay cocked! Dec 1^st, 2023 at 12:38pm	Print Post
	I've got a 74 Farmington Shiloh Sharps 45-70 with double set triggers that I picked up used and It needed a good cleaning so I disassembled it and gave it a good scrubbing, lots of dried up grease and a little rust under the bridal. Got it all cleaned up and back together and now it won't stay cocked. lock works fine outside of wood but once I put it back in it will cock then fire without touching trigger. I played with loosing screws on tang, and sideplate but can't find the combination! what Am I doing wrong? This is one of 4 Sharps I have and the first time I've had this problem. I spent the morning searching the internet for answers and all kinds of advice out there for blackpowder guns but not much info on Sharps rifles. Chris Wilson


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bobw Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1719 Location: NW, Iowa Joined: Mar 19^th, 2013	Re: Hammer on sharps won't stay cocked! Reply #1 - Dec 1^st, 2023 at 12:49pm	Print Post
	If you set the triggers before cocking will it work then? If it does then the sear is being held out of the notch by the trigger. Could also be wood interfering with the lock. Black the lock parts, install the lock, remove and see if any black is left on the wood anywhere. Remove the wood anywhere there is contact. Bob

	Robert Warren
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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16732 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Hammer on sharps won't stay cocked! Reply #2 - Dec 1^st, 2023 at 3:31pm	Print Post
	Try backing the set trigger adjustment screw out a half turn first, and see if it works then. It may have been just marginal before cleaning, and now needs to be backed out and readjusted.

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ClaMar Full Member Offline Posts: 141 Location: Texas Joined: Jul 23^rd, 2013	Re: Hammer on sharps won't stay cocked! Reply #3 - Dec 2^nd, 2023 at 12:10pm	Print Post
	Agree with Marlinguy. No experience with a Farmington, but I have found that a newer Shiloh, with set rigger set to my liking in hot weather, will not set in cold weather. It requires at least a 1/4 turn out for more engagement to be safe in the cold.


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bobw Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1719 Location: NW, Iowa Joined: Mar 19^th, 2013	Re: Hammer on sharps won't stay cocked! Reply #4 - Dec 2^nd, 2023 at 12:55pm	Print Post
	I must be misunderstanding the issue. I understand the guns hammer won't cock or stay cocked and fires without touching the trigger, I assume with unset triggers. That tells me the hammer sear is not fully engaging. I thought the screw adjustment for the set trigger just limited the setting of the trigger sear engagement. Once the triggers are set the blade should not be in contact with the hammer sear arm. This is the reason I suggested setting the triggers before cocking the hammer. If he would have said it would not hold cocked with the triggers set, then the trigger screw would need adjusting.....at least that's the way I would understand it. Bob

	Robert Warren
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Premod70 Oldtimer Offline Posts: 873 Location: North Carolina Joined: Jan 16^th, 2016	Re: Hammer on sharps won't stay cocked! Reply #5 - Dec 2^nd, 2023 at 5:14pm	Print Post
	Usually when something is working Ok prior to disassembly but malfunctions after reassembly the cause is related to the person’s failure to mate the surfaces properly or tension the fasteners correctly. In this case the sear lever is somehow not clearanced enough and my guess is the OP needs to take it to a person with the skills required to visually find the fault. The fault will be an easy fix once the misalignment is observed, good luck.


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Deadeye Bly Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1089 Location: Stephens City Joined: Feb 25^th, 2011	Re: Hammer on sharps won't stay cocked! Reply #6 - Dec 3^rd, 2023 at 9:43am	Print Post
	I agree with Bob W that you should check if if it stays cocked with the triggers set. If it does it isolates the problem to the rear trigger bearing on the sear preventing it form fully engaging. Otherwise it is an internal interference probably with the wood somewhere.


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Chris W Junior Member Offline Posts: 96 Joined: Sep 14^th, 2020	Re: Hammer on sharps won't stay cocked! Reply #7 - Dec 3^rd, 2023 at 10:37am	Print Post
	Wouldn't stay cock no matter what I did so pulling the trigger plate out of the way and checking the lock when I pulled the hammer back the lever was contacting the wood and not letting the sear fully engage. so a little wood relief work with a small wood carving chisel I removed a little on that side of hole and all works as it should! I guess in taking it apart and putting it back together that something shifted just enough to cause a clearance issue. Anyway I appreciate the feedback and the problem is now solved. Thanks Chris


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16732 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Hammer on sharps won't stay cocked! Reply #8 - Dec 3^rd, 2023 at 12:18pm	Print Post
	And there is the problem with the Sharps design. Depending on the stock wood to hopefully keep everything in perfect alignment, regardless of humidity, or other things that can make wood change.

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