Tumbler punch

[davebozell]

Apparently I missed the part in Longrifle 101 where I needed a punch to disassemble the tumbler from the cock.  Well, Lock #3 apparently needed one.  Long story short, I broke the tumbler trying to get it apart.  One phone call to Barbie at Chambers, and I was back in business.  (She is amazing to work with and I highly recommend working with them.)  So to alleviate this problem in the future, I figured I'd better come up with a punch to get these things apart.  (Ever tried to buy to square punch?)  An order to McMaster-Carr and I had a 3/8" marine brass rod for my punch.  In all my reading here, i have never heard mention of a punch like this, so as I said earlier I figured I must have slept through that lesson....  Here is what I came up with:



Hopefully this will be useful to any of you who also slept through this lesson.

[EC121]

I use a roll pin punch that will just fit in the square  hole.  

[flehto]

I use 3/8" square brass stock w/ one end filed down to fit the hole in the cock. Chambers warns that using a rod in the tapped hole can crack the  tumbler......Fred

[Jim Chambers]

That square punch should work perfectly.  Here in the shop I use a round punch that is just small enough to fit inside the square hole in the cock..... probably should take the time to make a square punch sometime.  But, anything that will fit on top of the tumbler square will work ok.

[BOB HILL]

L&R makes a hammer pull and press. I've used them since they started making them. Don't know what they cost now. Handy if you're disassembling and assembling often.......Bob

[frogwalking]

I have always used a large pin punch that fits into the hammer screw hole.  (I/8"?)  I guess if the tumbler is too hard, this might break off the square hammer boss.  Has anyone experienced this, or am I safe?

[Jerry V Lape]

The nice metal punches look good.  Mine is less attractive as it is just a short section of dowel with the end squared up.  Never needed anything more substantial and so easily replaced when I can't find it.

[Acer Saccharum]

I have always used a large pin punch that fits into the hammer screw hole.  (I/8"?)  I guess if the tumbler is too hard, this might break off the square hammer boss.  Has anyone experienced this, or am I safe?

It's better to punch the square. You might shatter the tumbler, or get the punch jammed in the hole.

[oldways]

  I cut off a long hex wrench that fits inside the square

[David R. Pennington]

I just took an old cut nail and ground down the little end to fit in the screw hole in the tumbler. With the lock cradled in the left hand and a very light hammer in the right hand one or two light taps usually does it. All the loose parts are right there in my hand. Seems like over engineering to me.

[Jim Chambers]

We have replaced numerous tumblers that were broken by using a punch down in the screw hole.  PLEASE guys, use a punch that fits ON TOP of the tumbler square and save both us grief.

[frogwalking]

Thanks Jim.  The brass punch filed square is easy to make.  I will male one today so you don't have to replace the tumbler on one of my locks.

[Hessian]

L&R makes a hammer pull and press. I've used them since they started making them. Don't know what they cost now. Handy if you're disassembling and assembling often.......Bob

+1 on what Bob said!

One of the best designed tools I have. Makes short work of pulling the cock/hammer without scarring the parts by a slipped punch.
Hessian