Removing Hammer from plate

[walks with gun]

     My son-in-law brought home a Traditions Pennsylvania rifle and the hammer could be  heated and tweaked a bit.   Can I remove the hammer without disassembling the lock.   Seems I've done this in the past but for the life of me I just can't seem to remember some of this stuff anymore.

[Bob Roller]

     My son-in-law brought home a Traditions Pennsylvania rifle and the hammer could be  heated and tweaked a bit.   Can I remove the hammer without disassembling the lock.   Seems I've done this in the past but for the life of me I just can't seem to remember some of this stuff anymore.

I remove the hammer screw and put a hard steel pin in the hole that won't
booger the threads and about 1/4"longer than the hole. Hold the hammer by
the thumb spur and whack the pin with a hammer.It should eject the lock
unless the hammer was driven on to the square shank of the tumbler.
Bob Roller

[walks with gun]

   Thanks Bob.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Best to disassemble the lock before driving the tumbler out of the hammer.  Otherwise, if you cocktip it only slightly, you can break off the tumbler square in the hammer...then you have problems.  Chambers advises against the pin-in-the-hole technique.  Jim says to use a square brass drift that just fits inside the square.

[walks with gun]

   Why can't things be a three minute project.

[Black Hand]

   Why can't things be a three minute project.

Because everyone would think they could fix it....

Realistically, disassembling a traditional lock and removing the hammer is a 5 minute job. However, those productions locks with the coil springs are more of a nuisance, though not difficult either.

[walks with gun]

   Thanks guy's  I've been putting off buying a mainspring vise even though I want one.   Now I guess I better order one.

[smallpatch]

Walks,
If you don't have a mainspring vise, you probably shouldn't be disassembling a lock.

[Don Steele]

If that Traditions lock has a coil spring a (traditional) mainspring vise isn't going to help. Track offers a tool made just for removal of coil type mainsprings. $12.99 in their online catalog. You might want to look into that.

[Bob Roller]

Walks,
If you don't have a mainspring vise, you probably shouldn't be disassembling a lock.

I have never owned a mainspring vise and don't need one and never had a
problem with a close fitting pin in the tumbler.

Bob Roller

[Justin Urbantas]

Walks,
If you don't have a mainspring vise, you probably shouldn't be disassembling a lock.

I have never owned a mainspring vise and don't need one and never had a
problem with a close fitting pin in the tumbler.

Bob Roller

That is surprising Bob. do you use a vise grip?

[little joe]

I took a pare of vise grips and welded at 90 degrees to the lower jaw a piece of 3/8 by 3/8 square stock with a slight bend in it, and it works like a champ. I also have 3 main spring vises, which I use mostly on left handed locks. The vise grip was taught to me by a well known lock maker.

[Bob Roller]

Walks,
If you don't have a mainspring vise, you probably shouldn't be disassembling a lock.

I have never owned a mainspring vise and don't need one and never had a
problem with a close fitting pin in the tumbler.

Bob Roller

That is surprising Bob. do you use a vise grip?

On a V spring lock I bring it to full cock and clamp it with a
small "C" clamp using no more pressure than needed.
Lower the hammer and remove the spring.
When I was making change out kits for the Gibbs/Pedersoli
I furnished a small tool with an integral pin to remove the
hammer.

Bob Roller