Walker loading lever fix

When I first got my Walker 4-5 years ago I found the loading lever would drop pretty regularly under recoil. Anther fella on a different board described a minor modification to the loading lever latch that solved the problem. My Walker is made by ASM and I found the latch piece did not have much spring to it like it should. I ordered an Uberti latch from VTI. With a little work it fit the ASM fine. I then modifed it as per his instructions. It works great, the lever has not dropped since. If anyone would like to know the details, I wrote it up in a MS word document with a couple of photos. I can e-mail the file, just need an address.

Steve

Modification look anything like this?



:hatsoff:

I read about this modification. Mine has dropped only once under full load so I see no need to modify it yet. I am wondering if it gets worse as time goes by though.

I use a small elastic band that the mailman dropped.

tac

Yep, that's the idea. Just a little change in the shape makes a big difference. Here the text I wrote up a while back.

"First off the latch must be properly tempered to work as a spring. My original latch was not. I could bend it back and forth and it would stay where I bent it. The pard who told me about it said his Uberti Walker’s latch was definitely “springy”. So I bought an Uberti latch from VTI. I think the dovetail end of it was a little large so I ground it down a tad until it fit my ASM’s barrel dovetail tightly.

This is kinda hard to explain but I’ll try. The lower end of the latch is “b” shaped. The rammer catches on the top of the rounded part of the “b” at the bottom of the latch ”“ you follow me? Because it is rounded, the rammer kind of slides off it when the rammer is pulled down”¦or under recoil. What I did was VERY carefully, using a cut-off wheel on a dremel , flatten the top part of the rounded area of the “b”. This is done so the flat is not exactly horizontal, but slopes down at the front slightly. This gives the rammer a larger area to bite onto. If you grind this completely horizontal you won’t be able to pull the rammer off. It will be locked on. A slight slope allows it to pull off, but because it is flat, it takes more effort to do so. My advice is to grind a little, try it, then grind more if necessary. You don’t want to grind off too much or the rammer will hang down a bit low when latched. Does this make sense? Look at the photos, hopefully it will become clear. Also make sure your latch is curved slightly to the front. As you try it, you’ll feel the extra tension needed to pull the rammer loose. You want it to be harder to pull loose, but not so hard as to make it impossible to pull it loose.

I have only shot mine with 50gr. of FFG and a round ball. But it has never dropped on me. The pard who told me about it has shot his with 60 gr. with no problems."

Steve

I have my Walkers modified by Master Black Powder Gunsmith Dykes Reber of the muzzleloadershop.com and Master Revolver Tunner Mike Brackett of goonsgunworks.com.

Master BP Gunsmith Dykes Reber puts on Taller Front Sight, an 1860 Loading Lever Latch and Post, Cuts the Forcing Cone, Permanently Pins the Arbor Pin with a Threaded Allen Screw with Lock Tight Red, Opens Up the Loading Port, Reams the Cylinder Chambers (if needed) mounts a Lanyard Loop Ring, Weaver Rails as well.

Master Revolver Tunner Mike Brackett of goonsgunworks.com
Hardends the Screws, Puts in a Cap Block Post and Shield, Coil Springs, Adjusts the, Timing and Barrel to Arbor Fit.

I Open Up the Rear Hammer Sight with a Fine Triangle File and Spot Blue the enlarged Hammer Sight notch once the sizing enlargenent is completed.


All of this necessary work truly produces a "Well Regulated" percussion revolver.

Notice all of my Colt style percussion revolvers in the enclosed photo all have such neccessary work done to ensure top reliable performance and pin point accuracy with my Universal Bullets be it at the Range or on a Hunt or Hike for Wilderness Defense purposes.

Kaido Ojamaa-VKV

I solved the Walker dropping lever by getting rid of that historical boat anchor and got a couple of set up 1851's in snub nose .44 caliber.
No loading lever to drop, just load off the gun.
Bunk