idonthaveamusketyet:|
.50 caliber
please tell me where you got it
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Tightening the Jaw Screw?
- Thread starter Danny Ross
- Start date
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It would be near impossible to do damage to a top jaw screw that has a slot cut into it using a normal straight bladed screwdriver. Using a "tommy bar" can most likely do damage to a top jaw screw IF the "tommy bar" was of large diameter and long enough to apply great force to the jaw screw. Most if not all top jaw screws are made of low carbon steel that is used for low strength fasteners and are not made for high strength torque. Now if that top jaw screw is cased hardened then all bets are off 
You've got to be an engineer!
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please tell me where you got it
WHERE PLEASE TELL ME WHERE THIS JUST HAPPENED
Here's where I got those jaw screws for $5, but I see it now shows them as unavailable.
Log Cabin Shop
Might be worth contacting them to see if they expect to get them again at some point. Not that it will help you right now.
I have snapped lugs on my Brockway tractor with a cross lug wrench and a cheater pipe. Everything has it's limits.
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This is another good reason to use flints made from flakes instead of blades, no humps to contend with .
One can , with a Green wheel in the grinder, remove the humps from blade made flints and give the cock jaw a great deal more area to purchase on the flint. Be sure to wear a good dust mask when grinding/working flint.
Johnny Tremain
Silversmith in training
I use a Pickering tool, its too short to crank hard on the screw.
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/62/1/TOOL-PICK-L
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/62/1/TOOL-PICK-L
smoothshooter
50 Cal.
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smoothshooter
50 Cal.
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One of my pet peeves is people that over-tighten screws, bolts, and nuts. Making your top jaw screw as tight as possible is not required.
If using a new to you gun just snug it up good and check it every other shot or so is a good way to go until you figure out what is right.
The old aviation maintenance practice for threaded fasteners when torque values are not given or not available is to tighten the fastener to a point that is 1/6 to 1/3 of a turn past a significant increase in torque. Special situations in life may dictate otherwise, but the 1/6 to 1/3 thing is pretty good for most things.
Last edited:
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Hi,
The owner of one of my fowlers snapped the flint cock off at the neck trying to crank down on the top jaw screw when using a flint much too large. Instead of realizing the jaws could not hold such a thick flint, he just continued cranking the screw tighter until he broke off the jaws. The first trick is to have the right sized flints for your lock and then there is no need to crank down on the top jaw screw. The other issue is modern locks don't have teeth cut in the jaws as they should. The grooves and ridges they do have are mostly useless. Jaws with teeth will hold a leather bound flint nicely without over tightening the top jaw screw.
dave
The owner of one of my fowlers snapped the flint cock off at the neck trying to crank down on the top jaw screw when using a flint much too large. Instead of realizing the jaws could not hold such a thick flint, he just continued cranking the screw tighter until he broke off the jaws. The first trick is to have the right sized flints for your lock and then there is no need to crank down on the top jaw screw. The other issue is modern locks don't have teeth cut in the jaws as they should. The grooves and ridges they do have are mostly useless. Jaws with teeth will hold a leather bound flint nicely without over tightening the top jaw screw.
dave
smoothshooter
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Why not buy a small lapidary abrasive wheel that can be attached to a hand drill and take down the flint hump a little. Should only take a few seconds.
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