Disassembly Of 1902 Colt .45 Long for Cleaning Question....

[UtopiaTexasColt45]

I am in a quandry as to removing the cylinder on a 1902 build Colt .45 Long.
The set up looks very similiar to my more modern Ruger Super Black Hawk
where one just pushes the release button under the barrel and pulls out the
cylinder pin which allows the cylinder to come out the frame. On this Colt .45
the cylinder pin will not come out of the frame even when the release button is
totally removed and the cylinder pin actually rotates with the cylinder in the frame
leading me to believe the pin is rusted in the cylinder. The end of the cylinder pin
is really damaged from someone in the past not being able to remove it and using
something like pliers on the end. Could someone explain in simple terms how the
cylinder is usually removed please? I am generally very mechanically inclined but do
not want to do any more damage to this gun. Thanks...

[coltsixguns]

I would spray some good penetrating oil like Kroil in the area of the space between the cylinder pin and cylinder bushing and let it sit a day and do it's work and then try to pull the cylinder pin out with a pair of vise grips (remove the ejector housing before doing this). If the head of the pin is already marred you aren't going to hurt it much more and you can lock the vise grips on the pin and try twisting the pin and once you have it twisting it may pull out. If the pin won't budge after that, you will have to disassemble the single action and remove the hammer and take a brass punch or something similar and go from the back end of the cylinder through the hammer slot and drive the pin forward. I would spray all the area affected down with kroil and let it "creep" and do it's work before getting rough with it.

[rhmc24]

I would flood it with Kroil and let it sit a couple days and try again. You might put a piece of leather, hard plastic, etc to protect the center pin and hold it good with pliers or in a vise, then try to turn the cylinder back and forth. Last, you may have to remove the hammer and push it out from the back end. Heating the cylinder up too hot to touch may help.

With stuck stuff, I find a steady pressure to be more effective than shock. It will take some creativity to be able to do that in this case.

[UtopiaTexasColt45]

Thanks for the information. I had already seen where one can see the end of the cylinder pin when the hammer is cocked all the way back and wondered if a small puch could be used. A few more questions please.
(1) Is there a source on line for replacement cylinder pins?
(2) It has been recommended that I replace the gutta percha handles and store them so they will not be damaged when firing the pistol. Is there a on line source for more modern handle covers?
(3) Is the cylinder pin lock button supposed to be spring loaded on the pistol. Taking the locking button apart shows nothing inside. If there should be a spring inside is there a on line source?
Thanks...

[johngross]

Don''t forget that Brownells offers a tool for the job

John Gross

COLT SAA BASE PIN PULLER - Brownells

[Jim Martin]

Thanks for the information. I had already seen where one can see the end of the cylinder pin when the hammer is cocked all the way back and wondered if a small puch could be used. A few more questions please.
(1) Is there a source on line for replacement cylinder pins?
(2) It has been recommended that I replace the gutta percha handles and store them so they will not be damaged when firing the pistol. Is there a on line source for more modern handle covers?
(3) Is the cylinder pin lock button supposed to be spring loaded on the pistol. Taking the locking button apart shows nothing inside. If there should be a spring inside is there a on line source?
Thanks...

Answer to question 3,the base pin latch assembly is supposed to have a spring in it,the whole assembly & base pin is available thru Brownells,for removal of the base pin,follow the advice as to soaking it but don't use vise grips or other tools,one slip w/them & you can scratch the bbl.--go to your local hardware store & buy some brass rod smaller than the diameter of the base pin to make a brass punch,remove the base pin latch assembly then remove the hammer & drive the base pin out from the rear w/the brass punch,I've been using this method more years than I care to remember.

[UtopiaTexasColt45]

I took the Colt 45 down as much as necessary to get to the back of the base pin. The stock screw holding the grips on and one of the three trigger gaurd screws were bears to get out and I had to use a screw driver tip mounted in a drill press with downward pressure to start them out without messing up the actual screws. The cylinder no longer spins even with the loading gate open I assume because the trigger has been taken out. I have to drive to town tomorrow on errands and will attempt to purchase some super duper type of penetrating fluid though in a small town my choices may be limited!
colt 45 017 (Small).jpg

[coltsixguns]

If possible, you need to remove the screw on the bottom of the frame that holds the trigger/bolt spring and remove the spring and then remove the trigger and bolt via the 2 remaining screws on the frame. Correctly fitting screwdrivers are important so you don't bugger up the screw heads (as you have found out). The picture shows the gun to be in pretty good condition so surely the cylinder pin isn't that rusted up in there.

The cylinder isn't going to be able to free wheel until you get that bolt dropped out of it.

To each his own but I've wiggled out dozens of cylinder pins through the years just by clamping onto the pin head with a good pair of vise grips and turning them along with the pin without ever making a mark on the barrel. Everyone has their own way but I'm certainly not new to the game.

[ShootingMaster]

Thanks for the information. I had already seen where one can see the end of the cylinder pin when the hammer is cocked all the way back and wondered if a small puch could be used. A few more questions please.
(1) Is there a source on line for replacement cylinder pins?
(2) It has been recommended that I replace the gutta percha handles and store them so they will not be damaged when firing the pistol. Is there a on line source for more modern handle covers?
(3) Is the cylinder pin lock button supposed to be spring loaded on the pistol. Taking the locking button apart shows nothing inside. If there should be a spring inside is there a on line source?
Thanks...

This may be quite obvious (and it´s not related to the problem you´ve mentioned) but don´t forget to put the hammer in half cock position when trying to remove the cylinder.
This is different from a Ruger Blackhawk mechanism where you only need to open the loading gate in order to retract the bolt.
For Colt parts you can try coltparts.com
Regards.-

[UtopiaTexasColt45]

Is removing the trigger bolt/spring and the trigger assembly, as you describe, necessary or would it just be a good thing to do at this point to further clean and lube this portion of the pistol? I tried some vice grips earlier and the base pin will not budge! I am not worried about messing up the end of the pin because someone in the past has already really beat it up. Hopefully I find a decent penetrant tomorrow....