Can someone explain to me how to detail strip a Contender?

[Bitmap]

Or point me to a source?

Please, none of the "why do you want to take it apart" stuff.

Thanks

Edited because I don't know how to spell and forgot the spell check.

[skb2706]

Apparently the 38 some odd views of your post are wondering why you'd want to (regardless of you request not to hear that). You can find a blowup schematic of a Contender at several places on the net. Although they do not show you how they will show you where all the pieces go.

[Keith L]

You can find a blowup schematic of a Contender at several places on the net. Although they do not show you how they will show you where all the pieces go.

Including the first post on this forum. 

FWIW, when you start off telling folks what you don't want to hear, it limits the response.  If that is what you wanted to do, you succeeded.

[Pacecar]

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.

[Bitmap]

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.

If you can actually explain it, I'll worry about understanding it.

[Bitmap]

You can find a blowup schematic of a Contender at several places on the net. Although they do not show you how they will show you where all the pieces go.

Including the first post on this forum. 

FWIW, when you start off telling folks what you don't want to hear, it limits the response.  If that is what you wanted to do, you succeeded.

I'd just as soon not have 38 responses of "Why do you want to take it apart?" to slog through.  I was actually hoping that someone that knows what they are doing would offer to help.  I guess I'm on the wrong forum.

[skb2706]

Right forum, wrong attitude.

[Bitmap]

Right forum, wrong attitude.

I fail to see how asking people to please answer a question without debating why is a bad attitude. 

[Keith L]

Right forum, wrong attitude.

I fail to see how asking people to please answer a question without debating why is a bad attitude. 

If you fail to understand then there is little reason to "debate" with you to try to help you.

[DEACONLLB]

The first question will be are you mechanical inclined? If the answer is yes then get yourself a blowup of the parts list then you will need a small hammer and a number of different size punches to remove the pins that hold parts togeather as well as a couple of small screw drivers.. This is what we were instructed to do in auto repair, not sure where parts go always use this method next get yourself a clean work bench with a soft cover over it where no one will come along and move your parts. as you remove the parts lay them out in a line first part removed is the last to go back togeather. Word of caution there are a number of small springs that can go flying away if you are not very careful. Now then if the answer to the first question is no then do not try it. You have not stated your reason for wanting to do this but the recever can be cleaned with cleaning fluid ( Never Never use gas for this and be in a well vented area with no open flames) Word of advice from a old well trained mechanic I took one apart that some one had put togeather wrong. Having been there done that never again for me unless a part is broken or as the saying goes if it is not broken dont try to fix it. I hope this will be of some help to you.I think in the long run you could have given us  your reason right from the start and all could have given you better advice the fellows on this forum have a lot of experiance and in a number of cases they have helped me a lot with my problems. Please do not take the last point as correction.

Deaconllb

[Graybeard]

I can NOT and if I could I would NOT. Done that once ain't NEVER EVER gonna do it again. Taking them apart is about 100 times as simple as putting them back together. There are old threads on here with all the instructions you need IF you are really handy at such things but make dang sure you have all the little tools and tricks needed well in advance or a good gunsmith nearby to put it back together after you take it apart. I'll leave the detail stripping of them to folks who make their living doing it thank you.

As I recall the hammer and hammer spring reassembly were really the only difficult parts of the task. Heck I doubt that step took me much over 8 hours but my frustration level during that 8 hours were really high and I came really close to throwing it many times.

[Keith L]

Bill, he asked you not to tell him that.

[DEACONLLB]

I know how Keith felt but I would say to myself cool down have a cup of tea relax you can do it and sure enough in abnout 12 hours I had it done I also promised myself not to do that again. By the way that was working on it time not tea breaks.

[Hopalong7]

OK guys, come on now... it is really not that bad.  I have at least the average amount of arthritus for 63 year old hands.....less than average dexterity....am nowhere close to anything kin to a gunsmith(although I've have to admit to being confussed on that issue at times past) and I'll bet I can disassemble and reassemble a Contender frame(regardless of the reasoning) in an hour or less.  As has been pointed out, have a good size, clean work area and apply a good amount of common sense as you proceed.  Pay attention to how parts are oriented before you remove them(especially the hammer spring).  There are a number of springs, but none of them are very bad....meaning they aren't going to fly all the way to the next county when released.  As Bill pointed out, the kicker is reassembling the hammer and hammer spring.  Make a slave pin out of a section of nail or pin that is slightly smaller in diameter than the hammer pin.  Cut to a length that is no wider than the hammer(actually just a wee bit shorter than the width of the hammer.  Place the hammer spring in the hammer and insert the slave pin to hold it in place.  There will be a slight amount of tension on the spring, but not much.  Now insert the assembly in the frame and insert the hammer pin in the frame, pushing the slave pin out the other side as you push the hammer pin in place.  Now that wasn't so bad now was it?  Like most of the rest of you, I learned that the hard way.  Daddy always told me that the hardest lessons learned are the ones you'll remember best.  Good luck with it and GOOD SHOOTIN',  Walt   

[Paladin]

Hopalong7- I'd be willing to bet ya didn't do your first one in a hour. seems like the first one I did took about half the night, but once I figured out a system their not bad. but I have made living out of taking things apart and putting them back together


Deaconllb- mechanics are a thing of the past, technician is the proper term for us mechanics!!  rotflmao


Bitmap- if you decide to take your contender a part, be patient, take a brake, if ya have a didgi cam take pictures as ya take it apart for reference, GOOD LUCK

[Hopalong7]

Paladin- You win the bet. It took me several hours(and trys) just to get the hammer and spring back in...wondering the whole time...WHY...did I take it out?

Actually, the one I had the most problem with was my firsrt Encore.  Already having "mastered???" the Contender I knew the Encore would be no problem, so I didn't bother to study a schematic or pay much attention as I disassembled it.  It worked great and had a much improved trigger AFTER I reassembled it for the THIRD time.  GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt   

[skb2706]

OK guys, come on now... it is really not that bad.  I have at least the average amount of arthritus for 63 year old hands.....less than average dexterity....am nowhere close to anything kin to a gunsmith(although I've have to admit to being confussed on that issue at times past) and I'll bet I can disassemble and reassemble a Contender frame(regardless of the reasoning) in an hour or less.  As has been pointed out, have a good size, clean work area and apply a good amount of common sense as you proceed.  Pay attention to how parts are oriented before you remove them(especially the hammer spring).  There are a number of springs, but none of them are very bad....meaning they aren't going to fly all the way to the next county when released.  As Bill pointed out, the kicker is reassembling the hammer and hammer spring.  Make a slave pin out of a section of nail or pin that is slightly smaller in diameter than the hammer pin.  Cut to a length that is no wider than the hammer(actually just a wee bit shorter than the width of the hammer.  Place the hammer spring in the hammer and insert the slave pin to hold it in place.  There will be a slight amount of tension on the spring, but not much.  Now insert the assembly in the frame and insert the hammer pin in the frame, pushing the slave pin out the other side as you push the hammer pin in place.  Now that wasn't so bad now was it?  Like most of the rest of you, I learned that the hard way.  Daddy always told me that the hardest lessons learned are the ones you'll remember best.  Good luck with it and GOOD SHOOTIN',  Walt   

What I found that makes a good slave pin is the shank of a 3/16" drill cut off with a die grinder and deburred. The closer you can cut it to .375" the better it works too.

[Hopalong7]

Yea, that should work good.  With the hammer in the uncocked position there isn't a lot of pressure on the spring so strength of pin is not an issue.  Smoothness and size are more the keys.  I cut a piece of nail slightly smaller(if I measured diameter I don't remember) and took the dremmel to it, rounding one end smooth and leaving a flat surface on the other end to be pushed out.  GOOD SHOOTIN',  Walt   

[hunterspistol]

   Sorry about the pause, What model contender are you holding in your hand?

[Hopalong7]

Any model that is pre-G-2.

[EdK]

http://takedownguides.com/

[Hopalong7]

Edk,  $10.00.....ouch!!!

[EdK]

$4.09 @ Midway

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=816358&t=11082005