Author Topic: hinge pin comes out..WHAT!!! cva says its ok??? (Read 1952 times)

oldfart · « **on:** January 25, 2009, 07:06:09 AM »

i just bought two cva optima's 50 caliber muzzleloader's, i cleaned them then took one out to shoot. i got the scope set in no time it shoots great, but when i started to take it apart the hinge pin moved when i removed the barrel. it can be taken compleatly out, it doesn't have any side to side movement but is this ok? the other gun's pin is in tight, i don't know if i shoot it if it will loosen up or not. is this ok? a friend of mine has a encore that does it but mine is cva. and since the other gun isn't loose i am wondering if its ok to keep it or send it back to cva. thanks for ya'll's help..

Buckskins & Black Powder · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2009, 12:07:52 PM »

sounds like a flaw. email this guy mark@cva.com he will more than likely have you send it in and you'll get a new rifle.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2009, 12:18:23 PM »

I'm not familiar with the gun in question. Is it a switch barrel like the TCs? If so I'd think the pin would have to come out to allow the barrel to be removed. You really should be able to look at the design and tell if it should or shouldn't come out as the TC pins do.

Buckskins & Black Powder · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2009, 04:13:31 PM »

its not supposed to come out. The optima Elite has the pin like the encore. The regular optima has a hook type that pivots on the pin. Very easy set up.

oldfart · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2009, 03:47:46 PM »

sorry i have not got back to everyone, i contacted cva they said everything was ok. the pins on some may stay tight and on some they may come loose, as long as they don't have play in them while they are in the gun they are fine i was told by cva.

bubba · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2009, 11:46:30 PM »

well if the pin was falling out of mine, it would be sent back for repair. If it is that loose, there has to be play in the barrel at leat side to side.

oldfart · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2009, 02:51:35 PM »

once the barrel is locked down there isn't any play, the pin will come out only by pushing it with my finger, its not loose in the hole. i contacted cva about returning the gun, they said alot of optima's are like that. even the one i haven't shot might be loose after i shoot it. its not a warranty problem they said, if i return it for that reason it will be returned back to me c.o.d. and i'll just be out money i need. if anyone else has a optima please check and see if you can take the pin out by pushing it with your finger. thanks.

bubba · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2009, 03:46:36 PM »

well that is different than it falls out. I can push mine in and out with my finger in my oe 270/50 caliber. If I were to tip it up and it falls out, they would be getting it back. your first post about it moving on its own is different than it pushes out if you push on it

oldfart · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2009, 03:58:53 PM »

it does'nt take much to make it move, with the pin in and no barrel on i can tip the frame and the pin is ok, but i can either push with my finger or tap the frame with my hand and the pin will move or fall out. i told cva they said it was normal, and they would not honor it as a warranty problem.

bubba · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2009, 04:10:28 PM »

it will be fine.

Buckskins & Black Powder · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2009, 04:48:51 PM »

did you email mark@cva.com ??

oldfart · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2009, 05:21:01 PM »

yes i emailed him, i got a response from someone else tho. they said mark was busy and would answer me monday or tuesday, in the meantime they told me that it was not warranty related, that alot of optima's was like that. it just bothers me because everytime i clean, the pin will come out because you gotta clean the frame and a little jar will make the pin move or come out. i just wonder if it is put in and out enough will it soon become loose that it won't stay in at all. i will let ya'll know when i hear from mark.

Buckskins & Black Powder · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2009, 05:26:21 PM »

you could always try peening the frame or the pin. Thats where you take a punch and put a small bur on it and it tigthens things up.

bubba · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2009, 02:25:25 AM »

do you plan to switch barrels or just leave the one barrel on it? Have you shot it? How does it shoot? Those would be more my cncerns. If you are not going to ever and I mean EVER going to put another barrel on it, then peen it in. If you do that, I expect to see a post saying my pin will not come out. Check the following site www.prbullet.com They show a fix for the encore to keep the pin from moving. Basically it is flexible silver tape used on ducts. They put one piece wrapped around the frame over both ends of the pin. It sticks to the frame and the pin can not move. When you need to remove the pin, you take the tape off. Then put a new piece back on it. You can but it in any hardware store. There is a list on the left side about two thirds of the way down says encore pin movement. Click it it shows a pic of what I am talking about. Again the pin falling out is more of a concern with accuracy as far as I am concerned.

Markxman · « **Reply #14 on:** March 19, 2009, 05:55:45 PM »

There is a product available at auto parts stores called "sleevetite" made by locktite company. Apply a bit on each end of the pin, distribute evenly, install pin and let set. Should cure any loose pin issues.

oldfart · « **Reply #15 on:** March 22, 2009, 02:28:45 PM »

its been over a week and mark still hasn't got back to me, i am going to call cva tomorrow and see what i can get from them. also my optima doesn't take interchangable barrels, its just a 50 cal. muzzleloader.

oldfart · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17, 2009, 12:19:28 PM »

i can't get a straight answer from any one at cva, mark never has got back to me, and the others i spoke with either didn't know if it was bad, or couldn't make up their minds. some said it was ok, that the same drill made the holes for the optima as did the optima elite, so since the optima elite had interchangable barrels the pin was removable, and the optima's pin is loose but was ok. then i get someone else telling me the frames are made on different machines and that the pins on the basic optima was supposed to be tight and not come out. so i get some who say don't send back not a problem, and others who say send back we will fix it. what if i send it back and one of those that said not to gets it, they said it wasn't a warranty issue and would send it back to me c.o.d., then i'm out money sending and getting back. i think i'm just gonna sell both guns, i just don't know if mine is ok or not. don't know which of those other brands to get guess i'll make another post on that one. thanks to everyone who tried to help.

S.S. · « **Reply #17 on:** May 15, 2009, 05:33:23 PM »

Mine does not move!

oldfart · « **Reply #18 on:** May 31, 2009, 07:49:38 AM »

i have two and one is loose and the other is tight, cva won't take it back unless i pay shipping both ways and pay for the gunsmith to look at it. one knuckle head at cva even said that wear is not covered under warranty,(WEAR, i've only shot about 20 rounds thru it)! the barrel is tight when locked on, but the pin now will fall out if i turn the frame side ways. well i guess i'll keep it till the barrel gets loose, cause i can't afford to send it in, and can't afford another gun.

Buckskins & Black Powder · « **Reply #19 on:** May 31, 2009, 11:09:39 AM »

peen the pin. free of charge and only takes a split second to do. Something that easy to fix i wouldnt even want to spend that $20+ shipping to fix it