Hand Spring replacement on H&R Topbreak

[bob615]

I am new to the forum but would appreciate some assistance from more the more experienced H&R revolver community.  This is a little long but I hope it will also be useful to others in the future.  I am trying to replace the hand spring on an H&R large frame (6 shot .32 S&W) top break "auto ejecting" revolver.  It does have the caliber on the barrel (smokeless powder) so I thought it might be worth the time and expense.  I used the NRA Pistols and Revolvers Assembly book which has a page on the H&R Premier as a guide.  As has been mentioned here working on these old revolvers is somewhat of a challenge but usually interesting.  Below are two pictures.  The first is what I hope is the correct orientation of the hammer, lifter, hand, and trigger.  As can be seen the hand spring is broke about half? way back.  I got a new hand and spring from Gun Parts Corp. (the spring alone is currently not available).  The instructions that came with it said:

H&R hands come with extra long springs to allow fitting.  Usually 3/8" must be nipped off.  To fit your hand:

1. Place the handspring in the trigger hole and be sure it bottoms.
2. Bend the hand forward, pushing the middle of the spring with your thumb to create a slight "kink".
3. Cut off small amounts of the end of the spring until hole in the hand can fit over the pin in the lifter.

The second picture is my attempt at installing the new hand and spring.  It is pretty obvious to me that I have cut off too much spring but as I was doing it, I never could get the spring "kink" correct.  Does the spring "kink" point up (towards the firing pin) or down (towards the trigger)?  If the spring goes past the pin where the lifter and hand both fit does it go under that pin or into the "v" cut just in front of that pin?

I realize I will probably have to order another hand and spring but getting an idea of the placement sure would be helpful.  Sorry again for the length.

Bob615

[Old No7]

It's been quite awhile, but I had to do that repair to my old Auto Ejecting 32 as well.  I had some spring stock around the house, and if I remember right, I used silver solder to fasten it where it connects.

If I recall, the kink should look like this...  (See if this "drawing" will work...)

....|
.../
 
I think you'll get the idea, it's maybe a 20 to 25 degrees bend.  This fits into your pictures as shown.  I do remember it took me a few attempts to repair mine as well, but the results were well worth it.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Old No7

[Old No7]

One other thing I just thought of...

The end of the new spring will fit into that "V" notch you see in the top of the trigger, but I think if it's too long and bottoms out, you need to trim a little off at a time.

Old No7

[bob615]

Thanks so much for your suggestion, I will give it a try and then post results.

Bob