sight question

flat

Bearcat
Joined
Feb 1, 2011
Messages
11
I have a .45 cal. blackhawk and a .22 single six. The elev. adj. on the blackhawk has a nice distinct click and the elev. adj. on the single six has no discernable click. Is it supposed to? This revolver was purchased used so I don't know if the click ever was there. Thanks, Flat
 
Some do have more distinct clicks than others.

Sometimes the ball gets gummed up.

I apply a little WD40 to the area with the little ball detent. The WD40 works good as a solvent. Work the screw a little and then wipe/blow the WD off, apply what ever favorite gun oil you like. I go w/ Break Free on my revolvers.
 
All of the Ruger adjustable rear sight assemblies should have "click stops" in both, the windage and elevation adjustments.

As G2 stated, you sight is probably "gunked up"........

flatgate
 
Thanks for your response fellows, I just took the sight off the gun and there's
nothing in the screw hole, just the two springs and it is obvious where they go.
Apparently , the ball was lost before it got to me. Should there be a tiny spring also? When I bought the gun I sent it to Ruger and asked them to check the timing for me. I was very happy with the service I got from them but they did not check the sight I suppose. I will call them tomorrow and try to get the parts
that are missing. Thanks again, Flat
 
Yup, you've diagnosed the problem. Ruger, Midway, Brownells should all have a sight for you.

You'll have to order the entire rear sight, though.

flatgate
 
Talked to Ruger this AM, they're sending me a ball gratis. You just can't beat'em. Flat

Hope I'm not wearing out the name flat but over time I have been flat,flat tire, flat rock, flatlander, etc. Hard habit to break.
 
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flat said:
Talked to Ruger this AM, they're sending me a ball gratis.

This should be interesting to see what shows up ... I have a feeling it will be the whole body. I cannot imagine how one would go about inserting the spring, then the ball and getting it trapped.

hmmmmm, keep us posted.
 
A little "grease" on the end of the spring and the ball sticks to it! I have installed many ball detents this way over the years. By the way, this is the "only" time I ever use grease in any firearms. Just a personal preference......................Dick :wink:
 
I'll have to wait and see what comes too. I don't know for certain but a man at
Ruger told me that there is no spring, just a ball, and the click effect comes from one or both of the other two springs that push up on the base??? Flat

I'm confused but if pinecone has seen the spring and put them in then there must be one. Hope I didn't misunderstand what the man told me.
 
Well this got my curiosity up and I tore into a old damaged sight to see how it is put in there.

It's just a captured ball.
The springs from the bottom provide the only tension.

BUT how they H%*!!? they get that very little dude in there and stay is beyond me.

IF they just send the ball I will bet you loose it just getting it out of the package. :shock: Maybe it's epoxy/cemented in... My thinking is they might load the hole w/ the cement and then touch the ball to it. Just a guess ,,, as there seems to be some cement type residue.

Flat; If your holding the gun down range, the little shinny ball bearing is at the 6 o'clock position. It very well might be missing, as the first sight body I grabbed to tear apart was missing the ball.
 
That little "cement" type residue is dried grease! As I mentioned above, put a "dab" of light grease on the ball and install it! Works either way. Dab on the ball or end of a spring. Once I have the assembly in place, I loosen up the adjustments and spray a little oil in to make the grease more "fluid" and user friendly. That's it. Very simple. It's not rocket science! Many years ago, I put together a ball dentent "kit". I have over 16 different sizes of ball detents, from extremely tiny to large for any and all gun uses. Many gunsmiths have done the same thing. It might be a "good" idea in the future to check with a local gunsmith to fill your ball detent needs quickly and cheaply.....................Dick :wink:
 
Pinecone said:
That little "cement" type residue is dried grease!

I respectfully disagree,,,

There is no way the ball is captured in the other 9 sight bodies I have by dried grease.

We are talking about the same thing I hope, This photo is from westerville's recent sale of this sight body. The ball is at the 6 o'clock position. (or 2:30 as it sit's in the photo)
DSC06928.jpg


Bottom Line, The little Ball is not shown in the parts list & does not have a part #.

.
 
G2, I wasn't disagreeing with you, simply stating in "general" terms about detent balls since I don't have a rear sight all apart as you do. Whatever.....................Dick :roll:
 
I have "a bunch" of Ruger rear sights; both old and new models. Each and every one of them has the detent ball, and the ball appears to be staked in place by a circular indention. I used my work visor with full magnification and lots of light.

I thought they were under spring pressure, but it doesn't appear to be so.

"IF" I were to attempt to replace the detent ball, I'd simply super glue it in place.

Joe
 
Joe & G2, Your both correct. I checked one of mine out and the detent ball is staked in place. I've worked on so many sights, I had to go back and refresh myself. Although I have used super glue in some instances on guns, recoil sometimes loosens whatever is superglued. I have a few Nail Sets (finish nail sets) that I have deepened to use as staking punches for small detent balls. Whatever works for you. Thanks for getting me off my butt and into the workshop to check this out!....................Dick :wink:
 
Somebody check me on this: It appears to me that if you can keep that tiny ball in it's socket long enough to drop the screw in on it, the ball does not have a route to get out unless you lift the screw. Is it possible that the ball is glued in or staked in just to keep from losing the thing ?? Flat
 
flat, While that's plausible on some rear sights, on this Ruger sight after looking at one of mine, I would say no. If the elevation is adjusted "high" enough, simply pushing down on the sight against the spring pressure can allow the small ball to exit the slot! I believe this is exactly how they are getting lost. Simply pushing the gun into a holster can inadvertantly push the sight down enough to lose the ball detent! With it glued or staked in, that will not occur. Some sights have a bigger ball detent and more enclosed slot so that won't happen. This sight ball is very small and there is enough room for it to get loose as I mentioned above. I recommend you either glue or stake the ball on yours......................Dick :wink:
 
Rest assured your getting a sight body with the little ball allready staked, cemented, glued, or how ever them dern little things are attached.

FYI; I had 2 of 11 bodies in my parts box where the little ball was AWOL.

This has been an interesting topic, I have never really dug into that part of a Ruger and learned something from this discussion.

Keep us posted on what shows up .... any day now. :D
 
Alright gentlemen, I really appreciate the responses I'm getting on this. I
haven't gotten anything from Ruger yet but expect it any day. I guess that little ball can find a way out if it wants to bad enough so I'm thinking if they don't send me a new base I'll try to use the super glue. Thats better than taking a chance on it popping out.
 
I was hoping you were right Buckeye but they just sent me a little bitty ball in a big envelope. And so I won't loose it I'm going to open it in a big dish pan full of magnets. I wonder how I can get glue in such a small hole and nowhere else ? The rear sight detent ball has a part # MR05908 in case anyone has to order one. Thanks to everyone who offered help,Flat
(Norman)
 
:shock: :shock: :shock:

Totally Shocked!!


I would get some JB Weld Steel, make sure the hole is cleaned out good, fill the hole with the JB using a toothpick, fill it good and full, then with the little bit of left over glue on the toothpick pick up the ball and ooose it in, let it dry overnight and then with a exacto knife trim the Jb over-slop off, then let it have a good 24 hrs cure time before re-install.

OR
Just order a new sight for ~$18 :D and keep the one you got for parts doner if needed.

Thanks for the report!!
 
What do you suggest as a cleaner, alcohol, lighter fluid, brake cleaner,acetone ?
 
flat said:
What do you suggest as a cleaner, alcohol, lighter fluid, brake cleaner,acetone ?

Acetone, because I have some.
 
flat, Lacquer Thinner is a real good all purpose cleaner and I have been using it for well over 35 years. Gets dirt, grease, powder, carbon, etc. cleaned out of hard to get into places. You can get a gallon can from Wally World or Lowe's for about $15. Will last you a long time................Dick :wink:
 
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