The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
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Top Lever screw thread - Revisited

Posted by Frank Srebro on August 20, 2023, 2:42 pm

I did a search and read numerous posts that the top lever retaining screw thread is a #4-40.

However I have a lever in one gun with a tapped hole much larger than 4-40. In fact a 4-40 screw (major diameter) has a lot of clearance and the threads won’t even come close to catching in the spindle thread. In other words it’s way too small in diameter. Then I checked a spare lever that came in a box of parts and again a 4-40 screw has plenty of clearance.

Have any of the LCS tech experts run into this? Was there a change in thread size in earlier or later guns?

Re: Top Lever screw thread - Revisited

Posted by Dan Wildhaber on August 20, 2023, 9:16 pm, in reply to "Top Lever screw thread - Revisited"

Somebody probably inadvertently pulled the threads out and redrilled and tapped it to a larger size.

Re: Top Lever screw thread - Revisited

Posted by David Williamson on August 21, 2023, 9:04 am, in reply to "Top Lever screw thread - Revisited"

I agree with Dan, the screw was stripped and the hole retapped to a larger size.
This small screw is only for holding the top lever in place so that is does not ride above the top lever spring and then become very hard to impossible to open the gun.
This screw pivots with the top lever and can work it's way loose sometimes and if you see this tighten it up. The head of this screw fits into a counterbored hole that allows for the pivoting. Using another screw that does not fit into the counterbore will ultimately come loose.

Re: Top Lever screw thread - Revisited

Posted by Frank Srebro on August 21, 2023, 10:52 am, in reply to "Re: Top Lever screw thread - Revisited"

Thanks Gents, actually I’m familiar with the LCS mechanics and the lever screw, its spindle and the screw head counterbore in the trigger plate. I find it odd that two levers have the exact same oversize screw thread. It appeared to be a #6-40.

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