Another FA97 reassembly completed, tools and end pics added

[squawberryman]

A cursory search here turns up nothing for me. I did see where someone posted a link to an FA publication for five bucks but it states it's for the 83 and I'm hoping for advice/pictures/video of someone doing a 97 at home. I need to give credit where credit is due, and boy is it due. Thank you fellas.

[Big Bore]

I’ve done this several times with my 97s but I don’t have pics or a video. Not sure how much help I can be because of such but I will say they are not difficult at all.

[bamagreg]

I have the 97 disassembly article. Shoot me a PM

[revolvercranker]

Here's a PDF of the revolver and in it is a very details parts schematic.

pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIREARMS/freedomarms_83.pdf

[paul105]

Copied this from the post here on SA. Don't know how much help it is without the pictures.

"
First off, remove the cylinder and grip panels. Easy enough!

You can either slide the mainspring to the side, removing it from the slot or leave it in. I left it in place.








Flip the gun upside down and place the top strap on a padded surface and remove the 2 rear screws on either side of the hammer.


Remove the front screw (in front if the trigger guard). Then remove the screw on the side opposite of the loading gate.
Now move the the screw on the loading gate side. It is just like on a Ruger with the spring/plunger on the end. It has to go back in the same place. As you loosen it the mainspring will begin to push up on the grip frame and once the screw is loosened enough you will hear the mainspring jump free of the cam roller on the hammer (it will make a little "clink" sound as it jumps up and hits the frame. No worries!

Now you can simply lift up on the grip frame and remove it. Lift slowly as you look underneath. Nothing will jump out with the gun upside down but take note of the 2 springs as you lift up the grip frame.






The spring in the top of the picture is the trigger return spring. The bottom is the cylinder latch spring. Each spring engages with a groove in one of the pins to hold it in place.




Note the grooves in the grip frame where these 2 springs are recessed.







As you can see in the picture the 2 springs tend to move in toward each other. Keeping these spread apart so that they fit in the respective grooves is one of the tricks to re-assembly. That's it for removing the grip frame. If you want to sent it out for new grips just slide out the mainspring and your good to go.



No for putting it back on. This took me a couple of tries but it turned out to be easy. I used a bamboo skewer to keep the 2 springs separated until I could get the frame down low enough to engage the grooves.






Once the springs are engaged with the slots remove the skewer.

What you now have to do as you are bringing down the gripframe is to compress the mainspring with your fingers to get it under the cam follower on the hammer. It helps if you have one of the bottom screws beside the trigger guard (doesn't matter which one) ready to start. Once you compress the mainspring pulldown the grip frame and use a tight grip to hold it there while you start the screw. My grip slipped a couple of times and the mainspring jumped back off of the hammer but after a couple of tries you figure out how to hold it while you tighten the screw. Be careful not to pinch the pawl spring but it dose not stick out as far as a Ruger so that was not an issue.






That's all there is to it. Next time I will do a full dis-assembly. Once you get the grip frame figured out the rest doesn't look too difficult. Hope this helps you guys. Nothing to fear. If you can do a Ruger you can certainly do this."

I've replaced springs several times and still struggle every time (but if I can do it any one should be able).

FWIW,

Paul

[domino300]

Paul, are the instructions are for the 97?

[paul105]

May 20, 2024 11:28:00 GMT -5 domino300 said:

Paul, are the instructions are for the 97?

The MS word doc that I saved it to is title "Freedom Arms Disassembly and Reassembly" so I'm guessing both. I have done both 83 and 97 but can't remember if there is much difference (maybe the trigger and bolt springs). You can look at the the exploded parts diagrams to see www.freedomarms.com/contact-us/

Looks like the trigger spring is different between the two models - bolt spring looks to be the same in both -- I would call FA to verify.

It's been a while since I've done either one and had to re review parts diagrams in manuals to get it right.
.
.
Model 83 Schematic
.

.
M97 Schematic
.

.
.

Patience is your friend.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Paul

[domino300]

Thanks Paul, I have both but haven't taken them apart yet.

[squawberryman]

Paul can you attach the link?

[paul105]

Model 83 Schematic
.

.
M97 Schematic
.

[revolvercranker]

May 20, 2024 15:09:15 GMT -5 squawberryman said:

Paul can you attach the link?

I sent you the link in a couple post above, but here it is again.


pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIREARMS/freedomarms_83.pdf

[paul105]

May 20, 2024 15:09:15 GMT -5 squawberryman said:

Paul can you attach the link?

www.freedomarms.com/contact-us/

Scroll down to manuals. Click on desired manual and scroll down to schematics.

Paul

[squawberryman]

Paul I thought it was a thread here with your pictures, sorry.

[rvolvr]

Disassembly/Assembly instructions by Paco P. at Freedom Arms are available from The Freedom Arms Collectors Assoc website by paying the exhorbitant fee of $5.95 ea., and downloading a pdf file. "The Five Shot Journal" issue(s) you want are: Vol. VII No. II for the FA 97, and Vol. VI No. III for the FA 83.

(Note that the Cover of Vol. VI No. III is mis-marked as Vol VII.)

[squawberryman]

Reassembly is not some daunting task, mine's done and I found a tool to compress the mainspring. When you take it apart, there is no parts flying around scenario involved. No apprehension necessary. A Sharpie will compress the mainspring just the right amount. You have to make sure everything is lined up and not pinched and it took five minutes including finding the right screwdriver. The results are shown. Thank you Zane, again.