Cylinder won't rotate

[Richard Simmons]

Picked up a pretty nice looking S&W K-22 Target Masterpiece some time back and the cylinder would hang up more times than not in both SA and DA mode. Removed the side plate and didn't see anything broken. Took it completely apart, put it back together and now the cylinder won't rotate at all.

There's a good chance I reinstalled something wrong but could that same thing have been partially wrong before I messed with it? TIA

[jojo]

Sounds like the pawl (the little arm that pushes up the back of the cylinder to rotate it) might have been worn to start with. The difference between that pawl working properly or not is .0000 of an inch.

[abpt1]

Sounds like the pawl (the little arm that pushes up the back of the cylinder to rotate it) might have been worn to start with. The difference between that pawl working properly or not is .0000 of an inch.
Yep some times when some one flips it closed it will actually pean them over But first check the grip maybe the spring is catching

[AKTexas]

Is this one of those kit guns?I take it that it won't spin empty?

[aliceinchains]

Yep some times when some one flips it closed it will actually pean them over But first check the grip maybe the spring is catching


You mean with just one hand and closing the cylinder in a jerking or snapping movement.

[abpt1]

You mean with just one hand and closing the cylinder in a jerking or snapping movement.
yep and it hard on the crane ..

[awp101]

You mean with just one hand and closing the cylinder in a jerking or snapping movement.

That's an invitation to an ass chewing at a minimum around me...:pissed: Hard on the crane, etc.

[aliceinchains]

That's an invitation to an ass chewing at a minimum around me...:pissed: Hard on the crane, etc.


You just simmer down. LOL!

[awp101]

Simmer down? I found out today my wife's car needs between $4K and $5K in work. I CAN'T simmer down...:pissed::swear::crying_small:

I need more coffee....:coffee:

[aliceinchains]

So here is the question. What is the best way for Richard to fix his problem. Buy a new pawl from factory?

[awp101]

That's where I'd start. Can you cock the hammer? Does it cock but the cylinder just doesn't rotate?

[Richard Simmons]

The cylinder will not rotate either by pulling the trigger or cocking the hammer. Would it be safe to assume that a new hand would not be a drop in proposition but rather, would require fitting?

[Richard Simmons]

Is this one of those kit guns?I take it that it won't spin empty?


No, not a kit gun.

Mine (made in 1952) is nearly identical to this one
http://www.pbase.com/slowpokebill/image/55788527

[awp101]

Would it be safe to assume that a new hand would not be a drop in proposition but rather, would require fitting?
Correct. I'd seriously consider hitting the S&W Forum for a good S&W 'smith. IIRC Noah Zark is a Mod over there now.

If nothing else, it's worth having it looked to to see WHY the hand failed. Simple part failure due to wear or perhaps something else internally causing the hand to wear improperly. I've only been inside a couple and it's been too long ago to remember for sure what interacts with what. I might have a copy of the Kuhnhausen book on Smith revolvers. If I do, I'll have a look see this weekend to see if it addresses any of this.

[awp101]

Couldn't stand it anymore, I had to see if I had the S&W book and I do.:lool: I scanned the trouble shooting list for a non-rotating cylinder and the two parts that seem to affect it: the cylinder stop and hand.

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu306/awp101_2009/53216889.jpg
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu306/awp101_2009/c217803f.jpg

[Richard Simmons]

Thank you. I'm wondering if S&W will still work on this year/model? I've also got a 38/44 Heavy Duty, Model of 1950 that needs some end shake taken out of it. Suppose I could call S&W and maybe send them both off for work.

[awp101]

It's worth a shot...errr, I mean call. If they ask you to send it in, I'd make it crystal clear you want them back if they can't fix them.

[aliceinchains]

I am sure they would have you talk to a technician and go from there before you even sent them in.

[Noah Zark]

Joining the thread late, but I just worked on a S&W 29 DX for a friend that had two issues: The cylinder would not rotate, and the cylinder/crane assembly would not tip out of the frame.

The assembly unlatch problem was due to the ejector rod backing out and surrounding the front latch pin. I used a jeweler's screwdriver to depress the front latch pin while pushing the cylinder release button forward, then cleaned oil off the ejector rod threads and tightened it up.

The cylinder non-rotation issue was due to 1200 years of accumulated burned powder residue fouling the gas seal area at the front of the cylinder. A thorough cleaning and proper lubing took care of that one.

Mechanically, if a S&W cylinder won't rotate, in my experience it's been the hand hanging up, or the hand spring bent or broken, or the cylinder stop spring is not seated properly and not retracting when the hammer is cocked or trigger pulled.

HTH,

Noah

[Schuetzenman]

If the cylinder can't rotate the cylinder stop must be engaged in one of the cycliner notches. I'd check that out as somehow it must be shoved up all the time. Should only be up when the hammer is cocked. Incomplete rotation would be the pawl being worn down IMO as stated earlier.

[Richard Simmons]

Thanks to all. Basically when you pull the trigger or cock the hammer the cylinder just sits there. To expand on my first post. Originally the gun would wok fine for sever firings, both DA and SA then, one or twice per cylinder it would not rotate. If you tried cocking it several time eventually it would catch and the cylinder would rotate and lock up just fine.

After I took it apart and put it back together it's like the hand isnc't moving at all. I didn't see any broken parts and nothing fell out during the disassembley so I figured something was either gummed up or had come loose and when I put it back together I left something off a stud or spring or something. I'll take the side plate off in the near future and take a couple of pics and post them. Maybe someone can see the problem.

Thanks again for the replies.