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Old 02-13-2020, 01:53 PM
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armorer951 armorer951 is online now
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Evansville, Indiana USA
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Default “bent” extractor

"Bent" extractor rods usually bind on the front locking lug, or rub on the inside of the extractor rod hole in the yoke shoulder. Usually the "bend" is actually not in the rod itself, but in the relationship between the screwed in rod and the extractor stem/body. When you true up the wobble in the rod, you're actually attempting to line up or true up the relationship between the threaded rod and stem of the extractor. The extractor rod collar throws another variable into (between) that threaded joint, and sometimes contributes to the "run out" observed at the end of the extractor rod. Sometimes, just replacing/exchanging the rod collar can true up the overall rod run out without and further intervention. If there are burrs inside the yoke shoulder cavity, (rub marks on the extractor rod from the yoke as in the photo below) the hole can be cleaned up with a .250" reamer or drill.

I straighten the run out using a fixture I purchased while at the S&W Armorer's school. It's basically a yoke barrel fit to a small block of steel that can be secured in a vise. The cylinder assembly is placed on the barrel of the fixture and the ext rod protrudes out the other side, allowing the cylinder assembly to be spun to determine if straightening is needed. The rod is then struck with a babbit bar to straighten.

Difficulty in opening/closing can be due to the center pin being a bit too short. The end of the center pin should come fully to the end of the extractor rod when the thumbpiece is pushed fully forward. If the center pin is a bit short, this can cause the end of the rod to catch on the front locking bolt. If this is the issue, you can shorten the overall length of the extractor rod in the assembly by simply removing a bit of material from the extractor rod collar in the assembly. Material can be removed from either end of the collar. This will shorten the rods overall length in the assembly without shortening the rod itself....and improve the interface of the center pin/ extractor rod and front locking bolt, making opening the cylinder easier.

EXTRACTOR ROD COLLAR


EXTRACTOR ROD ASSEMBLY (L-frame, extractor spring removed)
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Last edited by armorer951; 02-13-2020 at 02:43 PM.
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