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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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  #1  
Old 07-07-2020, 12:45 PM
geekeye geekeye is offline
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Default Main spring tension screw

The main spring tension screw in my 686-6 keeps backing off. Will it hurt anything if I clean the threads with brake cleaner then put some blue thread locker on them?
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Old 07-07-2020, 12:49 PM
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Won't hurt a thing, as long as you use a "removable" product. Be sure to use as little of the locker as possible for the desired result.
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Old 07-07-2020, 01:48 PM
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Use the purple Lok Tite if you can find it. Life will be much easier if you ever need to take it apart for cleaning or repairs.
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Old 07-07-2020, 05:36 PM
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never heard of that before. How many rounds does it take to back it off?
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Old 07-07-2020, 07:45 PM
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It should not back out under normal use. Maybe a little more muscle when you tighten it. :-)
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Old 07-07-2020, 08:04 PM
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I have a 625 that that does it.I keep forgetting to put locktite on the screw.
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Old 07-07-2020, 08:16 PM
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My 44 Magnum Hunter backed out on its own. Just lucky I guess. The purple Lok Tite fixed it.
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Old 07-07-2020, 08:22 PM
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it backed out from the factory tightness after a bunch of dry firing to the point where it would no longer cock single action. took the grip off and tightened it pretty hard. went to the range and let off 100 full power mag rounds and checked when i got home, had backed off half way already.

only have red and blue laying around, no purple, so just put some blue on and tightened it pretty hard. will see what happens next time.
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Old 07-08-2020, 09:15 AM
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When the threads have more clearance between male and female than normal, they will back out no matter how tight you start out. Blue or purple Loctite will usually keep it in place. Coat the threads well and wipe off any excess once the screw is seated. You have to fill all the gaps to make it work well.
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Old 07-08-2020, 11:28 AM
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Try out a different screw perhaps.
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Old 07-08-2020, 12:52 PM
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That's really odd; none of mine (including heavy recoiling X frames) ever done that even without Loctite.
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Old 07-09-2020, 08:50 PM
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I have a half dozen or so L frames and they all back out and have to be to be tightened. Even my early production 586. Beats me why.
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Old 07-13-2020, 03:19 PM
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Update - after a thorough cleaning of oil from the threads, and a dab of blue loctite, things seem much improved. Did a bunch more dry firing and another range trip, and everything has stayed tight as a drum.
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Old 07-18-2020, 04:53 AM
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Interesting to read above that other shooters experienced this issue. When I reported it several years ago on my 686SSR, I was told it could not occur. Would happen regularly with this gun; my 'smith applied the LocTite: problem solved. The only blemish on an otherwise superb handgun.

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