please help me solve this problem....Purchased a new S&W 642 and have fired about 200 rounds in the last month.... This morning fired about 20 rounds, every thing worked fine at the range....at home cleaned the firearm and now I am not able to open the cylinder while pressing the safety latch....what do you think it is and how can I repair it...the revolver can be dry fired, the cylinder rotates...I just cannot open it.....Thanks

Welcome to the forum!

This comes up a lot here. First thing to check is the ejector rod. It is probably loose and has backed out some. It is a lefthand thread so- lefty tighty. Try that first. If that is it, back it out and apply Blue Loc-Tite to the threads, and tighten as tight as you can with your fingers.

As an add-on. Once you get the ejector rod tightened to where you can open the cylinder, go to your local auto parts store and get a spray can of NON chlorinated brake cleaner. Back the ejector rod completly out and spray down the threads and let air dry, just a few minutes. This will remove all grease/oil from the threads. Apply the BLUE Loc-Tite and screw the rod back in. This will insure a rock solid fit until the time comes when you need to remove the rod in the future. If/when you need to back the rod out you will have to heat the area where the Loc-Tite was applied. The heat from your hair dryer will be fine for this application without doing damage to your gun.

Class III

MOST IMPORTANT! Once you get the cylinder out and before attempting the instructions on properly torquing the ejector rod, place 2 cases in chambers to lock the ejector star in place. The itty-bitty tab in place to keep the ejector star from rotating while loading/unloading isn't intended to take the load of tightening the threads.

Weird, mine did that too The first time I cleaned it! For me it was some **** that got down behind the cylinder release because I sprayed the whole gun down with solvent. I removed it (screw and thumb piece) and cleaned it the best I could and got it to open and then by working the release a few times worked the **** out. Also maybe make sure the lock is disengaged all the way.

Thanks for the advice...was able to remove & repair....it works