Need help putting hammer back in 342PD j-frame

[beaverislander]

I won't bore you with all the details but I was getting ready to DuraBlue my 18 y/o 342PD (I beat the **** out of it over the years) and now I have a hammer that I can't get back in. After a complete take down (in an email they said strip it down completely) today a different customer service rep said that wasn't necessary so put it back together before spraying. So I've wasted a day and a half and have it back together up to the hammer install. All of the YouTube videos that I've watched said to pull the trigger back and it will drop right in when lined up. Mine does "NOT" drop right in so either I have something else wrong, there's a trick I'm missing, or maybe a little force is necessary?

P.S. I called S&W with my question but the nice gentleman said that they don't do gun-smithing over the phone, so here I am.

 

[armorer951]

If you pull the trigger all the way back, you'll then have to rotate the hammer to the "fully cocked" position before attempting to drop it into the action on the hammer stud.

 

[beaverislander]

Thank you, I'll check it out tomorrow. Thought it best to put it up tonight before I got really frustrated.

 

[Kp321]

Also, the cylinder bolt (attached to the thumb piece) needs to be held back or the cylinder needs to be closed for the bolt to clear the hammer.

 

[beaverislander]

I got it. I didn't have the bolt release and trigger in the correct position, however I just tried again with more attention to the bolt position and it did drop right in.

Thanks for the help.

 

[M29since14]

Thank you, I'll check it out tomorrow. Thought it best to put it up tonight before I got really frustrated.

W i s e ! Glad you got it back together without mayhem.

 

[beaverislander]

W i s e ! Glad you got it back together without mayhem.

Yea, to say I was a little nervous is an understatement! Prior to this take down my smithing level consisted of swapping out grips.
The upside is it got a good cleaning and a little fresh lube. Tomorrow comes the DuraBlue (matte black.)

 

[16thVACav]

When you finish the job, please post some pictures for us.

 

[beaverislander]

When you finish the job, please post some pictures for us.

Here's a before and after.

 

[rickflst]

Nice work it looks like a new gun!