I post this here as my question applies mainly to my model 29-2. I suppose the question could apply to all S&W revolvers.

After every shooting session I thourghly clean my gun(s) I confess I'm one of those finicky sob's that MUST have my guns spotless clean and oiled after shooting or handling....and so I've always made it a habit to remove the cylinder/yoke from the gun every time I clean after shooting.
As you know....taking out the cylinder is easy, but I am always careful in that I have never (yet) marred the cylinder release screw head or scratched the frame.

Carbon/residue seems to get into every nook & cranny and it is simply easier for me to have the componets separated for easy access. It is especially easier to scrub the bore with the cylinder out of the way......and also....one is less likely to scratch the cylinder with a bore brush.

Now here is why I ask the question. Freinds tell me it is NOT a good idea to remove the cylinder/yoke for every cleaning session because sooner or later the assembly will loose fit tolerence (spelling?).........from constant removal. ( A problem I've not yet had BTW) They say do it only once in a great while and don't worry about carbon residue down inside the center assembly.


What's the general opinion about this? Are my buddies correct?

Russ

i have been removing the cylinder from my guns for 40 years if you are careful no harm will be done.

I just sent my 337Ti back to S&W for repair because the cylinder started to back off of the crane past the stop on the bottom of the frame window when I opened it. The gun has been carried a lot but has a fairly low rounhd count. I have removed the cylinder several times when cleaning it and wondered if that could have contributed to this situation.

T

+1. It is the only way to efficiently clean the bearing surfaces of the yoke and cylinder. It also makes it easier to do a good cleaning job on the charge holes. I do not necessarily do it every cleaning but in my opinion is the best way to do a complete cleaning after a high round count has been reached.

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Revolver luvin' Mountaineer

I remove the cylinder every time I clean my S&W's and completely disassemble the cylinder for cleaning about every 10th cleaning. I keep a properly ground and fitted screwdriver and the cylinder disassembly tool with my cleaning stuff. I shoot almost every night during the good weather months so that's alot of times I've removed and reinstalled the cylinders on my guns. I can't see anyway possible that this would loosen up the fit.

BTW- You're not alone. I'm one of those finicky SOB's too, I literally cannot go to sleep if my guns are dirty. But it pays off. I have a M19 that I bought new in 1980. It has uncounted number of rounds down the pipe, probably 15K plus. Other than a very pronounced turn line all the way around the cylinder and some rub marks underneath the grips from a poor fitting set of pachymers that she wore when she was younger, it looks just like it did when it was brand new. Shoots that way too.

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Andy

I have several prewar revolvers that I shoot, and remove the cylinder to clean. Have never had any problem. Anyone thinking that loosens them up is doing something wrong.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I have been shooting 44 Magnums and Combat Magnums since the late 60s and have never removed a cylinder in order to clean the revolver. I have never had a problem and a couple of guns have had several thousand rounds put through them.

Each person has their own method and this is what I do.

Bill

90+% of the time I remove it, I've never seen a problem from it. Just don't be careless.

Having been a practicing licensed gunsmith NYC PD for over 40 years, we had all the thoughts on this subject.
When properly taken down and reassembled, there was never any harm we could find from removing the cylinder. In fact the cleaning under the extractor (ratchet) was condusive to a better working revolver all of the time.

I rarely remove mine. If you want to do it Brownelle's has a very nice screwdriver set just for S&Ws (that is, it has a hollow ground blade in each size you need) and the also have a cleaning tool that holds six brushes. I have three, one with nylon bristles and two with mops, one for right after the nylon, and one to finish up. Gets the cylinder really nice.

I have never had a problem caused by not removing the cylinder.

I too have always removed the cylinder when cleaning and never had a problem. Thanks to SWID, I just ordered the S&W screwdriver set from Brownell's.

I appreciate everyones input. I did'nt think there was any harm in "breaking down" a S&W revolver, and the responses I see here seem to confirm that. At work next Tuesday I'll have to show my buddy this thread!
I mean he really gave me a head-shake of dis-approval when he saw me doing it.
Still, I wonder why he & others would think a guns fit & tolerences could go out of spec by doing this makes me scratch my head. Maybe it's the idea that steel parts moving against steel parts eventually produces wear.....but geez to do THAT you'd need to dis-assemble a gun every single day at least......AND be rough handling at it.

Now if Smith & Wesson themselves said "don't do it....often"...which to my knowledge they never have, then maybe I'd have a bit of concern.

Thanks,
Russ

PS......ya'll have a fun & safe memorial day weekend.

I have been removing the cylinder every time I clean a gun and have for over 40 years. However, I have never removed the centerpin and broken the cylinder down to clean it, even on guns I have fired many, many thousands of rounds. It is just easier to clean cylinder and frame when the cylinder is out. It is also easier to clean and oil the yoke barrel. Carefully done, I do not believe it will harm the gun.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Which set exactly is it? Is it ok for you to post a link to it. If not a part number would be appreciated. I found one but it did not mention bit for this.

I have been removing the cylinders from my revolvers about every third cleaning and I remove the cylinder from my 19-5 .357 magnum every time I shoot .38 specials through it. I’ve been doing this for twenty years and have had no problems.

I am occasionally removing the cylinder for cleaning on my S&W revolvers but do so every time on my Korth. It has a push button release.

Cleaning is so much easier then.

I do it everytime i shoot one of my revolvers. Just my habit, as I see it is a habit for many others on the forum. Matter of fact I just went to the range today, and as I removed the cylinder, I thought how many folks besides me do this. Apparently an awful lot.
Tom

Wow! Way to make a guy jealous.

Tim

I too do it every time I clean. I am also a clean freak with my guns. If you know what you are doing and have the correct tools it is doing no harm to the gun. I also like to make sure ever thing is lubed up nice on the yoke and crane if I put the gun away for a bit and not carry or shoot it much.

I guess this explains why 8 out of 10 used Smiths I see have a sideplate screw that looks like somebody was tinkering under the hood. I had no idea so many people dismounted the cylinder for routine cleaning, and no clue it was advantageous. I can get into every chamber and through the barrel just fine with it on, being careful not to torque it from the action of the brush and patches. That's about the only way I could see harming tolerances -- if you rammed a rod through the chambers without supporting the cylinder/yoke with the other hand.

I would have to be counted among the...cylinder taker offers...(smiley face goes here)!

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

non cylinder remover here

I remove every time on my 642 EDC, every once in a while on my 63 plinker.

080-087-004AC $17.95 if you don't get the discount. I get it because I'm retired military, I don't know what all the conditions are but I don't know anybody that doesn't get it.

BROWNELLS : 4-in-1 Combo (080-087-004) - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools

What amazes me is that one little slip and you have scratched the sideplate. You guys remove that screw I guess hundreds of times and never make a mistake. I just couldn't do that, my guns would be a mess.

As it is, they work every time. And no scratched sideplates, except for a couple that some klutz did before I got the gun.

Well, I had shot a Korth of an affluent friend and was on fire! It took me a long, long, very long time to find a bargain Korth rimfire revolver.

I got really used to it and it is pretty much my favortite now.

Definitely an experience for a revolver guy.

hint:

With the frame nice & DRY......place a piece of masking tape firmly (or scotch tape) onto the sideplate directly over the screw. A little 1" wide piece of tape will completely cover the sideplate bottom. Rub the tape down nice & firm so the outline of the srewhead shows through. Slice the screw-slot with a blade and simply press the screwdriver into the tape covered screw-head slot. This way... if you DO slip...or fumble with the screwdriver...nothing gets scratched.

On older guns already marred I don't go to the trouble with tape......on guns with a pristine finish....I always do. Always. Why tempt fate? It works.

Russ

Thanks for that link!

Remove the yoke screw and slide out the cylinder is my way too.
My tip in doing this is don't unscrew the ejector rod unless you have a problem. #2 always keep the yoke in the cylinder as you brush out the bores, or dirt can and will get in the center bearing area which will cause the gun not to go together or may bind up the action.

After the brushing, then you can pull it off, wipe the yoke off and add a few drops of oil.

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NRA Benefactor Member

I frequently remove the cylinders on my S&W revolvers for cleaning. I have been doing so for over 30 years and have not had any issues from the practice. Proper tools and care will eliminate the likelihood of damage.

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195th Session FBINA

Since I shoot lead in all my guns, they have a tendency to get pretty dirty. I prefer to remove the cylinder and yoke, but was always worried that it would harm the gun somehow. I always clean after each use, but decided to only remove the cylinder / yoke every second or third cleaning, and leave the cylinder / yoke in place for the other cleanings.Guess I'll be going back to removing them for every cleaning.

Why? If what you were doing worked, what will you be accomplishing?

I'll probably regret saying this, but I detest cleaning guns. I like shooting them but not cleaning them. I'll only clean them when I HAVE to. And before somebody chimes in with "Remind me to never buy one of your guns," don't bother. None are for sale.

If what you are doing works for you then there is no reason to change.
I'm very particular about my guns. As I posted earlier I remove the cylinder to clean everytime and do a complete cylinder disassmbly to clean it thouroughly about every 10th cleaning. But in all honesty, with modern non-corrosive ammo, what I do is probably overkill. But it makes me happy and my firearms are happy too.

BTW- If you're sideplate screw gets buggered up they are only a couple of dollars to replace. I bought a used M19 with a slight endshake problem and a buggered yoke screw. I bought one of these Smith & Wesson Endshake Screw S&W 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19 Blue - MidwayUSA from Midway and solved both issues.

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Andy

Great tip Russ so simple but a big problem solver.

Thanks so much.

Troy

Have shot S&Ws and Colts for over 35 years now and very rarely break a gun down that far to clean it. It's just not neccesary.

Having said that, I know alot of guys just have to take things apart as soon as they get them.

I always remove my S&W cylinders to clean them. Leaving them in place just increases the chances of tweaking the yoke during cleaning. Cleaning the cylinder with it off the gun allows unimpeded access to all the nooks and crannies.

I would say I remove the cylinder about half the time. If I have only fired a box of 50 rounds, I usually leave it in place, but if I shoot 100 - 200 rounds and I know it's going to need a more thorough scrubbing, I do remove it.

Sometimes I think that leaving the cylinder in place actually causes more wear than removing it because it is constantly being pushed back & forth from the pressure of the chamber brush and rod. When it is removed, the only part that takes any wear at all is the small (easily replaceable) screw.

I do (RARELY) disassemble the cylinder by unscrewing the ejector rod and removing the springs for a more thorough cleaning once every year or two depending on how heavily that particular revolver gets used. I do however routinely flush it out with solvent or Remoil and work the plunger to loosen up and remove any crud inside.

Regards,
chief38

I too remove the cylinder and yoke whenever I clean the gun. I became tired of coating the grips and frame with the slop from the brush as I cleaned the chambers.

I always remove the cylinder/yoke for cleaning. No problems...

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Centennial Every Day

In one word- YES! I only remove the cylinder after many thousands of rounds.

I really have never seen the need. The old instruction sheet did not recommend it and neither does the new instruction book/manual that is presently shipped with new guns.

It is overkill, in my opinion. The harm you are more likely to do from a screwdriver that slips and mars the frame or damages a screw slot, or from over tightening the yoke screw greatly outweighs any perceived benefit.

Now, if something out of the ordinary occurs, such as dropping the piece in a mud hole or lake, or you have serious exposure to salt air or sea water or other salt water, then OK, but otherwise, you will more likely harm the gun than will any of the leftover shooting residue from non-corrosive ammo which, by the way, is mostly burned oil, powder and primer residue and "ash," along with some minor amount of lead of bullet jacket material.

I am 50, have been shooting S&W revolvers since about age 9, and have never needed to remove the cylinder for a normal cleaning. Not that I have not done it on very rare occasion, but certainly not as routine maintenance.