Cylinder sticking on opening

Yaworski · Apr 5, 2017

I have a 25-2 that gives me a bit of problem when opening the cylinder.

I push on the thumpiece and the cylinder opens with a bit of force.

It looks like the "bolt" (is that the right name for the do-hickey that pushes on the centerpin?) doesn't come flush with the frame which means that the tip of centerpin remains engaged with the frame.

Is this something that can be adjusted or do parts have to be replaced?

StakeOut · Apr 5, 2017

With the cylinder open and looking at where the bolt protrudes through the frame it should be almost flush with the surface of the recoil shield.It's pushed forward by the bolt plunger spring.

When the cylinder is closed the center pin goes into the bolt hole and pushes the bolt back.The center pin is what locks the cylinder.

Pushing the cylinder release forward has the bolt move the center pin out of the hole allowing the cylinder to open.

When a center pin is too short the cylinder is hard to open.

armorer951 · Apr 5, 2017

If the bolt was fit correctly in the first place, it may just be shooting debris or other crud interfering with the bolt's movement fully forward.
If you have the correct tools, knowledge etc, perhaps a good interior cleaning would take care of the issue.

Other things can also contribute to this (difficult to open cyl), like the ejector rod being loose, and cylinder end shake, among others.

colt_saa · Apr 5, 2017

Has it always done this since it was purchased or is this a recent problem?

Have you already checked the easy things?

Make sure the ejector rod is tight

Make sure there is no unburned powder or debris under the extractor

geeollie · Apr 5, 2017

A tear down and cleaning may do wonders. Old lube mixed with powder crud can get hard and sticky. Jerry Kuhnhausen's book The S&W Revolver a Shop Manual is a great addition to every revolver owners library.

There may be videos on line that show take down of a S&W but the book offers step by step that is hard to beat.

Good luck.

geeollie · Apr 5, 2017

Colt SAA mentioned the ejector rod. It could be loose. Remember on S&W ejector rods, lefty Tighty, righty Loosey.

EDIT I may need to say OPPS!. Isn't the 25-2 early enough to have standard righthand threads.
I saw this in the 1980 to Now forum and assumed. Most likely I assumed wrong.

Cylinder sticking on opening

Yaworski

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StakeOut

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armorer951

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colt_saa

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geeollie

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geeollie

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