I sat down and looked it over well. The ejector rod was as tight as it gets. No debris visible any where at this point and especially not under the ejector star.
I decided to remove the ejector rod and the cylinder will move freely in and out of the cylinder window attached to the crane. I noticed the locking bolt will not make its way into the ejector rod. I was able to depress the ejector rod and hold it on the outside. The cylinder completely closed. At this point I believe the locking bolt is preventing the cylinder from closing. I hope I have not bent the crane at this point.
I am a bit confused
With ejector rod removed from cylinder, but cylinder reinstalled on yoke barrel the cylinder opens and closes fine. Is this correct?
The locking bolt is the piece inside the frame that slides back and forth by pressing on the thumb piece. With cylinder open the it should be flush with face of recoil shield. You should be able to press it back pretty easy and it will spring back forward with cylinder open. True?
The center pin is the round pin that slides inside of ejector rod. It has a small ring on it about 3/4" from end that stops small spring. There is also a larger spring that rides on a sliding collar with a raised ring on it. When it is installed correctly it should stick out of ratchet about 1/8" and be inside the barrel end about 1/8". You should be able to press it flush to ratchet face and then it should also be flush or a tiny bit long on barrel end of ejector rod. Is this what happens?
The center pin should slide smoothly in and out inside the ejector rod.
The small spring causes the center pin to pop out of the center of ratchet and moves bolt and thumb piece back when cylinder is closed
Larger spring snaps the star back closed when you release ejector rod when ejecting brass.
The lug under the barrel has a spring loaded tooth, Does it slide in and out easily when pressed with the tip of a small screw driver. If it is stuck it will stop ejector rod from closing. As cylinder closes the tip of ejector rod presses tooth forward and then when closed it pops into center of ejector rod and helps push center pin back and into recoil shield.
With the cylinder assembled and the yoke screw NOT in place does the cylinder open and close properly? If not possible damage screw tip or groove in yoke.
If you remove the center pin and lay it on something flat with the raised ring over the edge does it roll flat?
Same question on the ejector rod. Does it roll flat?
