I have a 4" Nickel model 29-2 that I purchased for what I think was a very good price at the local pawnshop a while back When I bought it I noticed that when pressing the thumb piece, it was difficult to get the cylinder to open. I think the center pin is sticking. I have already checked to see if the ejector rod is screwed all the way in, it is. Today, I fired some fairly hot rounds, and could not open the cylinder at all. Later, after applying liberal amounts of spray lubricant, I was able to open it. I went back to firing .44 Spl's, and it was sticky but didn't again refuse to open. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.

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Pat Henson

I'm no gun smith here, and you have already tried the most obvious item. Maybe something (crud) got in front of the bolt preventing it from going all the way forward.

Check the ejector rod first and see if it screwed all the way in tightly. Check for full travel of the locking pin that runs from the rear of the cylinder to the tip of the ejection rod by pressing on the pin on the rear of the cylinder and see if the front end is coming all the way all out to the tip of the ejector rod. Check to see if the cylinder release is screwed down tightly. If none of this helps you will need to look inside the frame at the locking bolt that the cylinder release is screwed into. It may be broken or have a chip out of the tip or there is debris in the slot it moves in. Whatever you do don't force the cylinder open if it resists or you could do serious damage.

Drail is correct..
I just had this problem and posted pretty much the same question you did on Single Actions.com. Check under double actions and you will find my post and someones VERY helpfull answer and picture instructions on how to fix this common problem.
Take care!
Chris

Thanks so much for the info. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Pat

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Pat Henson

I had a similar problem with my 686. It was the ejector rod backing out. Gunsmith showed me how to fix it and problem went away-
While supporting the gun with one hand, Clamp the ejector rod between two peices of soft pine in your bench vise. Turn cylinder BY HAND until the screw is slightly torqued. problem solved. No tools for torque as you will damage threads and no thread lock as it will gum it all up.
Good luck