29-2 Cylinder Not Revolving

[meigs3]

Today, the cylinder stopped rotating. To check the function I opened the cylinder, held the cylinder latch back and cocked the pistol. The pawl moved forward but didn't appear to move forward sufficiently to rotate the cylinder.

Any thoughts on what I need or can do to correct this?

 

[gmborkovic]

Man, you got goo. Remove grips and start to spray. You have to flush her
out. Just remove the grips and blow and shake. Let us know.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

There are a lot of possibilities, but gmb clearly stated the first step. Myself, I would do it with the sideplate off. Might learn something.

 

[wetdog]

It could be the spring inside the trigger that tensions the hand to rotate the cylinder. If the gun is pointed straight up it will not rotate the cylinder and if pointed down it will.
This happened to a friend of mine. We told him to keep high ground until fixed.

 

[meigs3]

Thanks!

I took the side plate off and cleaned the goo/crud out. Still won't revolve. I am thinking that the end of the pawl may be worn down some. I have fired about 5,000 medium to heavy loads through it with of course some bullets working forward and blocking the cylinder movement. In fact had two today. That maybe put more than necessary wear on the pawl. Any thoughts on this?

I will call S&W on Monday.

 

[MichiganScott]

Handloads with too light a crimp?

Have you tried doing what wetdog suggests to see if the handspring is broken?

 

[gmborkovic]

OK, simple did not work. If the plate is still off, see if the pawl is spring loaded. Or open the cyl. and test the pawl that way.

 

[meigs3]

Don't think it is spring loaded. I was able to pick up with no tension from a spring.

 

[meigs3]

That was with the side plate off I was able to pick it up with no spring tension.

 

[Aguila9]

Any gunsmith worth his salt should be able to diagnosis and fix that.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[steelslaver]

There is a small wrap spring inside the h e trigger itself and one end of it presses on a stud on the pawl.. if broke pawl won't cycle cylinder

 

[BruceM]

Just for future reference, Smith & Wesson revolvers have neither cranes nor pawls. They do however have yokes and hands.

Have you checked your gun for excessive endshake and the ratchets on the extractor for excessive wear? Also, is the cylinder stop retracting?

Bruce

 

[Culina]

If the ejector rod backs out, your cylinder will stop spinning, that could be it too.

 

[meigs3]

Thanks greatly for the all the good advice! I called S&W customer service and they were very responsive. They immediately e-mailed me a Fed-Ex shipping label so I could return the pistol for their servicing. Took it the F-Ex store, told them it was firearm being returned for servicing. The counter man didn't even look at but sealed and invoiced the box. S&W said turn around time is 3 to 5 weeks with it being Fed-Ex'ed to my home.
Thanks again for everyone being interested in helping me!

 

[Bob L]

Last point to check is gunk under the extractor.