637 timing

[bigguy1305]

hi y'all

first timer here. i have some questions regarding timing of this lil beast.

i was dry firing it earlier and noticed that on 4 of the 5 cylinders that the cylinder stop engages just before the hammer snaps, well on the 5th one it seems to engage at the same moment the hammer snaps. so i reckon my question is, is this normal?

 

[Pef]

I've noticed something similar in one or two of my j frames. But we are are on the order of very, very small timing differences. And none of those j-frames "spit lead." Me thinks by the time the hammer falls it's good. And remember, the S&W's have a wee bit of "play" in them, they aren't like the old Colt DA's.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Your revolver should, ideally, lock up before hammer fall on all 5 chambers. Send it to S&W with a note reading "DCU" (doesn't carry up) and they will fix it quick and turn it around to you.

 

[bigguy1305]

Your revolver should, ideally, lock up before hammer fall on all 5 chambers. Send it to S&W with a note reading "DCU" (doesn't carry up) and they will fix it quick and turn it around to you.

even if the gun has been worked on by a gunsmith (trigger job). would s&w still work on it under warranty?

 

[Pef]

Is it truly not locking up, or is it just locking up at a different time on one part of the cylinder and before the hammer falls? I checked mine again tonight. On a couple of J's one of the five will lock up slightly after the others; but as I pull the trigger very slowly, I can tell on both that it is fully locked before the hammer begins to fall. But just barely before.

I haven't had any problems.

 

[Pef]

Your revolver should, ideally, lock up before hammer fall on all 5 chambers. Send it to S&W with a note reading "DCU" (doesn't carry up) and they will fix it quick and turn it around to you.

Not trying to hijack the thread - but on a couple of mine I have a similar timing issue. But as I posted above, I looked at them and they do indeed "lock up" before the hammer falls. It's as if one chamber will lock up later than the other four on two of the revolvers. But after hundreds of rounds I've noticed no issues.

What do you think? Timing issue or just a normal variance?

 

[bigguy1305]

the first 3 lock up perfect. on 4 it locks up a little before the hammer falls and on 5 i think it locks up at the same time the hammer falls. i've tried pulling the hammer back very slowly i mean very slow and it does it right as the hammer disengages from the sear. now when in SA it does lock up when i pull the hammer back but right at the moment the hammer is locked back. on 4 it does lock up before the hammer locks. 4 really doesn't bother me much but 5

 

[kaaskop49]

It really seems to bother you. It would really bother me. Have it taken care of.

 

[flintsghost]

Since all of the chambers and their locking and carry up are independently controlled by each chamber's ratchet surface, it is impossible in a hand fitted piece to make them all perfectly the same. The locking bolt is controlled by the trigger upon disengagement and is free to engage when the recess appears. Carry up is a function of the hand and each ratchet and as such each of the 5 ratchet surfaces would need to be perfectly filed in order for them all to be the same. Since the assemblers at the factory cut each ratchet, one at a time, with a file...there will be some normal variation. As long as the cylinder locks into place immediately before the hammer falls, it is considered to be in spec.

You may send it in for repair and find that when it returns with a new ratchet it's a lot better or you barely notice any improvement. It would depend on who works on it and how good they are and what satisfies the inspector on their crew. Personally, as long as it carries up to fire with no issues, I'd leave it alone. You may eventually have to send it in or not, depending upon how much you shoot it.

 

[bigguy1305]

i've only had the gun for a week. i've only shot it once (50rd) when the trigger job was done and it was very accurate. it wasn't till i finished cleaning and did a few dry fires it that i found out all this.

 

[TucsonMTB]

I don't think there is anything wrong with your revolver. I suspect you may be experiencing some "buyer's remorse", which is an inescapable human phenomenon, especially for those of us buying something with which we do not have a great deal of experience.

Kind of a new guy myself, but I understand that a revolver's accuracy is usually badly effected if the alignment of the bore and cylinder are not correct when the gun goes off.

You indicated that yours is very accurate. So, it seems likely that your revolver is working well, from a timing / bore alignment perspective.

Given that you have plenty of warranty time remaining on your new revolver, you could just keep shooting it until you either develop some confidence in it or experience a genuine problem.

However, if you are too concerned to do that, contact Smith & Wesson. I understand they have an excellent customer service and warranty group.

Of course, all of this is just my opinion. You have to make up your own mind. If you are well heeled, you might consider purchasing another revolver and paying close attention to the timing before you accept it. That would take the pain out of sending in your existing piece for service work.

Best of luck, sir. Try not to let buyer's remorse prevent you from enjoying your great new revolver.

 

[shawn mccarver]

even if the gun has been worked on by a gunsmith (trigger job). would s&w still work on it under warranty?

I know they will work on it. The question is whether they will work on it for free. I have no idea about that. I never think about that, because no one works on any S&W revolver of mine except the factory.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Not trying to hijack the thread - but on a couple of mine I have a similar timing issue. But as I posted above, I looked at them and they do indeed "lock up" before the hammer falls. It's as if one chamber will lock up later than the other four on two of the revolvers. But after hundreds of rounds I've noticed no issues.

What do you think? Timing issue or just a normal variance?

I like them all to lock up at about the same place, and I feel they should. I have sent revolvers in with issues exactly as you have described. They have always been fixed, "no questions asked."

 

[Coastie762]

One thing to consider is that you are rotating the cylinder slowly and without cartridges in the cylinder. When you are actually shooting, the combination of added weight from the ammunition and faster cycling speed as you pull the trigger will allow the cylinder to "carry up" properly.

 

[hotrod150]

.....Send it to S&W with a note reading "DCU" (doesn't carry up) and they will fix it quick and turn it around to you.

Seems like I just read a post not long ago fro someone who sent his revolver in for some minor warranty work and got it back a mere 3 months later. To me, this if true is not "fix it quick" or good customer service.