640 no dash cylinder issue

[CentcomPete]

Just picked up a 1991 model 640. The only issue I have found is the ease with which the cylinder releases and rotates out. The cylinder release slides forward as "normal". The cylinder however needs just a bit more pressure to swing out than I am used to. It doesn't require a concerning amount of effort to ease it out but it seems to hang a bit and then fully release.

I haven't experienced this with a 1970 era model 31-1 or newer post-lock models.

Could this just be a characteristic of this 33 year old revolver? Thinking it might be attributable to age but I don't know what to look for or try as a simple remedy. Doesn't really bother me but it's noticeable.

This is a gorgeous piece that appears to have seen very little use.

 

[413Maxwedge]

Does it feel like the center pin doesn't move freely (gummed up oil) or that the crane doesn't move freely (retaining screw too tight)?

I have two Smiths (63-1 and 66-1) that the cylinder release was stiff to move and didn't release the cylinder smoothly. Some Hoppes #9 and fresh oil got the center pin moving again and all was well. But I also found the old-style retaining screw on the 66-1 is very finicky about tightness. An 1/8 turn too many and the crane won't swing out. My modern guns with the newer style screw don't seem to have this issue.

 

[stansdds]

Could be the center pin is a tiny bit long. Not long enough for it to fail to pass QC inspections at S&W, but long enough to make opening the cylinder require a little more force.


Other things to consider, ejector rod not fully tightened and there could be old, gummy lubricant hindering the smooth opening of the cylinder.

 

[CentcomPete]

Thanks for the ideas guys. I will definitely look closely at these things and see if they are the culprit.

 

[slabside2]

You can try backing off ever so slightly on the cylinder release screw.