686 problem

[gruntanz]

I have just purchased a used 686 which was advertised as having a lightened trigger and hammer. I am concerned that a previous owner may have been having a play with the hammer seer as when the pistol is cocked a push on the hammer spur will cause it to fall. Am I up for a new hammer?
I have several Smiths and all of them have fairly light crisp triggers from the factory. Why anyone would want to fix something that aint broke is beyond me.
I would like to keep the pistol but am worried about the safety of it.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Cheers, John

 

[OKFC05]

Of course it needs to be fixed. A good revolver smith may be able to save the parts, depending on how much "improvement" it has been subjected to..

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

Am I up for a new hammer?
I have several Smiths and all of them have fairly light

I think you can fix it.

Check out how to fix push off in the faq sticky above.

 

[cptdco]

I have followed 500 Magnum Nut's instructions and successfully repaired a push-off problem on a K-frame. If you're comfortable disassembling and re-assembling the gun (and you have a proper screwdriver set!) you might want to consider giving it a try.

 

[gruntanz]

Thanks for the advice. I will order a stone and follow your instructions. Please clarify angle of stone to trigger eg. how far from bench top end of stone to contact point?
Cheers, John

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

To correct push off

The hammer notch must be square, sharp and not rounded. It's only .005 inch tall so use a eye loupe to inspect it. Use a new stone to true it up, if it's not square. (I like ceramic stones for this) Then after the hammer is proper, stoning the trigger will correct the push off.

Remember use a 6 inch long stone. Changing the stone length will affect the trigger pull.

To test the trigger hook, you scrap it on your thumb nail. If nail is scraped off, you got it sharpened correctly.

If you want a lighter single action pull, you dull the angle by lightly stoning the angle parallel to the table top.

 

[gruntanz]

I removed the side plate today and found that the hammer block is missing (no it didn't drop out unseen by me). I will have to get the pistol looked over by a pistolsmith as it's looking decidedly dodgey.
The hammer seer appears to have been re-heated at some stage.
Thanks again for your advice.
Cheers, John

 

[Skip357]

IF THAT GUN WASMY GUN I WOULD SEND IT TO SMITH TO REPAIR IT RIGHT.SOME TIMES IT COULD BE THE HAMMER OR IT COULD BE TRIGGER OR IT BE BOTH.SEND IT TO SMITH AND IN YOUR LETTER ASK FOR GENE SYPEK TO DO THE WORK YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY.

 

[gruntanz]

IF THAT GUN WASMY GUN I WOULD SEND IT TO SMITH TO REPAIR IT RIGHT.SOME TIMES IT COULD BE THE HAMMER OR IT COULD BE TRIGGER OR IT BE BOTH.SEND IT TO SMITH AND IN YOUR LETTER ASK FOR GENE SYPEK TO DO THE WORK YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY.

Unfortunately That is not an option for me as sending a pistol from New Zealand to the States would be a hassle but getting it back again would be near impossible.
I have talked to a pistol smith about the problem and he is confident that he can fix it and at the very worst he has replacement hammers and triggers.
Cheers, John