686 Problem

[rsmith99]

I bought a nice 686-2 this week. It looks good, but I noticed a pretty good "speed bump" at the end of the hammer cock pull. Might be dry or dirty. I've worked on a few K frames so I am familiar with the internals. Just wondering what might be causing this heavy spot while cocking the hammer.
Thanks!
Ron

 

[bigggbbruce]

I've had a few with rough finished extractors. Swing out the cylinder and then pull the cylinder release back and then pull the trigger. If it goes away it's extractor related. If it remains then it's in the action.

 

[rsmith99]

Sorry, extractor?

 

[Lonestar57]

Might be the infamous "Floating Hand" which can cause the trigger pull to feel staged. Smith went to it in 686-1's but changed it back to the standard hand in 686-4's IIRC. Some 686's have no issue with it but others do. Check the web, there is a ton of information on it.

 

[rsmith99]

Never mind. I gotcha. I'll give it a try.

 

[S&W SS Revolvers]

My 686-3 purchased new had 2 clicks on 5 cylinders day one; very distinct since new. One click on #6 and bang. After many,many years in the drawer the 1st time in years at the range she locked up on one of the 6...strange. Partial disassembly (side plate)...Gun Scrubber and oil on the internals. Two clicks every trigger squeeze and smooooooooooth as glass. She's my baby! Always will be.

This baby is dead on accurate...and my wife calls it "Harry". I love my wife...!!! Harry has been warmed up more this year than any year in it's life and it ain't gotta million rounds. Harry is the 1st line of defense in our happy,humble home in commuist CO.

Personally I think the .357 or .38 or .38+P gets the job done just fine.

At the end of the day if a target is all I ever kill in life...that's COOL.

Harry is the most peaceful hunk a metal I ever knew. He does have the temper of a lion just below the surface BTW. What a fine friend of 20 something years...a little oil and care a couple of times a year. Loyal...

 

[Muss Muggins]

Sorry, extractor?

The extractor star is that piece attached to the cylinder rod which both ejects the cartridges and contains the notches which interact with the hand to rotate the cylinder when the trigger/hammer is worked.

 

[rsmith99]

Thanks for the reply. Keep em comin!

 

[Muss Muggins]

My 686-3 purchased new had 2 clicks on 5 cylinders day one; very distinct since new. One click on #6 and bang. After many,many years in the drawer the 1st time in years at the range she locked up on one of the 6...strange. Partial disassembly (side plate)...Gun Scrubber and oil on the internals. Two clicks every trigger squeeze and smooooooooooth as glass.

Your solution is akin to filling a balky transmission with sawdust. Fixed the symptom, not the cause . . .

 

[jimmyj]

Mainspring tension screw tight ?

 

[Alk8944]

Jimmy J's answer is probably correct. If the strain screw is loosened the spring straightens out and the end of the spring stubs under the hammer near the end of cocking! This is exactly what yo are describing!

The strain screw is not an adjustment, it must be tightened completely.

 

[rsmith99]

It does have after market grips on it. So somebody might have tried adjusting the mainspring screw. I'll take a look.
I plan on a complete cleaning and lube to slick it up a little.

 

[rsmith99]

The mainspring hammer WAS backed out a little. I took everything apart and cleaned and lubed it. Polished the rebound block, put Wolf springs in. Everything is working smooth now. Still not as smooth as my 66, but pretty good.

I wonder what it takes to swap out the hand for a 686-4 hand?

Anyway, thanks for the help!
Ron