Bad idea to remove cylinder for every cleaning?

[Dave T]

I would have to be counted among the...cylinder taker offers...(smiley face goes here)!

Dave

 

[cubguy]

non cylinder remover here

 

[xopher88x]

I remove every time on my 642 EDC, every once in a while on my 63 plinker.

 

[SWID]

Which set exactly is it? Is it ok for you to post a link to it. If not a part number would be appreciated. I found one but it did not mention bit for this.

080-087-004AC $17.95 if you don't get the discount. I get it because I'm retired military, I don't know what all the conditions are but I don't know anybody that doesn't get it.

BROWNELLS : 4-in-1 Combo (080-087-004) - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools

What amazes me is that one little slip and you have scratched the sideplate. You guys remove that screw I guess hundreds of times and never make a mistake. I just couldn't do that, my guns would be a mess.

As it is, they work every time. And no scratched sideplates, except for a couple that some klutz did before I got the gun.

 

[Andyd]

Wow! Way to make a guy jealous.

Tim

Well, I had shot a Korth of an affluent friend and was on fire! It took me a long, long, very long time to find a bargain Korth rimfire revolver.

I got really used to it and it is pretty much my favortite now.

Definitely an experience for a revolver guy.

 

[rdcl]

What amazes me is that one little slip and you have scratched the sideplate.

hint:

With the frame nice & DRY......place a piece of masking tape firmly (or scotch tape) onto the sideplate directly over the screw. A little 1" wide piece of tape will completely cover the sideplate bottom. Rub the tape down nice & firm so the outline of the srewhead shows through. Slice the screw-slot with a blade and simply press the screwdriver into the tape covered screw-head slot. This way... if you DO slip...or fumble with the screwdriver...nothing gets scratched.

On older guns already marred I don't go to the trouble with tape......on guns with a pristine finish....I always do. Always. Why tempt fate? It works.

Russ

 

[stk622]

080-087-004AC $17.95 if you don't get the discount. I get it because I'm retired military, I don't know what all the conditions are but I don't know anybody that doesn't get it.

BROWNELLS : 4-in-1 Combo (080-087-004) - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools

What amazes me is that one little slip and you have scratched the sideplate. You guys remove that screw I guess hundreds of times and never make a mistake. I just couldn't do that, my guns would be a mess.

As it is, they work every time. And no scratched sideplates, except for a couple that some klutz did before I got the gun.

Thanks for that link!

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

Remove the yoke screw and slide out the cylinder is my way too.
My tip in doing this is don't unscrew the ejector rod unless you have a problem. #2 always keep the yoke in the cylinder as you brush out the bores, or dirt can and will get in the center bearing area which will cause the gun not to go together or may bind up the action.

After the brushing, then you can pull it off, wipe the yoke off and add a few drops of oil.

 

[Centenniel]

I frequently remove the cylinders on my S&W revolvers for cleaning. I have been doing so for over 30 years and have not had any issues from the practice. Proper tools and care will eliminate the likelihood of damage.

 

[wantmoresmiths]

Since I shoot lead in all my guns, they have a tendency to get pretty dirty. I prefer to remove the cylinder and yoke, but was always worried that it would harm the gun somehow. I always clean after each use, but decided to only remove the cylinder / yoke every second or third cleaning, and leave the cylinder / yoke in place for the other cleanings.Guess I'll be going back to removing them for every cleaning.

 

[cp1969]

Since I shoot lead in all my guns, they have a tendency to get pretty dirty. I prefer to remove the cylinder and yoke, but was always worried that it would harm the gun somehow. I always clean after each use, but decided to only remove the cylinder / yoke every second or third cleaning, and leave the cylinder / yoke in place for the other cleanings.Guess I'll be going back to removing them for every cleaning.

Why? If what you were doing worked, what will you be accomplishing?

I'll probably regret saying this, but I detest cleaning guns. I like shooting them but not cleaning them. I'll only clean them when I HAVE to. And before somebody chimes in with "Remind me to never buy one of your guns," don't bother. None are for sale.

 

[acl864]

Since I shoot lead in all my guns, they have a tendency to get pretty dirty. I prefer to remove the cylinder and yoke, but was always worried that it would harm the gun somehow. I always clean after each use, but decided to only remove the cylinder / yoke every second or third cleaning, and leave the cylinder / yoke in place for the other cleanings.Guess I'll be going back to removing them for every cleaning.

If what you are doing works for you then there is no reason to change.
I'm very particular about my guns. As I posted earlier I remove the cylinder to clean everytime and do a complete cylinder disassmbly to clean it thouroughly about every 10th cleaning. But in all honesty, with modern non-corrosive ammo, what I do is probably overkill. But it makes me happy and my firearms are happy too.

BTW- If you're sideplate screw gets buggered up they are only a couple of dollars to replace. I bought a used M19 with a slight endshake problem and a buggered yoke screw. I bought one of these Smith & Wesson Endshake Screw S&W 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19 Blue - MidwayUSA from Midway and solved both issues.

 

[Troystat]

Great tip Russ so simple but a big problem solver.

Thanks so much.

Troy

 

[moosedog]

Have shot S&Ws and Colts for over 35 years now and very rarely break a gun down that far to clean it. It's just not neccesary.

Having said that, I know alot of guys just have to take things apart as soon as they get them.

 

[Black_Talon]

I always remove my S&W cylinders to clean them. Leaving them in place just increases the chances of tweaking the yoke during cleaning. Cleaning the cylinder with it off the gun allows unimpeded access to all the nooks and crannies.

 

[chief38]

I would say I remove the cylinder about half the time. If I have only fired a box of 50 rounds, I usually leave it in place, but if I shoot 100 - 200 rounds and I know it's going to need a more thorough scrubbing, I do remove it.

Sometimes I think that leaving the cylinder in place actually causes more wear than removing it because it is constantly being pushed back & forth from the pressure of the chamber brush and rod. When it is removed, the only part that takes any wear at all is the small (easily replaceable) screw.

I do (RARELY) disassemble the cylinder by unscrewing the ejector rod and removing the springs for a more thorough cleaning once every year or two depending on how heavily that particular revolver gets used. I do however routinely flush it out with solvent or Remoil and work the plunger to loosen up and remove any crud inside.

Regards,
chief38

 

[Freischütz]

I too remove the cylinder and yoke whenever I clean the gun. I became tired of coating the grips and frame with the slop from the brush as I cleaned the chambers.

 

[photoman]

I always remove the cylinder/yoke for cleaning. No problems...

 

[TSQUARED]

In one word- YES! I only remove the cylinder after many thousands of rounds.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I post this here as my question applies mainly to my model 29-2. I suppose the question could apply to all S&W revolvers.

After every shooting session I thourghly clean my gun(s) I confess I'm one of those finicky sob's that MUST have my guns spotless clean and oiled after shooting or handling....and so I've always made it a habit to remove the cylinder/yoke from the gun every time I clean after shooting.
As you know....taking out the cylinder is easy, but I am always careful in that I have never (yet) marred the cylinder release screw head or scratched the frame.

Carbon/residue seems to get into every nook & cranny and it is simply easier for me to have the componets separated for easy access. It is especially easier to scrub the bore with the cylinder out of the way......and also....one is less likely to scratch the cylinder with a bore brush.

Now here is why I ask the question. Freinds tell me it is NOT a good idea to remove the cylinder/yoke for every cleaning session because sooner or later the assembly will loose fit tolerence (spelling?).........from constant removal. ( A problem I've not yet had BTW) They say do it only once in a great while and don't worry about carbon residue down inside the center assembly.


What's the general opinion about this? Are my buddies correct?

Russ

I really have never seen the need. The old instruction sheet did not recommend it and neither does the new instruction book/manual that is presently shipped with new guns.

It is overkill, in my opinion. The harm you are more likely to do from a screwdriver that slips and mars the frame or damages a screw slot, or from over tightening the yoke screw greatly outweighs any perceived benefit.

Now, if something out of the ordinary occurs, such as dropping the piece in a mud hole or lake, or you have serious exposure to salt air or sea water or other salt water, then OK, but otherwise, you will more likely harm the gun than will any of the leftover shooting residue from non-corrosive ammo which, by the way, is mostly burned oil, powder and primer residue and "ash," along with some minor amount of lead of bullet jacket material.

I am 50, have been shooting S&W revolvers since about age 9, and have never needed to remove the cylinder for a normal cleaning. Not that I have not done it on very rare occasion, but certainly not as routine maintenance.