Clean, lube yoke barrel: opinions solicited

[snowman]

Friends,

I'm interested in how you folks deal with the above issue. To be a little more specific, I'm interested in knowing, for instance:

-how and/or what you use to clean the yoke tube, and especially the channel in the cylinder which rides on it

-if you can adequately clean out the channel in the cylinder without removing the extractor assembly(or if such cleaning is even necessary, in your view)

-if anyone has ever had residues build up on the rear of the cylinder where it contacts the face of the yoke barrel(and if so, what you did about it)

-what you use to lubricate these surfaces

-how often you do this

-anything else you think a shooter ought to know about these matters.


Thank you, friends.
Andy

 

[duckloads]

Ocasionally, I will scrub out the yoke tube in the frame with a patch. Instead of Gunscubber, I use brake cleaner and always blow out the tube and the cylinder with a good shot. I'll put a drop or two or three of oil on both legs of the yoke and take them for a spin in their respective holes. Then I'll wipe the yoke off and put anouther drop of oil on both legs again and assemble. I'll fully extend the extractor rod and give it a drop of oil. All this might just keep these hidden spots from accumulating moinstrue.

I never get much crap out of the yoke tube, but the cylinder "hub" does get a bit dirty.

 

[snowman]

I appreciate the response, duckloads. I use brake cleaner for a lot things, but it never occurred to me to use it on gun parts -maybe I'll give it a try.

I asked these questions because I can tell that the cylinders on a couple of my Smiths need to to be disassembled and cleaned up/lubricated. After shooting the cylinders are turning kind of sluggishly. Cleaning around the gas ring with a brush helps, but not enough to suit me.

Thanks again, duckloads.
Andy

 

[m657]

I've taken to a year long experiment using Brownell's Action Lube www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1147/Product/ACTION_LUBE on my crane/extractor rod assemblies.

Some of them were getting a little cobby and ratchet like using regular gun oils.....lots of wear I guess. Most of them are ~30 year veterans.

So far, 8 months into the experiment, it seems to work wonders.

I clean the various parts (yes, the evil Brake Cleaner), make sure to lube them down with regular stuff....but add a touch of the action grease to the various rods/cranes/etc. Amazing stuff. Haven't read about it anywhere else, may be a Big Mistake.....

 

[Nightowl]

I clean and oil the external side of the yoke barrel about every 500 rounds or so. I have never cleaned the inside of the barrel, or inside the cylinder where the yoke barrel goes.