Cylinder Locks Up

[David Armstrong]

A little help, please. I loaned my Model 36 out, and i came back with a problem. I've run into this before on other guns. The cylinder will not release regularly. It seems particularly troublesome when loaded, but often even unloaded it won't open with the cylinder releas latch pushed forward. I'm was an S&W armorer, but all my books and notes are still in storage following Hurrican Rita. I remember that I need to hit the cylinder with the babbit while it is locked up, but I can't for the life of me remember the direction of force. Clockwise? Counter clockwise?

 

[imashooter2]

Whenever I've seen this problem it is caused by the ejector rod unscrewing.

 

[Pook]

Check for Dirt

In addition to checking the ejector rod, make sure there isn't unburned powder or dirt lodged under the ejector or its mating surface on the cylinder. I have had cylinders bind a couple times because of this.

 

[DCWilson]

Also, the center pin may have become deformed or grime-bound inside the ejector rod. That could prevent it from moving all the way forward when the thumb release is pushed, leaving the rear of the pin still engaged in the frame behind the cylinder.

Or there might be some grime inside the frame. If something prevents the bolt from sliding all the way forward when you press the thumbpiece, that also would keep the center pin from moving far enough forward to disengage the frame.

 

[David Armstrong]

It's not the ejector rod, that was the first thing I checked. It is snugged up tight, there are no burrs or rough spots, etc. I gave it a good cleaning, but I didn't detail strip it, so I'll give that a try.

 

[Fastbolt]

Is the ball of the cylinder stop stuck up in one of the cylinder stop notches and not dropping to release the cylinder?

If so, slipping a folded (lengthwise) business card in the gap between the bottom of the cylinder and the frame, and then sliding the card back toward the breech face over the ball of the cylinder stop, might depress the cylinder stop and release the cylinder so it can be opened in the normal manner.