Cylinder Re-Assembly

[RacingSnake]

I'm re-assembling my 4-screw model 12 cylinder and it has the separate gas ring. Haven't done one of these before...can someone tell me where the gas ring goes?

I'm assuming it the gas ring but it actually looks like a split washer.

 

[armorer951]

The gas ring is in the yoke cavity at the front of the cylinder. I've never seen a split ring an any of the assemblies I've dealt with over the years.
Perhaps it was used (aftermarket) as a "spacer" between the extractor rod collar and the extractor rod to make the end of the rod a bit longer in the final assembly? Is the extractor rod the correct final length when the split washer is omitted?

 

[RacingSnake]

I've re-assembled the gun and the cylinder (without the washer). Lock-up seems fine. See picture below of my two model 12s side by side. The one on the left shows the cylinder center pin length without the washer.

 

[armorer951]

What about the gauge or "space" at the other end of the cylinder assembly? Does the end of the extractor rod correctly interface with the front locking bolt?

 

[RacingSnake]

Lock up with the front bolt is good.

I'll need to get a set of gauges to measure the space at the rear cylinder face...or should I be checking the space at the forcing cone?

 

[armorer951]

Not sure about the placement of the "washer" or shim, or what purpose it served. You could check the gauges at both ends of the cylinder. What about end shake?

 

[RacingSnake]

There's no fore and aft movement in the cylinder.

I'll keep the washer on hand for now.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Protocall_Design]

That looks like a lock washer. I don't think it belongs in the gun. I have never seen one with that.

 

[RWJ]

Not sure about the placement of the "washer" or shim, or what purpose it served. You could check the gauges at both ends of the cylinder. What about end shake?

Somewhere in my fuzzy memory, I seem to recall that there was a collar-type bushing that was used internally to restrict extractor rod movement length to keep it from moving so far back that an empty case could fall behind the extractor. My recollection was that it was used on the .357 guns, but I wonder if this could have served a similar purpose, maybe, if used with .38 long or short colt?


Just a thought.

 

[RacingSnake]

Here's a picture of the revolver. It's a model 12 no dash. Four screw, serial #C4755**.

The washer certainly looks like it doesn't belong. It's not blued and doesn't seem to fit right on anything.

I wasn't expecting to find it when I disassembled the cylinder, so can't say where it was fitted.