Cylinder rotation problem

[ccasada]

Greetings:

I have noticed a problem with my 1917 S&W .45acp revolver.
The problem is the cylinder will rotate either in double action or Single action when pointed down. Point the barrel sky ward and the cylinder will not rotate.

What is my problem? A weak spring somewhere?

Thanks in advance

Chuck

 

[PALADIN85020]

The hand lever spring may be weak or broken, or the hand lever itself may be busted. A good Smith gunsmith can take care of this with no problems.

John

 

[ccasada]

hand spring

John-

Thanks, I disassembled the weapon and the hand spring looks a little 'bent' and perhaps 'old'. You are right this could be the problem.

Thanks
Chuck

 

[Hondo44]

I don't think the spring is working at all. The spring has two 'legs' and if either leg is shoter than the other, spring is broken.

 

[handejector]

John-

Thanks, I disassembled the weapon and the hand spring looks a little 'bent' and perhaps 'old'. You are right this could be the problem.

Thanks
Chuck

Your gun may just be assembled wrong.
The hand is operated by a lever in the trigger. The front of the lever has the spring under it. The small pin on the hand should be under the rear end of the lever.
Push down on the front of the lever while sliding the hand into the trigger.

 

[Retired W4]

This is really good to know information for anyone with a rotation problem. It's easy to get the assembly wrong if you take the gun down that far.

 

[shawn mccarver]

The hand lever spring may be weak or broken, or the hand lever itself may be busted. A good Smith gunsmith can take care of this with no problems.

John

Or, it could be that the hand lever spring was reassembled incorrectly after the revolver was disassembled by someone who did not realize the tail of the spring has to go BEHIND the stud to provide the spring tension needed to keep the hand from "falling" back into the frame and thereby not advancing the cylinder if gravity causes it to fall backwards away from the ratchet.