How should I fix my model 60 cylinder latch

J

jspick

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I was out shooting my model 60 over the weekend. After about 30 shots I noticed the cylinder latch button was gone. I looked and saw the barrel nut AND the threaded post was gone too! I found the button and the barrel nut and post in the dirt. Very lucky. When I got home I saw the post was just pressed into the cylinder latch "slide bar". Not sure if that is the right wording.
My question is how would one go about attaching the screw post back into the slide bar. But do it better so it doesn't come out again?
Thanks, John
 
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Let's start with correct part nomenclature. This will help you when you call S&W asking for parts.

First, it is not a "cylinder latch button", it is called the Thumbpiece. The nut is the Thumbpiece nut. The part that is internal to the frame that you called a slide bar is called the Bolt, the part that has the threaded stud attached. Unless S&w has made a very stupid design change that stud is integral to the Bolt not pressed in as you believe.

Now, the direct answer to your question: CALL S&W Customer Service and tell them what you need, see above! The phone number for customer service is 800-331-0852 Ask for a bolt spring and plunger too as very often if you are not familiar with the S&W action these will be lost! Overall you have probably less than $20 worth of parts to buy. You will probably be asked for the full model number and SN of your gun so have it ready when you call. So basically you will need the Bolt, Bolt Spring and plunger just in case, and probably a thumbpiece nut unless you are lucky enough to get the broken stud out of it.

I emphasize this because many seem to think e-mail is the way to contact them! You probably would never see a response to an e-mail. Likewise many do not understand that with most products that if you need parts that the best way is to contact the manufacturer of the product! If you were to ask where to get parts about 80% of the time you would be referred to after-market, on-line retailers. Go to the original source, S&W!

There are several reasons for this. First, S&W will usually have the parts, they made them. They also will frequently charge less than other sources, and will not charge shipping as everyone else does.

When you dis-assemble the gun to replace the parts be very careful to not lose the bolt spring and plunger when you lift the bolt from the frame. These are very easy to lose!

Send me a PM if any of this is not clear.
 
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As posted ^^^^^^^ these parts should be readily available and if you have mechanical ability, easily replaced. If you don't have the inclination to do the repair yourself, see if S&W will do it (if under Lifetime Warranty). Worst case scenario, if you get the parts any LGS should be able to perform this repair in about a 1/2 - 3/4 hour.
 
Almost every time I shoot one of my J Frames some of the frame screws, to include the thumb piece, loosen so I’ve learned to pay attention.
 
Old cop said:
Almost every time I shoot one of my J Frames some of the frame screws, to include the thumb piece, loosen so I’ve learned to pay attention.
Click to expand...

IMHO if screws just come loose from any S&W revolver, they have not been properly tightened. Key word..... PROPERLY.

The ONLY guns that I know of that routinely have screws just loosen after firing are Colt Single Action Army's. At least that has been my life's experience.
 
Thanks all for your replies. My model 60 is a no dash. Alk8944 thanks for the number to S&W. And the proper names of the parts. The threaded stud was just pressed into the bolt. The threaded stud was still threaded screwed to the thumb piece nut.
I'm a machinist and hobbiest gunsmith. I was hoping for a improvement to S&W's design. Still looking for that improvement.
 
I for one, would love to have enough ammo and range time to shoot the screws loose in a Smith! Not had that issue but then do not fire several box fulls of hot ammo in a session, if that is what does it. Only guns I ever had falling pieces from were junk ones. Gone!
 
I had pretty much the same thing happen with my 625-2. The threaded post simply sheared off. I found the parts on the ground and upon examination figured there must have been a structural flaw in the post. It was very apparent there was a crack in the metal causing it to shear flush with the surface of the bolt.

I only shoot mild loads so I wasn’t punishing my gun and even if I had been shooting heavy loads there’s no stress on that part.

I called Smith and they issued a shipping label and within a couple of weeks I had it back as good as new.
 
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tom2 said:
I for one, would love to have enough ammo and range time to shoot the screws loose in a Smith! Not had that issue but then do not fire several box fulls of hot ammo in a session, if that is what does it. Only guns I ever had falling pieces from were junk ones. Gone!
Click to expand...

Good point but on my Police Department we had lots of old revolvers that lost screws because a young cop would unscrew them to fiddle with it. Also they would take apart the cylinder and not tighten it properly. Then eventually the cylinder will bind up.

The only Service Revolvers that were in "mint" condition were the ones that were issued to female officers. Guys have "bubba" in their DNA.
 
I don't understand why some think screws coming loose is a design flaw or something. All threaded screws on all firearm or anything that vibrates moves around will eventually work itself loose. This is why the every so popular blue and red loctite is so well-known and prevalent. This is why torque specs, that most people ignore, exist.

I blue or red loctite EVERYTHING that has threads. My AR15 gas block set screws, the screws on the rail, grip screw, etc... With S&W and Taurus revolvers, the grip, sideplate, and thumbpiece screws are loctited and torqued from day #1 and everytime they're taken apart. I've never lost a screw or has any come loose. The only gun related screws I've lost were with several kydex and leather gun and mag holsters. I had to learn to hard way to loctite those screws too.

As to the OP's question, the thumbpiece and thumbpiece nut is readily available everywhere. You can even find them used in great condition on Ebay. I personally wouldn't even contact S&W about this.
 
Alk8944 said:
I emphasize this because many seem to think e-mail is the way to contact them! You probably would never see a response to an e-mail.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I've used S&W's contact form in the past, and I've always received a response. The only caveat is that it will take a couple of days for them to respond. Phone calls will be instant, but for me, emails were more convenient and I have a detailed record of the interaction that I can still reference years later or if there's any discrepancies in what I was told.
 
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Anything that is held together with screws -- guns, motorcycles, whatever -- should have the screws checked for tightness on a regular basis. The whole reason screws are used is that THEY ARE REMOVEABLE. You can ignore this fact and have stuff fall off and get lost; or, you can add Loc-Tite and then curse the stuff when they later have to be removed; or, you can just touch 'em with a screwdriver now and again...

People who claim screws have never fallen out of anything they own either have never examined them or never use the item enough to cause them to loosen -- or, they are extremely lucky.
 
Pisgah said:
Anything that is held together with screws -- guns, motorcycles, whatever -- should have the screws checked for tightness on a regular basis. The whole reason screws are used is that THEY ARE REMOVEABLE. You can ignore this fact and have stuff fall off and get lost; or, you can add Loc-Tite and then curse the stuff when they later have to be removed; or, you can just touch 'em with a screwdriver now and again...

People who claim screws have never fallen out of anything they own either have never examined them or never use the item enough to cause them to loosen -- or, they are extremely lucky.
Click to expand...

I didn't see anyone claim screws never fallen out of anything they ever owned in this thread or anywhere else. Many have claimed that they've never fallen out of their S&W revolvers, and I believe them. They've never fallen out more than likely because they were torqued correctly and/or they used loctite. I've never had any issues removing screws that I blue loctited. Whether you use blue or red loctite, all it would take is a little heat to help get a stubborn screw to turn.
 
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