How to remove cylinder from 329PD
- Thread starter honkylips
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
I have no experience with a 329PD, on all the S&Ws I have worked on to remove the cylinder you have to remove the sideplate screw that is closest to the front of the frame, after it's removed push the thumbpiece forward and push the cylinder out of the frame. Then gently pull the yoke forward, away from the cylinder, while holding the cylinder in place.
If for some reason the 329PD is different, hopefully someone will jump in before you hit the self destruct button by mistake.
If for some reason the 329PD is different, hopefully someone will jump in before you hit the self destruct button by mistake.
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2005
- Messages
- 7,994
- Reaction score
- 7,045
Why do you want to know? If you have to ask, you are not qualified to do it, and it is likely you could cause unnecessary damage to your revolver.
You should not need to remove the cylinder for any reason including cleaning.
Shawn,
I don't agree, people need to be able to maintain their own tools (within reason). The yoke barrel and stud get pretty gunked up if you shoot a lot. It can drag on the cylinder and impede yoke rotation and I'm sure it abrades the bearing surfaces more than a nice light coat of oil. Removal also makes cleaning the front of the cylinder much easier.
I wouldn't recommend that most folks pull the sideplate, but there's less chance of damaging something pulling a cylinder than there is removing a set of Magnas.
I do insist on a proper fitting screwdriver.
I don't agree, people need to be able to maintain their own tools (within reason). The yoke barrel and stud get pretty gunked up if you shoot a lot. It can drag on the cylinder and impede yoke rotation and I'm sure it abrades the bearing surfaces more than a nice light coat of oil. Removal also makes cleaning the front of the cylinder much easier.
I wouldn't recommend that most folks pull the sideplate, but there's less chance of damaging something pulling a cylinder than there is removing a set of Magnas.
I do insist on a proper fitting screwdriver.
cmj8591
Member
It's SOOO much easier to clean the cylinder with it off of the gun. Don't be afraid to remove it. It is not somthing that is beyond the skill of the casual shooter. Follow Jellybeans instructions and use a screwdriver that fits the yoke screw or else you will end up buggering it up and some collector 75 years from now will bad mouth you on this forum.
Good luck!
Good luck!
mrheythere
Member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2006
- Messages
- 38
- Reaction score
- 7
Do not be afraid to work on your own guns. Everyone has a first time. BUT PLEASE BUY THE PROPER TOOLS...HOLLOW GROUND SCREWDRIVERS....or you will bugger the screws.
A good set is the Wheeler screwdriver set. Others may have additional recommendations.
A good set is the Wheeler screwdriver set. Others may have additional recommendations.
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2005
- Messages
- 7,994
- Reaction score
- 7,045
Chad:
I suppose we will have to "agree to disagree" on this one. I am as curious as the next person and learned to maintain and detail strip the S&W revolver back in the early 70s, and yes, I had then and have now the proper tools.
And yes, just as predictably, on rare occasion that "proper screwdriver" slipped and I damaged a screw slot, and I saw an experienced gunsmith once cause me to have to send a Model 18 back for refininshing because he allowed his properly fitting screwdriver to "drag" the edge of the screw slot and damage the blueing around the side plate screw hole. And that was done by a professional. A few of these types of things have caused me to realize over the years that S&W is correct - we really don't need to take them apart at all for normal maintenance.
That said, I have NEVER needed to remove a cylinder to properly clean one except one time when I obtained some too-soft cast bullets for reloading and had a "lead mess."
Apart from that one time, I have always been able to maintain my revolvers without removal of the cylinder, just as the S&W manuals (both the sheets of the 60s and 70s and the current book-type manuals) say.
I shoot thousands of rounds each year, and removal of the cylinder is just not needed for proper maintenance, apart from some unusual occurrence, such as the one I mentioned above.
By the way, I have never found that more than about 5 minutes is need to properly clean the S&W revolver, but on the other hand, I do not "sand off" the front of the cylinder with steel wool to fool everyone into thinking it is "new in the box" either (not to imply that you do, but certainly many people seem excessively concerned about this aspect of cleaning). I just realize that while the burn marks/stains do not come off easily, nor do their presence affect function.
That said, if anyone wants to learn to remove the cylinder, I would say fine, but it is just not normally necessary.
I would just say that the owner should get some extra yoke screws for the very likely damage that will be caused when even the proper hollow-ground screw driver slips, and, of course, correct screwdrivers from Brownells or Midway USA or wherever. Remember not to crank them too tight as I saw a ham-fisted fellow strip out threads on his revolver once - that was a trip back to S&W for him, and he did not seem to even realize it was a problem. A look at the AGI or Kuhnhausen video is a good idea also.
For you and everyone else who wishes to remove the cylinder, the side plate or whatever, go for it - you will not hurt my feelings. I guarantee, though, that sooner or later, most people who do so will sooner or later cause some unnecessary damage.
Thank you for your personal reply, and I appreciate reading your posts on this great forum. Please understand that I am not trying to do anything apart from helping younger or less experienced folks learn from my own sometimes bone-headed mistakes!
Best regards,
Shawn
Similar threads
