Model 58 cylinder problem

[Qmark]

I have a model 58, 41 Mag and the cylinder is often hard to open even without shooting it. A local smith showed me that by pushing the cylinder back into the frame it opens easily. He told me it takes a special tool to move the cylinder back permanently. The kicker, he wanted $190.00 to fix it. Is anybody familiar with the problem and is there a more inexpensive way to fix it??

Guess I’m a cheapskate as I would rather live with the problem than shell out 190 bucks. The M-58 is my everyday carry gun during the very few cold weeks here in Phoenix. At best I carry it December through January but the problem just bugs me.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Sounds like your M58's (which dash number?) cylinder has excess endshake. My M29-2 had the same trouble & symptom.

Excess endshake causes the cylinder to be positioned more forward than it should be & makes unlatching the cylinder harder, among other problems.

Endshake can be easily (& cheaply) corrected by adding bearings/shims to take up the excess clearance of the yoke's barrel, as a DIY project, if it's not extreme.

A gunsmith would likely stretch the yoke's barrel which would be the more expensive option.

.

 

[jc2721]

That sounds like a problem I had with an M-17. You had to push the cylinder back towards the recoil shield in order to open the cylinder.

One endshake shim from Power Custom (Brownells) fixed it.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Take it to Frank Glenn there in the Phoenix Valley . He's a great gunsmith , one of the last few that will work on an older Colt Python as well . I had a model 19 that had the same problem . I took it to my local gunsmith , he charged me $50 . It is perfect now . Good Luck , Regards Paul

 

[armorer951]

Here is another (better) option for the purchase of yoke shims if you decide to fix the problem yourself......

TriggerShims Brand Gun Shim Kits, Gun Shim and Spring Kits

 

[Mercury]

armorer951 beat me to it. I was going to suggest that if you need shims, google TriggerShims and you'll get to deal with these terrific folks: Lance C. and Tammy Shively.
They also sell yoke and cylinder shims. Their website has detailed guides on which to order for your particular gun. They are competitively priced and outstanding to do business with.
...Mercury

 

[Hair Trigger]

Excess endshake causes the cylinder to be positioned more forward than it should be & makes unlatching the cylinder harder, among other problems.

Endshake can be easily (& cheaply) corrected by adding bearings/shims to take up the excess clearance of the yoke's barrel, as a DIY project, if it's not extreme.

A gunsmith would likely stretch the yoke's barrel which would be the more expensive option.

.

How much does shimming the cylinder negatively affect the FC/cylinder gap specs ? Is there a noticeable increase in flash through the gap? Does "stretching the yoke's barrel" address the end shake without affecting the FC/cylinder gap as much as shimming?

How, exactly, do you stretch the yoke barrel?

 

[armorer951]

From a previous thread......
Excessive headspace and endshake can be corrected by replacing and re-fitting a new yoke, by stretching the yoke barrel by peening or, more commonly, by using shims to return the yoke barrel to the correct length. When this is done, the cylinder is moved back to an "in spec" condition with respect to headspace, and the b/c gap is opened the equivalent amount. So if the cylinder is moved back .004" with two .002" shims, the barrel cylinder gap will also grow wider by that amount.

If the b/c gap gets too large, or over .012" according to the current factory spec, the barrel can be set back one additional turn, or approx .028", and the b/c spec re-set by re-facing the resulting longer barrel extension, and re-cutting the forcing cone if necessary. Of course, after the barrel is set back, adjustment of the extractor rod and front locking bolt interface is also required, which can be accomplished by shortening the extractor rod collar and tweaking the center pin's OAL.

Always remember, if the headspace and b/c gap are within specifications, end shake is a "non-issue". Some end shake is not only normal but necessary, and this gauge or space is, in fact, built into the cylinder assembly to allow for proper operation (opening and closing), the proper, unrestricted rotation of the cylinder, and for the assembly to accommodate dirt and lubricants.