Model 66-1 sometimes fails to revolve when shooting double action

[drhenzler]

I've got a one-owner model 66-1 which has not been fired a lot in it's life. It rather suddenly developed a hesitation to revolve when shooting double action. I recently used this gun to qualify for conceiled carry, and it worked fine for the first half of the session, and then developed this problem...

Shooting 148gr swaged hollow base wadcutters, and 2.7gr of bullseye.

Could this be a cleaning issue?

I don't always check the board, so if you have the answer... email me direct at [email protected]

 

[scooter123]

Two thoughts come to mind. One is crud in the frame window for the hand that drives the cylinder. That a good cleaning can fix. The other is a broken or weak hand spring, which can be fixed by removing the trigger and installing a new hand spring.

 

[gunplummer]

You might also check to see that the sear bottom or trigger cam surface is not damaged and that the sear return spring is ok. I just had mod 15 with the same problem and had to replace/fit a new sear, although in this instance it was due to a different hammer being replaced in the gun and tolerance stacking occured.

 

[S&WIowegan]

+1 on what scooter said!

 

[chief38]

What Scooter said, with one more possibility..........
could be a worn out ratchet or hand. Sometimes a new oversize hand will solve the problem.

Chief38

 

[gunplummer]

Was just wondering if you found the problem?

 

[tomcatt51]

Really sounds like he just has crud under the extractor ("star"). HBWC loads with bullseye aren't real clean burning.

 

[stantheman86]

It doesn't sound safe to me......if it fails to revolve, than that means it may also fail to come into full lockup,if the planets align and Murphy's Law kicks in, there could be just enough primer exposed to be struck by the pin, but the cylinder may not be locked.

I saw it happen to a guy with a Taurus 85 at the range, he was unhurt but needless to say I don't trust my 3 Taurus' anymore. The gun was like "POW" and the guy was like "Oh ____" and there was a piece of flat bullet on the frame to the right, next to the forcing cone, and a nice sized ding below it. The gun had failed to fully lock up but still fired The gun was pretty much ruined, it dented the forcing cone, which probably split the bullet. That's why those guys who shoot the Taurus .454's are CRAZY! I wouldn't want to be anywhere near one of those that fired out of lockup..........

 

[Nightowl]

From you description that this happened after shooting several rounds, I would check the front of the cylinder for scratch marks, or lead build up on the front of the cylinder. It does not take much to hang up cylinder rotation. Could be it has endshake or very close tolerances. Wadcutters are usually soft lead, which makes this occur more than hard cast or plated bullets.

 

[drhenzler]

Really sounds like he just has crud under the extractor ("star"). HBWC loads with bullseye aren't real clean burning.

None of the above...

Gun is clean as a whistle... Took the side plate off to be sure nothing was inside the action. The piece that engages with the cylinder to lock it just doesn't come down far enough to disengage when it's supposed to... thus the cylinder fails to turn, the hammer fails to come back any further, and all stop occurs unless you grab the hammer and pull it back manually. So something in the linkage of trigger vs hammer is the issue...

David

 

[CelticSire]

None of the above...

Gun is clean as a whistle... Took the side plate off to be sure nothing was inside the action. The piece that engages with the cylinder to lock it just doesn't come down far enough to disengage when it's supposed to... thus the cylinder fails to turn, the hammer fails to come back any further, and all stop occurs unless you grab the hammer and pull it back manually. So something in the linkage of trigger vs hammer is the issue...

David

From your description it sounds as if the cylinder stop (that's the part that protrudes through the bottom of the frame) may not be engaging with the trigger correctly. When you pull the trigger to the rear, the front of the trigger should engage the notch in the rear of the cylinder stop and pull it downward allowing the cylinder to rotate.

The yellow circle shows the cylinder stop. The yellow and red circle shows the part of the trigger that should engage the stop, and the red line shows the part of the stop that the trigger should engage.

 

[GJH77]

CelticSire-
Does this have anything to do with the attached recall? I found this notice just the other day after I acquired a new Model 19. I have not had a chance to figure out if either of my 19's or my 15 have this issue or were made after the recall.


Firearm Recalls and Safety Warnings- FirearmsID.com & WESSON, MODEL 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 48, 53, 66, & 67, REVOLVERS

 

[tomcatt51]

The piece that engages with the cylinder to lock it just doesn't come down far enough to disengage when it's supposed to... thus the cylinder fails to turn, the hammer fails to come back any further, and all stop occurs unless you grab the hammer and pull it back manually.

That helps alot. With the sideplate off, look at the cylinder stop, the "piece that engages with the cylinder to lock it". It sits on a stud, but rather than having a round hole for the stud, the cylinder stop has a slot. Make sure it's clean, the slot. The cylinder stop has to be able to move towards the trigger as far as the slot will allow to engage the trigger so the trigger can pull it down clear of the cylinder. Crud can mess this up.

 

[CelticSire]

CelticSire-
Does this have anything to do with the attached recall? I found this notice just the other day after I acquired a new Model 19. I have not had a chance to figure out if either of my 19's or my 15 have this issue or were made after the recall.


Firearm Recalls and Safety Warnings- FirearmsID.com & WESSON, MODEL 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 48, 53, 66, & 67, REVOLVERS

It shouldn't as the trigger stop is different from the cylinder stop. I'd call Smith and Wesson Customer Service about your 19, they should be able to advise if your's is one affected by the recall.

 

[jimmyj]

Simple solution: contact Smith and Wesson Customer Service at 1-800-331-0852.and request a "Repair Order". S&W will correct any problems and replace any worn parts.

 

[stang68]

I believe I had the same problem with my 19-2, I just removed the trigger stop rather than re-adjusting it and waiting for the problem to re-appear at an inopportune time, problem fixed.

 

[drhenzler]

Sending the 66-1 back to S&W. It's clearly a poorly manufactured specimin. Many were banged out in those days, and the quality... well was sadly lacking. Hopefully they'll only charge me the minimum labor and get it tuned up. It's hardly had 200 rounds fired through it...

Still a baby.

Regards to all..

David