Need some wisdom

[BillBro]

I noticed that the ejector rod in my 29 is bent a little. I have no idea how this happened because I tend to baby my revolvers quite a bit and have never noticed this before but I digress.
I remembered that awhile back I had ordered some spare parts from Midway and among them was a spare ejector rod. Since the gun needed cleaning and I routinely disassemble the cylinder/ejector/yoke for cleaning I figured Id simply replace it then. Yes, I always exercise great care and gentle handling with these parts and have all the proper tools for this job, no padded vice or channel-loks or vice-grips.
But, when I reassembled the assembly with the new rod the cylinder would not rotate completely around. It will spin about halfway and tighten up and has to be "coaxed" through the hard spot and about another half turn and it happens again. I put the original back in and it spins like a top. What gives??? What should I be looking at here? The yoke?
Thanks for any help.

 

[colt_saa]

While I have never had your problem, the first thing I would do is check that both ejectors are the same length

I would then look to make sure that the face of the new ejector is true

I would look in the front hole of the new ejector to see if the hole where the spring loaded bolt engages it is round

If all that is fine I would examine the threaded end of the ejector to see if one had longer or differently finished threads from the other

Not too sure where I would go after that

Perhaps try a third ejector from a different firearm of the same frame and manufacturing era

 

[Nightowl]

I would straighten the old rod and keep it on the gun. Sometimes replacement parts just don't work right.

 

[Protocall_Design]

Most times, what looks like a bent ejector rod is really the threaded connection being crooked. Any time an ejector rod is taken off and changed or put back on, or comes loose and is tightened, there is a good chance it will be slightly bent at the threads. Then you put it on a straightening jig and true it up.

Once in a while a rod is actually bent, but most times you can roll it on a flat surface, see that it's straight, and then it will be wobbly when assembled. The threads have to have clearance in order to be screwed together, and will usually lean one way or the other when tight.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Lots of S&W ejector rods are slightly crooked.......Slight doesn't hurt anything......Major then repair is needed.

 

[ken158]

If the yoke was not the problem before the rod replacement then it is not the problem now. The new rod is a fitted part and should need to be shortened to fit. Put something flat across the bottom of the cylinder pressing the rod equal with the ratchets and see how much pops our the other end of the rod - that is what needs to be shortened.

 

[Alk8944]

Refer to Protocol Designs post above. The first thing to remember is if you have just changed something that worked and now it doesn't then change it back!

So far as the new extractor rod is concerned try to loosen and re-tighten it, often that will be all that is needed. The other thing is that if the extractor rod is over-tightened it will often be out of line. Loosen and re-tighten and see what happens!

 

[DeafSmith]

I noticed that the ejector rod in my 29 is bent a little. I have no idea how this happened because I tend to baby my revolvers quite a bit and have never noticed this before but I digress.
I remembered that awhile back I had ordered some spare parts from Midway and among them was a spare ejector rod. Since the gun needed cleaning and I routinely disassemble the cylinder/ejector/yoke for cleaning I figured Id simply replace it then. Yes, I always exercise great care and gentle handling with these parts and have all the proper tools for this job, no padded vice or channel-loks or vice-grips.
But, when I reassembled the assembly with the new rod the cylinder would not rotate completely around. It will spin about halfway and tighten up and has to be "coaxed" through the hard spot and about another half turn and it happens again. I put the original back in and it spins like a top. What gives??? What should I be looking at here? The yoke?
Thanks for any help.

If you can take the ejector rod off, put it on a flat, I mean FLAT, smooth surface and then roll it around. If the rod is bent you will see it hump as you roll it and the bend comes up. Same goes for the center pin inside the ejector rod.

If they are bent get a plastic mallet and roll 'em till the rod humps where the bend it and then give it a smack. Do it as needed till there is no bend in either the rod or the center pin then reassemble.

I've done this before!

 

[ike1518]

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