Replace Gas Ring on 586 Cylinder

[retired2006]

My well used 586 no dash is in need of a new gas ring. My revolver has excessive looseness at the front of the cylinder to yoke.
I can not find my copy of Kuhnhausen's S&W revolver shop manual, so I am asking anyone who has actually done this to let me know the best way to remove, install, and fit the new bushing (gas ring).
I have the new gas ring, and it will need to be honed to fit the yoke, I have tried it and it is too tight.

Thanks in advance for all responses.

Retired2006

 

[StakeOut]

Instead of taking out the old press fit gas ring have you considered using shims to eliminate excess end shake?
Smith Wesson K L N Frame Cylinder Endshake Yoke Shims Get That New Gun Feel BK | eBay

 

[armorer951]

Not sure I understand......are you attempting to repair/replace a damaged gas ring, or repair a problem with end shake?

 

[Alk8944]

He is trying to reduce lateral play in the cylinder, not end-shake.

retired2006,

The problem with what you want to do is that the gas ring is not a bearing for the cylinder. The cylinder axis bore is what bears on the yoke, not the gas ring. If there is really enough play to bother you the gun really needs to go back to S&W for a new cylinder and/or yoke.

This situation probably is not caused by wear! I have seen new guns from the factory that seem to have quite a bit of lateral play in the cylinder. It probably isn't as bad as it seems to you to be!

 

[retired2006]

He is trying to reduce lateral play in the cylinder, not end-shake.

retired2006,

The problem with what you want to do is that the gas ring is not a bearing for the cylinder. The cylinder axis bore is what bears on the yoke, not the gas ring. If there is really enough play to bother you the gun really needs to go back to S&W for a new cylinder and/or yoke.

This situation probably is not caused by wear! I have seen new guns from the factory that seem to have quite a bit of lateral play in the cylinder. It probably isn't as bad as it seems to you to be!

An update, just completed the gas ring replacement, and it solved my looseness issue. The bushing had to be honed to fit the yoke, and trimmed to the proper length, but it did fix my revolver.
I don't know if the above poster has ever measured the yoke, but there are machined steps on the yoke at each end that are larger by a few thousands, so in my opinion after replacing the bushing, it does support the front of the cylinder.

 

[bjt]

How did you get the old gas ring out of the cylinder?

 

[retired2006]

How did you get the old gas ring out of the cylinder?

Removed all the internals, place cylinder in padded vice, cut it out with small chisel and pointed punch, being very careful of course. You may have to bevel the leading edge of the new bushing to drive it in place. Use hardwood or nylon punch to drive the bushing in place, or better yet, use a press if you have one available. You may have to grind the bushing to the correct length after installation.
Important, check the fit of the new bushing to your crane BEFORE starting, if it needs honed to fit (mine did), do that first, before removing the old bushing.
Lastly, replacing the bushing WILL NOT correct end shake, all it will do is correct the looseness, side to side, of the cylinder on the yoke.

 

[Hondo44]

Removing the pressed in gas ring is most easily done by walking it out with a threading tap just large enough to cut threads in the ring, and 'walking' the ring out.

Place something round in the cyl bore that reaches to about the bottom of the ring for the tap to bear against as it's turned. Of course lubricate for this procedure.