sideplate question

[heavyop7]

Hi All, can anyone tell me if there are shims that fit where the bosses are on the sideplate that comes off on a model 18-2 I tightenend the sideplate screws then the action(trigger and hammer) drags against frame...unless i back the screw out a hair it works ok. Thanks in advance

Tony

 

[tomcatt51]

Yes, Power's has shims for the trigger and hammer. The trigger (or hammer) rubbing is not uncommon and can be corrected with shims, assuming there's enough side-play and the stud isn't bent. If the trigger (or hammer) is binding when you tighten the sideplate, that's more unusual, and a different issue.

 

[Drail]

Either something is bent, you have too many shims or the sideplate screws got mixed up. They have to go in the same hole they came out of.

 

[heavyop7]

yes it happens when I tighten down the sideplate...

thanks, Tony

 

[heavyop7]

yea, I forgot about different lenghth screws for sideplate, I will check.. the longer one would be for the cylinder/yoke screw.

Thanks, tony

 

[ikor]

This is not unheard of in factory new guns. If the screws are correct, your gun may have been shipped with one or more screws deliberately not tightened all the way...not all S&W employees were top tier workers...and some would just loosen a screw and send the gun down the line. In my experience with LE guns this is usually the sideplate binding. Fixing it entails stoning, or in some cases carefully filing, the sideplate boss until the screws tighten correctly and the gun runs properly.

 

[tomcatt51]

yes it happens when I tighten down the sideplate...

What happens? The trigger rubs or the trigger binds? The sideplate screws being in the wrong place won't cause either but will cause a problem with the yoke if it's screw isn't in the right place.

 

[heavyop7]

Tomcatt, the triger and hammer binds. Actually the whole action when I tighten sideplate screws!!

 

[heavyop7]

ikor, its an older smith model 18-2... i have had many smiths( and still do)and never experienced this problem.!!

 

[scooter123]

You may want to lay a good straight edge on the sideplate to check if it's been bent. It's possible that a previous owner pried it off at some point and put a slight "crease" in it. If so, the best answer is to straighten it out, however that can be a bit challenging to do.

 

[heavyop7]

thanks scooter will check

tony