So, I have this 27 cylinder.....

[rogerwnuss]

......I want to put in my gun , whose cylinder somebody hard chromed at some point. Been playing with it , took the cylinders out and was fooling around seeing if I could use the ratchet already in the gun in the replacement cylinder, but it doesn't seem to want to seat flush as it should.
Query: were there different sizes / thicknesses of ratchets? Or the shaft ? Or am I doing something else wrong?
My thought was to see if by using the original ratchet I wouldn't have to have it timed, my thinking being that the ratchet only fits in any cylinder one way, and the existing ratchet already works in the gun.......

 

[MygunisaS&Wrevolver]

The ratchets are fit by the factory to each cylinder except for maybe the new style mim ratchets and new style cylinders. Regardless, they would still require ratchet/hand fitting for appropriate carry up and barrel cylinder gap along with the headspace. Either way this is a job for an experienced gunsmith.

 

[armorer951]

I would guess there is interference from the differing locations of the extractor alignment pins.....among other things.

As already said, these parts are individually fit by hand, and are not considered "drop in" by any means.

 

[rogerwnuss]

Ah well, it was worth a try......��

 

[steelslaver]

I have had no luck having a drop in fit changing ratchets on a cylinder.99% of the time the 2 pins do not line up. Have you tried the 27 ratchet with its original ratchet? When changing cylinders there is often some adjustment needed on the yoke barrel to cylinder fit. Tube length adjustment needed

 

[rogerwnuss]

I have had no luck having a drop in fit changing ratchets on a cylinder.99% of the time the 2 pins do not line up. Have you tried the 27 ratchet with its original ratchet? When changing cylinders there is often some adjustment needed on the yoke barrel to cylinder fit. Tube length adjustment needed

On reflection, I think I'll let a pro handle it. Lol.....

 

[Hondo44]

Did you try the new cyl with its ratchet in the gun? If not, you just never know, it might work fine. I've had a few that did.

It has a lot to do with the vintage of your gun compared to the vintage of the replacement cyl.

If you try it and it times OK or is very close, let us know. And we can help you check the barrel to cyl gap and end play before you shoot it.

 

[rogerwnuss]

Did you try the new cyl with its ratchet in the gun? If not, you just never know, it might work fine. I've had a few that did.

It has a lot to do with the vintage of your gun compared to the vintage of the replacement cyl.

If you try it and it times OK or is very close, let us know. And we can help you check the barrel to cyl gap and end play before you shoot it.

Yeah, tried and the current ratchet won't seat in the replacement cylinder. Dang it.....

 

[Hondo44]

Yeah, tried and the current ratchet won't seat in the replacement cylinder. Dang it.....

In what way did the ratchet in the replacement cyl not work?

Did the cyl not turn far enough to lock up at full cock? Or did the cyl bind and not reach lock up before the hammer would cock?

It's usually much easier to "tune up" the ratchet teeth to work with the hand in the gun. Or slightly fit the hand.

 

[rogerwnuss]

Hondo,the ratchet literally would not seat in the cylinder. Stuck out maybe a tenth of an inch, wouldn't seat flush . No clue as to why.

 

[Hondo44]

I got that. Do you mean that the replacement cyl didn't come with its own extractor star? That's the one I'm talking about.

 

[rogerwnuss]

I got that. Do you mean that the replacement cyl didn't come with its own extractor star? That's the one I'm talking about.

Oh, yeah the blue cylinder has it's own ratchet. I was just gonna try the blue one with the ratchet from the original cylinder. Wouldn't go in all the way, and I wasn't gonna force it. I'll just let Bill sort it out when he gets the time.

 

[Hondo44]

You should at least try the replacement cyl with its own ratchet. You just may get a pleasant surprise.

 

[rogerwnuss]

New information.....showed the gun to a friend today who said leave the gun alone. All the work was done by Mag na port , probably back in the 70s or 80s....he said he had a 29 with identical work done twenty five years ago. Signature Mag na port look of the era , he said.
He looked at the muzzle and saw the chrome ring and said uh-huh..... barrel's been chrome lined as well as cut, hard chromed cylinder , trigger and hammer, very nice trigger job.....a kind of Mag na port package I guess .....in any case, now I have a nice m27 blue cylinder to sell. Gives me a reason ( excuse ��) to go to the next gunshow in February.........

 

[BC38]

I would guess there is interference from the differing locations of the extractor alignment pins.....among other things.

As already said, these parts are individually fit by hand, and are not considered "drop in" by any means.

My first thought as well. If the pins in the cylinder and holes in the ratchet are even 1/1000" out of alignment the pin may start into the hole but then will bind before the extractor gets 100% seated.

I'd try pulling the pins, one at a time, and see if taking out one or both resolves the issue. If so then you may be able to enlarge/enlongate the holes in the extractor star a thousandth or two and get it to work.

I'd also try using the star that came with the new cylinder. I swapped a damaged cylinder out in my 15-5 and it fit and functioned with no modification - perfect drop in.

 

[rogerwnuss]

My first thought as well. If the pins in the cylinder and holes in the ratchet are even 1/1000" out of alignment the pin may start into the hole but then will bind before the extractor gets 100% seated.

I'd try pulling the pins, one at a time, and see if taking out one or both resolves the issue. If so then you may be able to enlarge/enlongate the holes in the extractor star a thousandth or two and get it to work.

I'd also try using the star that came with the new cylinder. I swapped a damaged cylinder out in my 15-5 and it fit and functioned with no modification - perfect drop in.

Good info for future reference....but on advice from that friend I've decided to just leave it as Mag-na-port did it. I didn't realize all the work was done by them. Kinda cool.....