HeavyDuty Ken
Member
Did someone confirm an indexing problem?
SW 69 = failure
- Thread starter Kris Whiteleather
- Start date
Did someone confirm an indexing problem?
Nothing to see here.
Just move on.
Just move on.
scooter123
Member
Your first picture showing the detent illustrates very clearly that the detent is correctly preloaded on a bias to increase the CLOSING force created by the detent. Most Non Engineers have the impression that a detent ball should be bottomed out in a V notch. In Engineering this is not how it should be done. Because when springs are compressed they exert MORE force than when extended, 100 of the time. Now, granted that ball may be preloaded by only 0.02 inch or so but with a spring that is probably only 3/16 to 1/4 inch long that is nearly 10% of the extended length position. Depending on the ramp angle and spring rate of the detent spring that 0.02 inch may produce 20 or 30 % more closing force.
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- Feb 3, 2015
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I agree with the other posters that it is supposed to be this way. My 69 shoots great, locks up solid and the ball detent looks like this:
Last edited:
riverrat38
US Veteran
It was also smart of S&W engineers to make the new 2 3/4 inch models with the ball hidden when the cylinder is closed. Out of sight, out of mind!
Best,
Rick
Yep 
.
69 Combat Magnum - ball detent lock
(-014a)
.
.
69 Combat Magnum - ball detent lock
(-014a)
.
HeavyDuty Ken
Member
Yep
.
69 Combat Magnum - ball detent lock
(-014a)
.
I'd be lying if I didn't admit to wishing my 69 4.25" had this style of ball detent...
OP
Kris Whiteleather
Member
Respectfully...I do not agree at all.
I cannot think of a single ball detent system in which the ball is outside the detent. It is supposed to roll into the notch or divot fully. Otherwise why bother with a notch? Just have it press on a flat surface.
As others have noted, the barrel is actually visibly canted. If the barrel were centered and straight, the ball would be in the center of the notch. It would take considerable force against the ballbearing to compress the spring to allow the ball to slip out of the notch. This is how some of my breakbarrel airguns lock up, this is what makes my target aperture sights go 'click-click-click' instead of just 'cl-cl-cl'.
I think the torque adjustment on their barrel assembly machine is too high. My particular photo shows an over rotation of the barrel.
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jhnttrpp
Member
I have a question if someone doesn't mind answering for me. What creates the alignment between the bore and cylinder on the model 69.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
Your picture looks fine to me. Please post a picture of the top showing the gross misalignment and canting of which you complain.
All the ones I have looked at in the stores lock up like the pictures shown so you have now seen one that is not in the divot fully as designed. I did see a 69 this week in a local shop that had its barrel SHROUD out of alignment with the frame. The lines on top did not line up. I wonder if there is some play in the shroud frame fit that gets torqued when the barrel is tightened?
Code:
The lines on mine didn't line up and the front sight was vertical. I doubt that it was even a production spec to have the lines indexed exactly.
On the 2.75 the offending lines were eliminated.
I don't see anything in the picture showing misalignment either.
The ball is doing its job also. Using your airgun comparison, I have seen two different ball detent arrangements. One has the ball seat in a recess of some sort, usually a shallow groove. The other seats the ball against an V-shaped "blade" of steel. The ball rests against one side of the V and provides pressure toward the closed direction....similar to the model 69.
You may disagree, but I haven't seen anything to make me think your gun has any problem.
The ball is doing its job also. Using your airgun comparison, I have seen two different ball detent arrangements. One has the ball seat in a recess of some sort, usually a shallow groove. The other seats the ball against an V-shaped "blade" of steel. The ball rests against one side of the V and provides pressure toward the closed direction....similar to the model 69.
You may disagree, but I haven't seen anything to make me think your gun has any problem.
The cylinder chamber to barrel line up is.done like all S&W revolvers. The locking bolt pressing up through a slot in frame and engaging a notch in cylinder holds cylinder in time to barrel. With yoke pressed in tight against the frame holding the cylinder in side to side alignment, center pin engaging it's hole in center of r recoil shield provides most of this and the yoke lock assists instead of lug on bottom of barrel engaging the front of the ejector rod. Once again the spring loaded ball in shroud was never meant to bottom out in notch on yoke. Yes, there is a V in the bottom of it, but the ramp had to end in some manner. Could have used a flat spot at the bottom and been just as effective.
Chances are if you could look at every ball detent system when locked up, you would find many/most balls do not set squarely in the detent. The reason is machining two different mating parts to match exactly and provide the thrust in the proper direction would be very difficult and time consuming. S&W chose the easy way: machine the detent in one place and locate the ball so it doesn't need to be so critically located but will still provide the lock up in the direction desired. Your picture clearly shows the ball in the proper location to be putting pressure on the crane in correct direction for lockup. This is not a defect, which is why S&W did nothing to the gun.
Gunsnwater
Member
Op you have a two part barrel. Your talking about screwing out the barrel but the shroud wouldn't turn if you were able to get the barrel tool, that you won't be able to get anyway because smith wont sell them. The shroud is keyed to the frame. Backing up the barrel will open your gap and leave you with a shoud that moves around. Soon your barrel would unscrew and fall out. Your ball fits the way it should. You might not understand the design but it has been explained quite simply. You should sell your 69 at a deep discount and put this behind you. I can offer you $300 right now.
Gunsnwater
Member
Yep
.
69 Combat Magnum - ball detent lock
(-014a)
.
That has to weaken the yoke. I have straightened bent yokes from the movie wrist flick and you would be very surprised at how little pressure is needed to bend them.
zogger
Member
I agree with the other posters that it is supposed to be this way. My 69 shoots great, locks up solid and the ball detent looks like this:
Nice pix showing how the ball detent works.
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