took the side plate of my m29 and cant get it to go back

[44magsam]

took the side plate off my new model 29 classic 44 mag to oil the moving parts and for the life of me i cannot get it to go back on. tried for a solid 2 hours with no luck, something is not linned up and i cannot figue it out. the hammer lock is where it is supposed to be i know for sure. nothing else was removed except the side plate and hammer lock. i would like to tare it all the way down on occisians and clean and oil it. is this adviseable? could someone help me figure this out this?
thanks

 

[ronnie gore]

it is usually the hammer block that rides on the rebound slide behind the trigger, try putting it in a little higher or lower until the side plate can be pressed in with your fingers never force it. i have done thousands of them and most of them will go right back on others need a little moving around.

 

[smokey04]

A little dab of gun grease will hold that hammer block in its channel in the side plate in the right position. Try to gently slide the sideplate up onto the frame rather than pushing straight in from the side. Nick

 

[44magsam]

thanks to both of you for your quick replies and kind help. havent had time to try it yet but both of you seem to know what your are talking about.
the quy that made the youtube on dissasemblying the m29 (Smith and Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum Detailed Disassembly - YouTube) seems to have done a good but the side plate as far as i can tell is slightly different than my new classac m29 and i was wondering if the lock thing had any thing to do with getting the plate back on.
thanks again
Sam

 

[ronnie gore]

all my s&ws are older ones i have no experience with the new classics or internal lock guns.

 

[scooter123]

If you look closely at your sideplate you will see that there is a small tab that extends out at the top right to slip under a ledge in the frame. What I do is start with this tab and then position the right most extension around the yoke screw. After that it normally requires nothing more than pressure with the thumb. As noted previously, you do have to have the hammer block positioned correctly. For reference, it needs to be positioned so that the slot is engaged on the pin on the rebound slide so that it is positioned as hign in the frame as that slot will allow it to go with the hammer in the forward position.

BTW, don't feel bad about not "getting it" quickly. It took me a solid 45 minutes to figure out how to install a sideplate the first time I did it and I'm a trained Mechanical Engineer who rarely struggles with anything mechanical. Good news is that once you figure out the subtleties it's like riding a bike in that you'll never forget.

 

[kbm6893]

I slip the little tab on the upper rght under the frame and just evenly press the sideplate down until it's flush. Then smply screw in the screws (CAREFULLY!). As for the hammer block, I just put it where it belongs and put the plate on. As long as you leave the gun flat as you put the plate on, it shouldn't move.

 

[twomoons]

sir,try fitting the sideplate without the hammer block.if that works for you do it several times to get the right feel for putting sideplate on.then put the block in plate and try it

 

[Hearsedriver]

On stubborn sideplates, I hold the plate down with my thumb while I tap on the grip frame with the handle of a screwdriver. Just like you do when removing the plate, it works in reverse if you hold downward pressure on it. Make sure the hammer stop is as high as it will go on its notch.

 

[wheelgunnut]

Sideplate difficulties

Sam, you didn't by chance cycle the action with the sideplate removed just to see how cool it works, did you? Don't. The supporting studs for hammer, trigger, and rebound slide which are anchored into the frame and make up with corresponding holes in the sideplate are relatively soft and can move when not supported at both ends. If that be the case, the culprit likely is the stud at the rear of the rebound slide. That spring is strong. Leave the hammer spring off and peer in from below with a flashlight as you attempt to replace the sideplate. If that stud is off by a hair from its insertion into the sideplate hole, you may need to GENTLY tap it back toward the muzzle with a light hammer/punch stroke. Sideplate should go back on like butter. (Sound like I've experienced this once?)

BILL SHANER #2148

 

[Double-O-Dave]

sir,try fitting the sideplate without the hammer block.if that works for you do it several times to get the right feel for putting sideplate on.then put the block in plate and try it

Yuuuup! You took the words right out of my mouth.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[44magsam]

been out of town and just got back on my computer. i will try what you guys suggest and get back with you. i have tried it without the hammer lock with no luck and have looked down inside with a flashlight and it appears to me the larger pin right in the middle is the culprit and wont go in the hole.
thanks a lot for your reply's and help

 

[44magsam]

Finally got it to go back on guys. After looking at it umpteen times with a flash light and with the plate partially on I finally decided it was the little part just east of the hammer block (hammer hand) that moves when I would move the trigger and hammer was the culprit. So I got it started got the hammer where I could move it and moving the hammer a little and with a little pressure with my thumb it went in. had to tap it a little bit with my screw driver handle to get it to seat all away down but I didn't feel like I force it and tightening the screws put it back like it was. Any now it works fine now and all the moving parts are oiled.
Thanks for all the help and support
Sam

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Sam:

Glad to hear you got it fixed.

Regards,

Dave

 

[LET-CA]

It's pretty scary to have a valuable item in pieces and not be able to get it back together. Glad you got it fixed!