Yoke endshake

[petehm]

Just a few questions regarding a model 17-3.

With the cylinder closed, there is minimal endshake and the yoke has no play at all.

With the cylinder swung open, there is about .005" of forward and back motion of the yoke with the yoke screw tightened.

How can I repair the yoke endshake? Do I just need a new yoke screw?

Thanks for any answers/suggestions.

 

[OKFC05]

All endplay should be measured with the cylinder closed.

 

[Alk8944]

pethm,

Just a bit of clarification. Are you asking about axial freeplay of the cylinder on the yoke when open, or are you asking about axial motion of the yoke within the frame when open?

If you are talking about the cylinder on the yoke when open then OKFC05 is correct, this means nothing.

If you are talking about the yoke in the frame having movement this is another story. This is repaired by lightly peening the yoke "button", the portion of the yoke shank that is behind the yoke screw as assembled. The only portion that needs to be peened is the roughly 90 degree portion that actually engages the yoke screw. I highly recommend that before attempting this repair you purchase a copy of "The S&W Revolver, a Shop Manual" by Jerry Kuhnhausen. This is available from many on-line book sellers including Barnes & Nobel. Brownell's and Midway sell it too. Should cost about $25. Kuhnhausen shows clearly where to peen, how to support the yoke to prevent damage, etc. Just plain a good book to have simply to help diagnose problems!

I would try a new yoke screw first however. Swap the yoke screw with the bottom side plate screw, they are identical. If the new screw needs fitting this is done by filing the end of the screw, being careful to keep it square. After taking the small "tit" on the end of the screw off it only takes a few thousandths to be removed, just enough so the yoke moves freely without drag, when the screw is tight.

This assumes the old style solid yoke screw. With the new style there cannot be any yoke end shake.

 

[petehm]

Yes, I'm talking about movement of the yoke in relation to the frame. Thanks for the tips and I'll purchase the shop manual soon.

 

[tomcatt51]

Yes, I'm talking about movement of the yoke in relation to the frame.

Install the yoke in the gun, without the cyl assy, without the yoke screw, and with the yoke closed see how much yoke endplay you have. It should be close to zero. If it's not you add yoke shims. S&W would fix this (if they had yokes) by finding another yoke (select fitting) that does have near zero endplay.

With the yoke screw installed check the yoke endplay with the yoke open. This is what you use the screw and "button" to adjust.

You can also adjust the yoke closed endplay by peening and fitting the screw and button (many will say to do this) but it's a short lived fix. The screw will dent the button (again) until the yoke sits forward against the frame (again) and the cylinder closed yoke endplay is back. Look at the frame and yoke and you'll see the "thrust surfaces" that engage with the yoke closed that the yoke sits (forward) against.

The newer guns have a spring loaded plunger in the yoke screw to eliminate the fitting, EXCEPT for having a yoke that has near zero endplay with the yoke closed and no yoke screw in place. The yoke is still a select fit part and the yoke screw (with plunger in this case) still just holds the yoke in position when the yoke's open.

This seems to be a topic that always generates dis-agreement.

 

[Texan]

petehm - we must have the exact same problem !

This is my post about the same condition on my 17-3.
Yoke end play model 17-3

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Could someone explain the repair that is needed to correct yoke end play model 17-3 ?

I have read several topics on this and am positive this is the problem I am having on my 17-3.

Is slight yoke slop something that really needs to be fixed, or can
I just live with it ? The gun locks up very tight and has NO cylinder
end shake.
When open the yoke slides forward just enough to just barely let the cylinder touch the forcing cone.
If repaired will the same problem reoccur with time ?

The only part I'm not really clear on is how or where to install stainless steel yoke bearing/bearings on the yoke barrel.

Any advice would sure be appreciated. Texan...........