Yoke screw broke

[Brazer]

A foolish thing to do. Upon assembling my S&W 617-6, I over tightened the yoke screw, and it broke in halve, were it's coated with a red thread locker. It wasn't too much trouble to insert a small screwdriver into the lower half of the broken screw to remove it. I feel real lucky for that.
Ordered 6 from Brownells, and should get them in a couple of days.
I want to be prepared if it ever happens again. I was just a little to aggressive trying to get it real snug.
Anybody have that happen to them? How tight should the yoke screw be anyway? It's got the plunger on the end.

 

[jepp2]

How tight should the yoke screw be anyway?

For a 617, I would take it to where it stops and just give it a light extra rotation torque pressure. For a 629 I would apply a little more torque, but still wouldn't get crazy with it. I haven't had the yoke screw shoot loose like I have the other side plate screws.

Leave the red thread locker in the toolbox.

 

[OLDSTER]

sometimes I'll use some "blue" locktite on all 3 ( or 5) screws so I can just snug them up.

 

[Dragon88]

For a 617, I would take it to where it stops and just give it a light extra rotation torque pressure.

That's what I do too. Finger tight plus a little extra. And then I check it every cleaning.

 

[Imaposer]

Oh, about 65 ft/lbs should do it.

Seriously, it's not a lug nut. Just snug is good. Over time, threaded couplings do deform even when torqued correctly. Apply too much torque and you are really doing a number on the fastener and the threads. Deformed threads in the frame are no good. Go easy and remember, you're tightening a 8-40 screw not a 1 5/8" stud.

 

[Nightowl]

Snug does fine, no need to overdo it!

 

[snubbyfan]

snug it with a little blue loctite. Check the screws when you clean it.

 

[kennyb]

all i have ever done is snug them down...glad you quickly found replacements

 

[chief38]

Sounds like you "gorilla tightened it".

 

[saemetric]

My rule of thumb: Snug, "and a little bit"