[kart racer]

The last couple of times I have shot my sec 6 the cylinder/rod has acted like it was getting bound up.It will only do this intermittently and w/it loaded.It is clean as a pin underneath the star and everywhere else.Could the ejector rod be slightly bent or what would cause this? I bought the gun new back in 85 new and doesn't have a 1000 rds thru it.how much space is there supposed to be between the cylinder and the barrel breech?Thanks for any help.

[JNewell]

It's possible that the extractor rod has unscrewed (caution: threads are "wrong way") a little, and that the case heads are creating, intermittently, enough forward displacement to make unlocking the front of the extractor rod difficult. Be careful with the rod, since (assuming it's not bent now) you don't want to bend it while trying to tighten it. I think I'd start by trying to unscrew it *by hand* (turn *clockwise* as you look at the muzzle end of the cylinder) to see if it is, in fact, coming loose. If you can unscrew it by hand, that's probably the problem. As always, make sure the gun is unloaded first, and I'd remove the crane/cylinder assembly to make handling it less awkward.

I am trying to remember what the inside of the crane/cylinder assembly looks like...wondering whether you could have some powder residue or other crud inside that could make the extractor rod effectively longer if it didn't seat fully. You might try a vigorous hosing out with brake cleaner.

[Dienekes]

Concur. My agency had a lot of these and I am very familiar with them. Odds are that the ejector rod may be backing out a little which will give that problem. Put a couple of empties in the chambers (to avoid stressing those little pins) and see if the rod unscrews with moderate pressure. It may.

Another possibility is that the forward end of the crane arbor that the cylinder turns on may be coked up from firing over the years. Just open the cylinder and see if it spins freely. If it turns a bit sluggishly, that is your answer. I use "Sixes" a lot and every few years I do this little drill.

Cylinder disassembly is "interesting" but not impossible. Just remember to use empty cases to hold the extractor star in place when unscrewing and tightening the ejector rod. There are two small balls in the forward part of the arbor that are staked in. They should stay in place but need to be watched. The whole assembly looks complicated but if you are slow and methodical you can take it apart, clean it, and relube it. I used to use medium strength (blue) loc-tite to prevent the rod from loosening thereafter.

These are very good guns. If you keep the area under the star clean and the ejector right properly tightened, you will have zero problems. No better revolvers made.

[TonyB]

I agree too..on my Speed Six this happened.....I used the blue lock tight(in a red bottle for some reason)and it worked...I usually take the cylinder off every other time I clean it and lube it..that's one reason I love rugers..ease of disassembly...the Sixes are all great... :)

[JNewell]

A footnote should you decide to disassemble the cylinder assembly: I'd recommend not using grease. Actually, in this location, which is exposed to ingress of hot gases, I'd specifically use a CLP product like BreakFree. I had to disassemble a -Six once that had been greased up inside, and the stuff had been turned into a semi-solid plaque that wasn't doing anything but holding all the cr@p that got in there in place.

The suggestion to put several (at least three) empty cases or metal snapcaps in the cylinder when/if you unscrew it is important. If you bend or break the little pins that locate the extractor star, you will be sending the gun back to Ruger.

In theory, because the cylinder rotates in the direction that tightens the ejector rod, it shouldn't loosen, but it does happen. Oh, almost forgot - there is supposed to be a little lockwasher under the rod when you assemble it. Lockwashers are often one-time parts, so consider replacing it if you do disassemble the cylinder assembly. It should be shown in the exploded diagram that is still available on Ruger's website in the manuals and parts booklets.

[kart racer]

I took it to the range yesterday and fired 50 rds thru it and all was well.I cleaned it again,never did see any crud anywhere before I cleaned it.I'm hoping it was just a piece of trash somewhere in there that came unlodged.Thanks for all the help.When you take the ejector rod loose,what do you use on the knob to loosen it,a rag and pliers or what? it is a s/s model.I checked the gap from cylinder to breecthe smalles t feeler guage I had was .004 and it wouldn't fit on any of the cylinders.

[BusMaster007]

I got a snubnose Security-Six in a trade and after shooting it a bit, it bound up.
Slightly annoyed, I gave the cylinder a good WHACK and it opened up, with a slightly BENT ejector rod!
To the Gunsmith!
He straightened the rod and loctited it in and told me to not do that again, please... :rolleyes: