[SCWCharlie]

I'm totally new to gun maintenance. While cleaning our S&W 686, I closed the cylinder, pulled the trigger a couple of times and then tried to open the cylinder. It won't open! Trigger pulls, cylinder turns, hammer cocks & falls. What the heck happened?

[jrod]

Sounds like the ejector rod came loose.I've had that happen on a couple of new Smith&wessons lately.:cuss:

[SCWCharlie]

Can you tell me which way the threads turn to tighten?

[The Lone Haranguer]

Left-hand thread (counterclockwise to tighten).

[Oro]

To get it open, take a small screwdriver or similar, and pry the locking bolt (this is the spring-loaded catch pinned into the under-barrel lug) back slightly to free the ejector rod. Push the cylinder release latch forward as you do this and it should expose the angled surface of the locking bolt for you to press it back and free the ejector rod.

Don't use pliers on it to tighten it -you can bend it or more often scratch it up terribly. It is a critically dimensioned part and you do not want to bend it. S&W and others make a special tool for this, but it's overkill unless you work on S&W's frequently. Finger tight is usually enough, and if not, wrap a piece of sturdy leather around the knurled end and tighten lightly with some pliers. Don't over-do it.

[SCWCharlie]

Thanks for responses. This solution did the trick for me:
quote:
Originally posted by Sgt 127:
If you are SURE its unloaded (just a disclaimer, no offense) follow along. Take a tough piece of cloth, denim, something along those lines, feed it around the extractor rod, like you would for a shoe-shine rag. Then manipulate the hammer slightly back until the bolt clears the cylinder and it spins freely. Then while holding the cloth tight, use it to hold the rod while you turn the cylinder by hand.

Three hands are useful at this point. Option 2 is to jam a chopstick or other soft wood inbetween the knurled end of the rod and the shroud, then repeat the hammer thing and tighten the rod by turning the cylinder...

(That make sense?)



THANK YOU!!!!!
Three hands or not, it worked. Used the "wedge",turned the cylinder far enough to allow opening of the cylinder. Gripped the knurled end and LH tightened the shaft.
Thank you very much.
Stay safe,

Charlie