can you swap crane and cylinder assemblies on a revolver?

[shamus]

a question that came to mind today. Searching yielded no results.

Can you swap crane and cylinder assemblies on two spo101s or do they need to be fitted? The assembly pops out pretty easy when the gun is taken down, so it'd be an easy thing to switch one cylinder assembly for the other, and vice versa.

or for that matter, can you do this with other models of revolvers?

 

[TOGGLELOCK]

crane assembly

The Crane assembly is individually fit and then cosmetically blended to each revolver. Sure, there are probably a few that had been randomly fit and for some strange reason are exactly the same diamensionally. But generally, you would start by fitting an oversized unit with a Pilot Reamer. Working slowly until the gun closes with no play at all. Then you would have to blend the crane to the frame. Then you would need the part - highly unlikely - factory controlled part at S&W. TOGGLELOCK

 

[dfariswheel]

Revolver cylinder and crane assemblies are THE most fitted of all revolver parts.
Even if the assembly seems to fit and snaps into the frame, it won't be right.

Among things that have to be fitted and gaged when replacing or fitting a cylinder assembly are:

Head space.
Timing.
Cylinder end shake.
Alignment.
Barrel/cylinder gap.

Also, the crane is polished with the frame to insure it fits and blends with the frame.
These assemblies are very much NOT "drop in".

 

[shamus]

that answers it. Thanks.