Bought used S&W 686.....now cylinder won't release....***?

[finz50]

Bought a used S&W 686 a few days ago.....went to go shoot it at the range and noticed (the last few days) the cylinder release was finicky.....finally went to load some ammo and now it won't release at all! Not real smart on revolvers so was hoping someone could help me out. I'm really pissed that I bought this gun and can't even shoot it. Feel like I just got screwed over. Help!

 

[1KPerDay]

the ejection rod is probably coming unscrewed. Put some fired cases in the chambers (once you get it open), grab the ejection rod in a padded vise or similar and tighten it down a bit.

My .02

 

[finz50]

I can't open the cylinder to put any cases into the chambers....

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // can you work the thumb latch?

 

[finz50]

fixed it, thanks!

 

[ljnowell]

fixed it, thanks!

Care to elaborate? This may happen to someone else and they may find this thread through searching.

 

[Ky Larry]

Had the same problem with my Model-19. IIRC, the threads are left handed. Fixed it with a drop of blue Lok-Tite. 2,000 rnds without a problem. I couldn't open the cylinder so I used a small screwdriver to tighten the knurled tip on the ejector rod. Cleaned the oil off the threads, Lok-tited the threads, let it dry overnight, relubed, and have had no more problems.

 

[finz50]

Sure, had a guy give me the advice from another forum.....

Most likely the ejector rod is unscrewing and binding things up. This is a semi-common happening with Smith & Wesson revolvers.

The easiest way to deal with this is with a business card and a couple of Popsicle sticks.

You use the stick to wedge the ejector rod so that it won't turn and you partially pull the trigger so the cylinder bolt starts to retract. You then slip the business card between the cylinder and frame so that the cylinder bolt can't lock the cylinder.

Then you gently turn the cylinder counter clockwise (I think that's the proper direction) to screw the ejector rod back in. Probably no more than a quarter to half turn.

Once you get the cylinder open, you need three or more empty shell casings.

Put those in the cylinder, then with a PADDED pliers you hold the rod and turn the cylinder to get it good and snug.

Chances are eventually it will do the same thing; that's when you employ a little Loctite to hold everything in place.

Instead of using a Popsicle stick I used a toothpick. Didn't have a business card, so I just turned the cylinder by dry firing it a few times (10-12x).....once it wouldn't turn anymore I was able to open the cylinder, then unscrew the rod and Loctite it on... Worked like a charm.....man I feel relieved.

 

[BCRider]

Yeah, this happens with fair regularity. I don't use loctite. Instead I sneak up on the amount of torque that eliminates the issue or at least delays it out to a number of months.

Next time at the FIRST sign of the cylinder getting hard to release check the ejector to see if it's coming loose. If it is then tighten it by hand and check it again every few cylinders until you get home and can torque it down again.

 

[jfh]

Because I shoot some reload recipes that are dirty, I like to detail-strip the cylinder assembly every few hundred rounds. Consequently, I haven't used LocTite; I follow the procedure BCRider outlines....

Jim H.

 

[Walkalong]

Use blue low strength Loc-Tite, unless of course you never want to be able to take it apart again.