Colt lockup question

[Tomahawk674]

I was trying to send a PM to Dfariswheel but it looks like it didn't want to let me, so I'll try posting here:Follow yp E frame questions. I went ahead and put the missing latch spring guide inside my '39 Official Police, everything seems to be operating fine. When handling the cylinder has a very small amount of play side to side in the front. If I wiggle the cylinder side to side I feel the crane get away from the frame just a bit. If I put my thumb where the crane meets the frame, everything gets solid. If I do the colt lockup test and squeeze the trigger all the way back, it does lock up tight, no play at all. Because I know the gun is tight when the cartridge is going off I know there is no issue, I just wonder why there's that bit of play when this gun seems to have seen very little use, and I treat it gently, no whipping the cylinder open or shut, no speed reloads, just range plinking. The OMM I have in 22LR has similar play in the crane but it is noticeably less.

Do you think the 39 OP is looser due to wear, or just because these were done by hand each one is different? By the way the play isn't much, it's not like it's sloppy.

Thanks for the input
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[Tomahawk674]

On second thought, looks like crane movement on the mint OMM is the same as the OP, just feels different for some reason. Must be my ocd getting to me.

 

[Gordon]

The cylinder Crane Bushing ? There is a bushing the ejection rod rotates in side the cylinder crane on. They do get loose and requires this tool to tighten it !
https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...ne-tools/colt-crane-bushing-tool-prod712.aspx
of course I am wrong in my wording , and I have found the little spring that pushes on the bushing is usually the culprit. Here was Dfarriswheels answer about the problem on a Python on another forum years ago.
There is no "crane bushing" on the Python.
There is an ejector rod bushing, but that simply serves to hold the ejector spring in position.
I think you mean the cylinder collar, which is the bushing-like ring on the front of the cylinder itself.

This is not a separate piece, it's machined with the cylinder and is not replaceable.
If the collar is too short from firing impact, you can have the Colt factory stretch it on a one-time basis.

If the collar is impact compressed, the gun will have cylinder end shake. That is, the cylinder will move back and forth in the frame when it's closed.
This may allow the cylinder to contact the barrel if the end shake is bad enough.

Here's how to determine if your Python has excessive cylinder end shake:
Push the closed cylinder to the rear and hold it there while you use an automotive feeler gage to gag the gap between the barrel and the cylinder.
Then push the cylinder forward and hold it there while you gage it again.
Subtract one measurement from the other and that's how much end shake there is.
Maximum acceptable Colt end shake is 0.003". Anything over that needs a factory repair.

If the gun does have excess end shake, this is a factory ONLY and I mean ONLY repair. Colt has to use a special hydraulic tool to stretch the cylinder collar then refit the cylinder.

From what you've described, I suspect the actual cause of the cylinder hitting the barrel when being closed is actually a sprung or bent cylinder crane.
Since Colt Pythons are so high priced these days, I strongly recommend sending the gun in to Colt for a proper diagnosis of the problem and a repair.
DO NOT take the gun to a local gunsmith, since almost no locals understand the Colt revolver these days, and will often make the situation worse.

To recap, I suspect a bent or sprung crane.
It probably got sprung by being dropped or someone "Bogarted" it by slamming the cylinder open and shut with a flick of the wrist. Looks good in the movies, damages guns in the real world.

Again, there is NOTHING you or any local gunsmith can do about the cylinder collar if it is a problem, only the factory has the tool to stretch it.

In most cases, Colt can properly diagnose and repair virtually any problem in less than one hour labor.
You don't take a Ferrari to the local gas station to get it repaired.

 

[Palladan44]

As long as the revolver locks up tight, the hand advances the cylinder where it needs to be, its probably good. Possibly ever so slight wear might make the crane/cylinder tolerance "generous". As long as its not "out of time" where the bolt doesnt make it to the appropriate notch, its probably fine.


Lastly i might suggest only shooting standard pressure (if you handload, a low pressure) .38s with Swaged soft lead round nose bullets. That is if this gun is planned to be shot.

 

[Tomahawk674]

Thank you for the inputs guys. The gun has no end shake, the cylinder does not travel front to back at all. The very small amount of play is the crane pivoting a super small amount away from the frame when trigger is at rest. It's almost impossible to see but you can feel it if you purposely wiggle the cylinder left to right. However like I said before it does do the Colt bank valut lockup on all chambers.

The gun will not see regular use, it's kind of a collectable due to being a very nice condition heavy barrel. The SA trigger was supposedly 3 pounds from the factory as the letter states, but it feels like 1 pound. Right now I have a supply of Fiocchi cowboy ammo that is mild. I'll keep the use to a few hundred rounds a year and intend to buy more new production colts for regular use.

Thanks again for the feedback!