Colt Python cylinder binding-how to disassemble?

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NVMM

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My Colt Pythons cylinder has become hard to rotate at times. Seems like most of the time it spins fine. Then all of a sudden it will bind and become hard to turn. I can make this happen with cylinder out of the gun so it is not the action. I think you need a special wrench to completely disassemble but I would like to remove the ejector rod and get some oil inside there.
Which way do I turn the rod and anything I should look out for?
Python is about 1973 vintage.
Thank You.
 
For general info, I'll also post this here:

The first step is to insure the problem isn't grit or fouling under the ejector.
This is THE most common cause of binding Colt cylinders, can "come and go" and can happen fairly often.

Press the ejector rod and hold it in while you use a clean toothbrush to give the underside of the ejector and it's seat in the rear of the cylinder a THOROUGH scrubbing.

Tiny particles of grit and burned powder can get caught under the ejector and become embedded. This causes the ejector to fail to seat fully, which causes the cylinder to bind.
Usually this causes the binding to occur on only one or two chambers, and it tends to come and go.

Since hard grit can really stick to the metal, and sometimes is impossible to see, REALLY SCRUB the ejector and cylinder seat.

If it still binds after a good cleaning, DO NOT disassemble the cylinder for the following reasons:
1. You won't be able to fix a problem.
These things are NOT user repairable and you'll only damage the cylinder assembly trying.
Unless you see an obvious problem like a badly bent ejector rod, there's is NOTHING you can fix, unless you're a fully qualified COLT pistolsmith.
In truth, the usual mechanical problem with a binding cylinder isn't the ejector assembly, it's a bent crane.

2. There are two methods of disassembling the Python, the old method and the new.
The old method REQUIRES a special wrench, and even with it, there is a high risk of ruining the assembly. The ejector tends to cross thread badly, and this destroys the assembly.

If cleaning the cylinder assembly doesn't correct the problem, I strongly recommend sending the gun to the Colt factory or Pittsburgh Handgun Headquarters for a professional repair.

No BS, these cylinder assemblies are EASY to screw up, terribly expensive to replace, and completely non-user repairable.

If this was an older Colt that was well worn, and not worth much you might go for it, but that's not smart on a super expensive Python.

I'm telling you this because I'm a retired gunsmith specializing in Colt revolvers, and I've seen WAY too many good guns damaged this way.

Again, unless it's grit or dirt under the ejector there is NOTHING at all you can do to correct it, and trying is guaranteed to ruin the assembly.
 
dfariswheel, Thank You
Nothing looks bent. No grit or fouling. It feels like a spring is binding inside when I slowly turn the cylinder by hand but it's hard to get it to bind.
I'm the original owner and have given it all TLC and put maybe about a thousand rounds through it. So this is really bugging me.
If it keeps it up I'll send it to Colt.
Thanks Again
Michael
 
Try a flood of cleaning solution arround the extractor rod from both ends to see if there is any grit or unburned powder gumming up the works,followed by a flood of oil.

Does the extractor rod return easily?
I am wondering if the spring might be broken causing a drag on the rod?
 
gamachinist, Thanks. I did that this am. I flooded both ends with oil, slowly spun the cylinder and flooded it again. I took it out this afternoon and put 100 rounds through it and it seemed to run fine. I'm hoping that was it.
Every time I pulled the trigger I was waiting for it to bind. It shoots great but I had a lousy time, waiting for something to happen.
Thanks
 
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