Crane/Cylinder Removal on 5-Screw Smiths?

[.455_Hunter]

Greetings,

How do you remove the cylinder/crane assembly on on old Smith and Wesson Hand Ejectors (I and K frame)? Which screw do you loosen/remove? I am guessing the one in front of the trigger guard underneath the ejector assembly, but I want to be sure.

Thanks,

Hunter

 

[HammerBite]

I am guessing the one in front of the trigger guard underneath the ejector assembly, but I want to be sure.

That screw holds in the cylinder stop spring.

The crane assembly is held in by the front sideplate screw, just forward of and above the trigger.

 

[Rick O'Shea]

Hunter,
As far as I know, and has been the case on all of the several S&W revolvers I have disassembled (hedging slightly, because with S&W, there are sometimes exceptions to the rule)...
...the screw you want is the forwardmost screw on the sideplate - on the right side of the revolver, above the trigger guard. Remove this screw, open the cylinder and pull straight forward. The crane and cylinder assembly should slide out. And when you remove this screw, DO NOT get it mixed up with any of the other side plate screws.

The screw that you mentioned under the trigger guard holds captive the spring which provides tension to the cylinder stop. You won't need to fool with it (or any other of the sideplate screws) unless you are doing a full disassembly of the revolver.


Well put, Hammerbite. Once again I say too much and type too slowly...

 

[.455_Hunter]

Thanks Guys!

If you remove the cylinder stop spring screw, will anything fall out of the hole, or is the spring captive?

For some reason, that screw is buggered on my gun, and I would like to replace it in the near future.

Its kind of strange that a screw used only for in-depth disassembly would be messed-up, but the cylinder removal side plate screw looks pristine.

Oh well

 

[HammerBite]

Well put, Hammerbite. Once again I say too much and type too slowly...

That happens to me sometimes. I'll write a long reply, punch the "submit" button and discover that two pages of replies have happened.

Good point about not mixing up the screws.

Its kind of strange that a screw used only for in-depth disassembly would be messed-up, but the cylinder removal side plate screw looks pristine.

He may have been trying to remove the crane!

 

[rcmodel]

If you remove the cylinder stop spring screw, will anything fall out of the hole, or is the spring captive?

There is a little spring under the screw.

It won't fly out and disappear, but it isn't captive either.
It could fall out.

rcmodel