My wheelie done busted.

[Rumble]

This is mostly just an irritated rant, although suggestions* are welcome: I took my Taurus 605 to the range today to burn through some 357's (ouch) and a bunch of .38's (fun). The end result was some nice groups, some wild fliers, and a broken gun.

I put about 150 rounds through it...50 .357 rounds, after which I didn't want to shoot any more of them, and then almost two boxes of .38spl. I was on the second-to-last cylinder when the gun wouldn't fire. I examined it, and found that the cylinder would not lock in place. Upon further examination, I noted that the spring-loaded pin that holds the cylinder in place in the frame (when the cylinder is closed...)--aha, looking at the schematic, it's called the "center pin"--was sticking inside its channel and thus the gun would not close.

So now, it is diagnosis time. I'm hoping that the pin is just very dirty and that's why it's sticking. I will be dismayed if it is more than that: the gun has only had about 300-400 rounds through it, and although I know that you get what you pay for, I had been quite pleased with it until now.

While I've got your attention: anybody else ever seen this kind of problem, either on a Taurus or any other revolver?




*yes, I'll accept the suggestion "don't buy another Taurus."

 

[Old Fuff]

I have seen cylinder center pins stick in revolvers other then Taurus.

Usually it's a case of fouling and lack of lubrcation. Put a drop of CLP on the pin and work it back & forth. If this doesn't work you'll have to disassemble the cylinder assembly and see what the trouble is.

 

[Kevinch]

Sounds like dirt to me also. How many rounds have been put through the gun since it was last cleaned?

Also - did you clean and lube prior to first shooting the gun?

Hopefully, that's all this is.

 

[Rangegod]

Are you sure it is sticking. The center pin on my Taurus Ti 357 sheared off flush at the extractor. If I had not seen the small end piece fall from the gun I might have assumed it was stuck. Anyway, a trip back to Taurus got it fixed, along with a new cylinder and surprisingly a new ratchet that compared to the original didn't look like it was machined by a drunken monkey with a stone ax.

JAC

 

[Rumble]

Thanks for the replies, all. I lubed and cleaned it thoroughly, and the pin was still wedging. Basically, if I pushed on the pin, it was fine, but when it was compressed in during cylinder closure, it went in far enough to stick. Kevinch: it had been cleaned prior to the most recent outing, and also prior to first shoot. I may not have cleaned it well enough, of course...

Anyway, I disassembled the cylinder mechanism completely, and tried to clean it and lube it again, but the pin remained sticky--actually, while experimenting with it, I managed to stick it badly enough that it required two wrenches and a dowel to unjam it at one point. Never did get it to free up again.

Called Taurus, though, and they said "send it in." So I will do that, and they will make it right. It's irritating, but as someone pointed out on another thread (and as Old Fuff suggested here), stuff breaks sometimes.

Plus, I get to learn how an unlicensed person ships firearms.

ps. Rangegod, I'd love it if they'd send me one with a new ratchet. "Rough-hewn" is a good way to describe mine.

 

[Rumble]

Actually, I have another question: can anyone tell me why the extractor, with it's integrated center pin, is considered a "restricted part" by Taurus? I asked if they could just send me a replacement, but they said "nope."

And yes, I know replying to my own threads is lame. I hang my head in embarrassment.

 

[Kevinch]

Rumble, I can't answer your question but I will say that I had a Taurus M85 snub that had to go back to the factory years ago. Although it was tough waiting for it to be returned (seems it took about 4~6 weeks, IIRC), when it came back it was perfect.

I bought 2 new Taurus handguns, 1 had to go back. So I'm at 50% with Taurus. :banghead:

I bought 2 new S&W handguns, 1 had to go back. So I'm at 50% with S&W. :banghead:

I bought 1 new Ruger handgun & 1 new Ruger rifle, the handgun had to go back. So I'm at 50% with Ruger. :banghead:

I've bought *a bunch* of Makarovs, & they have all performed flawlessly.

Gotta love those commie guns.......

 

[armoredman]

Trade it in on a CZ....sorry, couldn't resist.

I have had three or four Taurus wheelguns, including a 605, that worked perfectly. They were definately bargain revolvers, but the only one I had trouble with was the one my stepfather owned, which was a 1982 .38, and was a hunk of garbage that Taurus refused to even work on.
I haven't held or fired a Taurus in years, guess thier QC took a dive. Bummer.

 

[Rumble]

Armoredman, I've already got a CZ Although...I'm the kinda guy who needs 2. Actually, though, I've been very happy with the 605 otherwise. Good grip, easy to conceal, accurate enough, makes a big flash and boom with .357's. What's not to like?

Anyway, I'll send it in when I can afford to ship it (shipping in the $75 - 90 range , depending on carrier, which makes that a very expensive extractor, indeed). Hopefully they'll send it back better than I found it.

 

[22-rimfire]

Wow. You guys have a lot of bad luck with revolvers. I have never owned a Taurus, but have Colts, Smiths, and Rugers and have never had a problem that required sending it back to the factory. It just seems that there is a lot of shipping back to the factory these days for factory defects. I would definitely send the Taurus back to the factory. These things just should not happen so quickly.

 

[depicts]

Rumble, I had the same thing happen with a used Smith 34 I bought,. I was ready to send it back when someone said it sounded like the ejector rod ahd loosened up a bit. Since it is a reverse screw fitting, when it loosens, it makes the center pin go further into the recoil shield, then the cylinder release latch can't push it out far enough to open, and it can be relly hard to close once it is open.

Check to see if you can rotate the ejector rod with the cylinder open and the ejector star in the cylinder like it would be if the gun was loaded. If you can twist the ejector rod, tighten it up and you'll be all set

 

[Rumble]

Depicts--I will double check that, but I think it's tight. Nonetheless, if that solves the problem, I owe you a tasty beverage of your choice! Thanks.