Taurus 66 - stupid me

[theautobahn]

Last night I thought it would be a good idea to take apart an old Taurus 66 Revolver. I took the sideplate off, took most of the internals out (didn't take the trigger and trigger spring assemblies out, but most everything else). In trying to put it back together, I have two questions:

I have a random small coil spring and plunger left over and I have NO idea where it goes. I tried searching YouTube for videos, but I'm thinking the newer Taurus's are set up differently. The cylinder release has a similar spring setup, but that's in place. I can't find any random holes that the plunger would fit into.

Second issue - in trying to put it together to verify function (to see what might not work, hence helping explain what the spring goes to), I can't get the sideplate back on. Is there a trick to this?

Needless to say, I definitely feel like an idiot. :banghead:

I have a buddy who is a gunsmith who I'm sure can fix it, but I'd rather keep my embarrassment to a minimum and try to fix it myself first.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Ditchtiger]

If you can find the manual it will have an exploded parts diagram in it.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

The Taurus revolvers have a plunger and spring that act as a "keeper" for the cylinder yoke and crane. It inserts from the front screw hole and the screw puts pressure on it as it is screwed in.

Taurus copied S&W in their design and the sideplate should be no different. The sideplate inserts with the top and left side first and then the rest should fit. You will see a tab at the top left of the plate, that will go in first. When you tap it back in place, be sure to use a rubber hammer or something made of polymer, don't use a steel hammer!

Here is a parts diagram that may help you out.
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Products.aspx?catid=9140

 

[theautobahn]

Thank you. I'll play with it a little more when I get home. And I'll check the yoke / crane for a corresponding hole for that spring / plunger. As far as the sideplate, there is no "tab", although I'll try installing it as you recommended anyway. The trigger mechanism is different than that diagram and what I've been able to find online in "how to" videos (which also show the sideplate "tab"), which makes me wonder if that spring / plunger doesn't go somewhere inside (it was with the sideplate screws, and I try to group small parts somewhat in the order they're removed, but it's not a perfect system on my part).

 

[mookiie]

This may help supposed to be a similar model - http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/smithing/22219-taurus-revolver-disassembly-pictorial-guide.html

 

[Chawbaccer]

Numrich has a schematic.

 

[powell&hyde]

Here's a diagram from my book.

 

[rbernie]

Chances are, it's an older 66 and is a copy of the S&W four screw K frame.

 

[FROGO207]

Next time take the parts out and take pictures with a digital camera at logical steps before and after. Learn how to use the macro function. This has helped me many times before.

 

[theautobahn]

powell&hyde, that was the correct diagram. I knew there was a hole that corresponded to the spring and plunger (#47 in your schematic) - I just spent all my time looking in the frame and never flipped the side cover over.

So my new question is now--- that spring and plunger appear to hold the cylinder hand in place - but the plunger has to be depressed to fit over the hand. Thoughts on an easy trick to reinstall the sideplate while holding the spring / plunger depressed and fitting it over the cylinder hand (#42)???

 

[theautobahn]

And to everyone else who offered a suggestion - thank you.

 

[powell&hyde]

When you go to put the side plate back on, take the hand and insert it in the side plate where the small spring loaded pin is. Push the pin in through the small hole in the front of the plate. Insert the hand in the cutout for it and release the pin. The spring loaded pin will hold the hand in. Align up the bottom pin of the hand to the right hole and push the side on.

 

[theautobahn]

When you go to put the side plate back on, take the hand and insert it in the side plate where the small spring loaded pin is. Push the pin in through the small hole in the front of the plate. Insert the hand in the cutout for it and release the pin. The spring loaded pin will hold the hand in. Align up the bottom pin of the hand to the right hole and push the side on.

Thank you for the suggestion, I'm now a master at this. The bad news is that I've mastered this because...

Gun functions with side plate off. Functions with sideplate on loosely (not screwed down). When I screw down the sideplate, the hammer and trigger are locked up tight. I'm sure the sideplate is compressing something (as it doesn't seat flush until I screw it down) . Does anyone have thoughts on what might be off kilter? This gun is starting to annoy me!

 

[Jim K]

If the lower pin of the hand is not in place in the trigger, the side plate won't go on right. Also, take a look at the other side of the frame. (The hammer block and gear are (AFAIK) unique to Taurus and not at all like the S&W system.) If they are not in right, and the gear interlocked with the trigger, things won't work.

Taurus apparently tried to use an old S&W way of operating the hand, but that design interlocked the plunger with the hammer block. Not a good system but it kept things in place when the sideplate was removed.

Jim

 

[theautobahn]

If the lower pin of the hand is not in place in the trigger, the side plate won't go on right. Also, take a look at the other side of the frame. (The hammer block and gear are (AFAIK) unique to Taurus and not at all like the S&W system.) If they are not in right, and the gear interlocked with the trigger, things won't work.

I've become an absolute ninja when it comes to inserting the pin on the cylinder hand (taking apart and reassembling something 50 times will do that).

And you've pointed out something that makes me think the title of this thread is really fitting. I was assuming (don't say it) that the internals weren't lining up on the sideplate somehow - but as you've pointed out, it's just as likely that they're not mounted perfectly on the frame.