What did I break?

[Chuck Perry]

My Taurus died at the range tonight. It is an old model 65, 357 Magnum "K" frame with fixed sights. I was running some 38's through it and got a misfire. I popped the cartridge out to check the primer, found it had been lightly hit but comepletly off center. What the ? I closed the cylinder and to my horror found that it would now free spin in either direction. With the hammer cocked, the cylinder free spins forward, but will not rotate backwards. Dryfiring and thumbcocking, the cylinder does advance but won't lock up. I will ship it back to Taurus for repair, but can someone tell me what busted?

 

[P95Carry]

Sounds like the ''hand'' or ''pawl'' has bust ... probably lost the bit at very end which acts on the back of the star. It is usually well hardened but they can be brittle. Hopefully the machining on the star is OK.

Surprised the primer impact off center cos usually the cyl bolt will have ''caught'' and kept cyl in correct position.

NBot to bad a job to replace but may need fitted properly to ensure timing is spot on.

 

[Cal4D4]

Look at the bolt which pops up out of the lower frame and engages the cylinder notches. For reasons internal to the lockwork - a spring, dirty or ? the bolt isn't engaging the cylinder.

 

[Josey]

From your description, I think the bolt or the spring that pops the bolt up broke. The fact that the cylinder only turns in one direction when the hammer is cocked and the cylinder does rotate suggests that the pawl on the hand is OK. You will need to advise them to retime the revolver for proper cylinder indexing. Taurus has been known to simply drop in parts and return the revolver. Tell them to test fire it and return a target to you.

 

[BluesBear]

Since the cylinder will spin forward but not back I doubt the hand is the problem.

My guess is that it's the cylinder stop (locking bolt).

Does your Taurus have the plunger in the yoke shaft? If so that's what makes the cylinder stop work.

If this breaks the cylinder stop will retreat down into the frame and there will be nothing to lock the cylinder.


I hope this is what's wrong because it's a very simple fix.

 

[P95Carry]

I made a rather snap judgement earlier and yeah ... thinking about it more ... can see where you other guys are going .. it is the free spinning cyl that gives it away ... stoopid me, cos I was only thinking of a cyl that wouldn't advance.!

 

[bountyhunter]

It could just be the little spring that forces the cylinder stop bolt up out of the frame has tanked. Open the cylinder and pull the trigger (you have to hold the cylinder release lever pressed to do this). That little stop bolt should start in the UP position, drop as the trigger is pulled, and then pop back up just before the hammer falls.

 

[lee n. field]

Shall we start a pool, how long it takes to get back from Taurus, and weather it's fixed right the first time?