A coating of paint or anything else on the extractor star or the recess for it in the cylinder will cause binding.
I've run across a few older S&Ws with accumulated grime and fouling under the star, once the fouling and grime was removed the cylinder fit was loose as a goose due to having been used with that fouling in place.
Don't mess with the pistol any more before clearing away any remaining coating between those parts.
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