S&W cleaning - Page 2

2DaMtns · February 5, 2009, 12:48 PM

Just another thought, now that I have had the experience of disassembling a Smith without knowing up front what was involved and what tools I needed to get it back together, I won't be doing it again unless I do have the proper stuff, especially the rebound spring tool. That thing is a pain in the butt to get back in there. I marred a few things up trying to ghetto rig it back together. Still works fine, but man, I am glad it's a "project gun." I wouldn't do this to a revolver that you care anything about. Not saying I don't care what I do to this one, but it was already beat up and a few more scratches won't hurt it. It's just gonna be a hunting/fishing/camping/truck back up gun anyway, so it's gonna get blemishes.

**Mike Irwin** · February 5, 2009, 01:14 PM

And the fear urine flows...

Sigh.

NGIB · February 5, 2009, 01:16 PM

I've done some home action jobs on my S&W's and all I own is a good set of screwdrivers. I've never had a problem with the rebound bar or spring either. On every S&W I pick up used, I always open it up, flush with brake cleaner and relube. I generally use 13# rebound springs in mine as well...

**Mike Irwin** · February 5, 2009, 01:20 PM

"I generally use 13# rebound springs in mine as well..."

Oh man, you are going STRAIGHT to hell for all of your transgressions.

I've only had one gun where the 13 pounder failed to return the trigger smartly every time, and that was resolved with a more extensive action job to smooth out the rebound slide assembly and reduce its friction in the frame.

NGIB · February 5, 2009, 01:22 PM

I'll be honest and admit I did watch a good friend, and S&W guru, open his Model 28 up to check something. He gave me a good tour of the internals and I no longer feared this task. When I got home, I opened up my Model 66 and proceeded to give it a tuneup...

charleym3 · February 5, 2009, 02:25 PM

Ya know, I gotta tell ya, I never thought that this would happen from what I thought was a simple question.
I have fear of getting inside the S&W. I'll take off the side pate,correctly, remove the strain spring, hammer, and lock, but that's as far as I'm comfortable. The next step is the rebound slide and that strikes fear into me.
I really want to put in a lighter rebound spring, but my fear is stopping me and making me think about employing a gunsmith. I need to get over it.
Routine cleaning for me will be a once a year event. I shoot a 22-4 that just came back from S&W and my goodness it's slick and smooth. After 2-3K rounds I know that there will be fouling inside the lockwork and will need some attention.
Once the spring is changed out, if the only thing I need to do is take off the side plate, hose it out with gunscrubber and reassemble, then I guess I should a stood in bed, rather than open this thread.

No seriously. I'm not advocating taking the thing down to individual parts just because I fired 36 rounds in load development or sight adjustment. However, I believe that I should be able to change simple springs and do a proper clean and lube when needed.

-Charley Mullin

Buzzcook · February 5, 2009, 03:24 PM

I'm all thumbs and I take apart my guns on a regular basis for a deep cleaning.
This isn't rocket science, get a manual and a good working surface and you'll be fine. Loosing a spring in the shag carpet ain't the end of the world.

**Mike Irwin** · February 5, 2009, 10:20 PM

"Loosing a spring in the shag carpet ain't the end of the world."

Wrong.

It causes all the restless souls of all of the Smith & Wesson revolvers that have been destroyed by simple disassembly to CRY OUT IN A UNIVERSE SHATTER SCREAM OF AGONY!

Much's "The Scream" wasn't about a human soul tortured by an increasingly faceless, heartless, disjointed industrialized society!

It was about Smith & Wesson revolvers!

Eh, maybe not. It's open to interpretation.

salvadore · February 6, 2009, 06:38 AM

Learn how to break your Smith's down and clean em. It's a revolver for cryin out loud, not a Buick.

Nanuk · February 6, 2009, 07:12 AM

Once you learn how to properly disassemble it, its a piece of cake. I totally disassemble most firearms I buy and clean it. I have seen new S&W's with the lockwork full off cardboard powder.

seeker_two · February 7, 2009, 07:22 PM

I believe you, Mike....I don't fear taking apart the S&W revolver....

Now, which pair of Vise-Grips should I use with my Leatherman on those action screws?.....

**Mike Irwin** · February 8, 2009, 12:52 AM

Vice grips?

Leatherman?

I just use my dremel and grind them out.

CDH · February 8, 2009, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Vice grips?

Leatherman?

I just use my dremel and grind them out.

Here my wife went and bought me a special set of "Gunsmith's Hammers and Chisels" for Christmas.
I guess if they're not for removing the screws, I use them to adjust the timing? I'll give that a shot.

Gewehr98 · February 8, 2009, 09:10 PM

Were I to post instructions on how to install a trigger overtravel stop pin inside the rebound slide spring? (One of my favorite S&W revolver mods...)

mtnbkr · February 18, 2009, 03:24 PM

I took my Redhawk apart the other day to give it a good cleaning and a new mainspring. [/piddle]

Chris

**Mike Irwin** · February 18, 2009, 03:49 PM

Fuh.

A REDhawk...

That's like comparing one of those squat, solidly built and extremely ugly babushkas from the Ural Steppes to a willowly, blond, mid-west beauty.

mtnbkr · February 20, 2009, 02:22 PM

After a lifetime of hard labor, my sturdy babushka will look and function the same while your willowy midwest blonde will be a overworked, saggy shadow of her former self.

That and babushkas don't make people piddle themselves in fear.

Chris

Buzzcook · February 21, 2009, 01:21 AM

Just thought I'd point something out.

Our good friends at Numrich have free on line schematics for many fine firearms including S&W.

Here is the schematic for the old Model 10. Notice that there's only 88 listed parts and several of those are variations on the same part.
http://www.e-gunparts.com/productsch...rModel=1980z10

Now hee is the much more modern Model 686 and it has an incredible 90 numbered parts. So it is much more complicated than the old gun.
http://www.e-gunparts.com/productsch...Model=1980z686

Here's a thread from the High Road a related gun forum
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=397027
In it a poster describes his own gun smithing experience on a model ten. You'll need to be a member to see the pictures.

Finally here's a video from Youtube. The guy makes working on a revolver look easy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YWDK3OS7IA

**Mike Irwin** · February 21, 2009, 10:13 AM

At least 20 of those numbered parts for the 686 are front and rear adjustable sight parts. The Model 10 doesn't have adjustable front/rear sights.

In the kind of "thorough field stripping" that is being talked about here, the front and rear sights would NOT be disassembled.

February 5, 2009, 01:16 PM	#28
NGIB Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2007 Location: Ft Stewart, GA Posts: 932	I've done some home action jobs on my S&W's and all I own is a good set of screwdrivers. I've never had a problem with the rebound bar or spring either. On every S&W I pick up used, I always open it up, flush with brake cleaner and relube. I generally use 13# rebound springs in mine as well... __________________ Proud to be a veteran. (USAF Retired, Army Civilian) I'm old, grumpy, and jaded - still vertical though...

February 5, 2009, 01:22 PM	#30
NGIB Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2007 Location: Ft Stewart, GA Posts: 932	I'll be honest and admit I did watch a good friend, and S&W guru, open his Model 28 up to check something. He gave me a good tour of the internals and I no longer feared this task. When I got home, I opened up my Model 66 and proceeded to give it a tuneup... __________________ Proud to be a veteran. (USAF Retired, Army Civilian) I'm old, grumpy, and jaded - still vertical though...

February 5, 2009, 02:25 PM	#31
charleym3 Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2001 Location: Central NC Posts: 538	Gee whiz people Ya know, I gotta tell ya, I never thought that this would happen from what I thought was a simple question. I have fear of getting inside the S&W. I'll take off the side pate,correctly, remove the strain spring, hammer, and lock, but that's as far as I'm comfortable. The next step is the rebound slide and that strikes fear into me. I really want to put in a lighter rebound spring, but my fear is stopping me and making me think about employing a gunsmith. I need to get over it. Routine cleaning for me will be a once a year event. I shoot a 22-4 that just came back from S&W and my goodness it's slick and smooth. After 2-3K rounds I know that there will be fouling inside the lockwork and will need some attention. Once the spring is changed out, if the only thing I need to do is take off the side plate, hose it out with gunscrubber and reassemble, then I guess I should a stood in bed, rather than open this thread. No seriously. I'm not advocating taking the thing down to individual parts just because I fired 36 rounds in load development or sight adjustment. However, I believe that I should be able to change simple springs and do a proper clean and lube when needed. -Charley Mullin __________________ -When the need is great enough, limitations are meaningless. -Small helpings of experience become wisdom, while large servings become bitterness and despair. -I was once described as self-righteous and patronizing! I pointed out that I am actually arrogant & condescending.

February 7, 2009, 07:22 PM	#36
seeker_two Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2002 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Lone Star State (TX) Posts: 2,169	I believe you, Mike....I don't fear taking apart the S&W revolver.... Now, which pair of Vise-Grips should I use with my Leatherman on those action screws?..... __________________ Proud member of Gun Culture 2.0......

February 8, 2009, 09:10 PM	#39
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	Would the fear urine flow? Were I to post instructions on how to install a trigger overtravel stop pin inside the rebound slide spring? (One of my favorite S&W revolver mods...) __________________ "Bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round... Neural Misfires

February 5, 2009, 12:48 PM	#26
2DaMtns Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2008 Posts: 457	Just another thought, now that I have had the experience of disassembling a Smith without knowing up front what was involved and what tools I needed to get it back together, I won't be doing it again unless I do have the proper stuff, especially the rebound spring tool. That thing is a pain in the butt to get back in there. I marred a few things up trying to ghetto rig it back together. Still works fine, but man, I am glad it's a "project gun." I wouldn't do this to a revolver that you care anything about. Not saying I don't care what I do to this one, but it was already beat up and a few more scratches won't hurt it. It's just gonna be a hunting/fishing/camping/truck back up gun anyway, so it's gonna get blemishes.

February 5, 2009, 01:14 PM	#27
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	And the fear urine flows... Sigh.

February 5, 2009, 01:20 PM	#29
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	"I generally use 13# rebound springs in mine as well..." Oh man, you are going STRAIGHT to hell for all of your transgressions. I've only had one gun where the 13 pounder failed to return the trigger smartly every time, and that was resolved with a more extensive action job to smooth out the rebound slide assembly and reduce its friction in the frame.

February 5, 2009, 03:24 PM	#32
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	I'm all thumbs and I take apart my guns on a regular basis for a deep cleaning. This isn't rocket science, get a manual and a good working surface and you'll be fine. Loosing a spring in the shag carpet ain't the end of the world.

February 5, 2009, 10:20 PM	#33
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	"Loosing a spring in the shag carpet ain't the end of the world." Wrong. It causes all the restless souls of all of the Smith & Wesson revolvers that have been destroyed by simple disassembly to CRY OUT IN A UNIVERSE SHATTER SCREAM OF AGONY! Much's "The Scream" wasn't about a human soul tortured by an increasingly faceless, heartless, disjointed industrialized society! It was about Smith & Wesson revolvers! Eh, maybe not. It's open to interpretation.

February 6, 2009, 06:38 AM	#34
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	Learn how to break your Smith's down and clean em. It's a revolver for cryin out loud, not a Buick.

February 6, 2009, 07:12 AM	#35
Nanuk Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2005 Location: Where the deer and the antelope roam. Posts: 3,082	Once you learn how to properly disassemble it, its a piece of cake. I totally disassemble most firearms I buy and clean it. I have seen new S&W's with the lockwork full off cardboard powder.

February 8, 2009, 12:52 AM	#37
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	Vice grips? Leatherman? I just use my dremel and grind them out.

February 18, 2009, 03:24 PM	#40
mtnbkr Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2000 Location: Manassas, Virginia Posts: 914	I took my Redhawk apart the other day to give it a good cleaning and a new mainspring. [/piddle] Chris

February 18, 2009, 03:49 PM	#41
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	Fuh. A REDhawk... That's like comparing one of those squat, solidly built and extremely ugly babushkas from the Ural Steppes to a willowly, blond, mid-west beauty.

February 20, 2009, 02:22 PM	#42
mtnbkr Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2000 Location: Manassas, Virginia Posts: 914	After a lifetime of hard labor, my sturdy babushka will look and function the same while your willowy midwest blonde will be a overworked, saggy shadow of her former self. That and babushkas don't make people piddle themselves in fear. Chris

February 21, 2009, 01:21 AM	#43
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	Just thought I'd point something out. Our good friends at Numrich have free on line schematics for many fine firearms including S&W. Here is the schematic for the old Model 10. Notice that there's only 88 listed parts and several of those are variations on the same part. http://www.e-gunparts.com/productsch...rModel=1980z10 Now hee is the much more modern Model 686 and it has an incredible 90 numbered parts. So it is much more complicated than the old gun. http://www.e-gunparts.com/productsch...Model=1980z686 Here's a thread from the High Road a related gun forum http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=397027 In it a poster describes his own gun smithing experience on a model ten. You'll need to be a member to see the pictures. Finally here's a video from Youtube. The guy makes working on a revolver look easy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YWDK3OS7IA

February 21, 2009, 10:13 AM	#44
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	At least 20 of those numbered parts for the 686 are front and rear adjustable sight parts. The Model 10 doesn't have adjustable front/rear sights. In the kind of "thorough field stripping" that is being talked about here, the front and rear sights would NOT be disassembled.

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