Taurus Model 44 jamming during firing? - Page 2

g.willikers · February 22, 2013, 05:05 PM

Sounds like either the cylinder lock is hanging up on the slot in the frame where it lives, or its spring is wonky, (a highly technical term).

spanishjames · February 22, 2013, 05:14 PM

I think you're supposed to take the cylinder off before you take the sideplate off. The forward screw on the sideplate usually holds a small pin and spring that hold the cylinder in. Once that screw is off, the cylinder and crane should slide off. Then you can tap the sideplate off. The fact that you removed that screw to take the sideplate off, allows the cylinder to pop out easily. Pictures would help us out here.

Super Sneaky Steve · February 22, 2013, 05:19 PM

Send it back. If you try to fix it and screw it up you'll void the lifetime warrenty.

Just be prepared to send it back a few more times as Taurus sucks at fixing their own guns.

If you're lucky they will replace it.

ryan1985 · February 22, 2013, 05:20 PM

The spring you're talking about is the one that sits inside the frame of the cylinder crane right? I pulled it out and it's bending to one side and is a little disfigured. I wonder if that be causing my intermediate SA jams during firing sessions? That'd be awesome if it's something minor like that.

ryan1985 · February 22, 2013, 05:37 PM

I've taken the extractor apart before to clean and lube the insides of it and the cylinder do you think they'll care about that? I haven't messed with the action mechanism though I've only sprayed it down and lubed it. I also polished it and made sure NOT to polish the face of the cylinder as that'll cause clearance issues. I asked them if polishing it would void the warranty when I was ordering a replacement side plate screw. They said no it'll only void the warranty on the finish which was a 2yr warranty that had already expired.

ryan1985 · February 22, 2013, 05:44 PM

And the only reason I polished it was because it had developed a few minor rust spots. I figured it'd be best to polish the whole frame to help keep it from rusting. I live on the gulf coast of texas and I carry it on my property in case I run into any wild hogs. I didn't touch any of the cylinder crane mating surfaces either.

ryan1985 · February 22, 2013, 05:52 PM

You're right spanishjames there is a spring loaded detent in the front side plate screw that holds the crane in. But even with the plate back in place and that screw inserted it still unlocks with a good tap on the frame.

g.willikers · February 22, 2013, 05:53 PM

Look in the owners manual for the exploded view.
(Or download one from Taurus).
The cylinder stop spring and plunger are listed as parts number 12.
It looks like they live in the cylinder crane, are accessed after the cylinder and crane are removed from the revolver frame.
Different from S&W.

g.willikers · February 22, 2013, 05:57 PM

Are you a member of the taurusarmed.net forum?
They have a lot of info for those who are.
But you apparently have to be registered to see everything.

ryan1985 · February 22, 2013, 05:58 PM

What's happening is that even with the cylinder locked into battery it's unlocking and spinning when I tap on the revolver. I'll try and see if I can get my wife to take a pic or better yet a short video of this with her i phone thingy.

ryan1985 · February 22, 2013, 06:08 PM

No I'm not a member on they're forum I'll have to go check it out and see if others have that issue. Though to be honest I think you've already hit the nail on the head with spring idea g.willikers. I pulled the plunger out and the spring is indeed "wonky" and bent to one side. It makes since that in it's current condition it isn't holding enough tension on the cylinder lock.

ryan1985 · February 22, 2013, 06:17 PM

Yes I'm certain the "wonky" spring on the tip of the plunger is causing the cylinder to unlock. Now the only question is if it was causing my intermediate SA jams and I have a gut feeling the answer is yes. I'm going to order a new spring from taurus and maybe a new side plate if I can and if it's not too pricey.

ryan1985 · February 22, 2013, 06:29 PM

Confirmed I just pushed forward on the cylinder lock a couple times with a screwdriver and sure enough it failed to return a few times. When it did that it felt just like it did at the range where the hammer only came back partly and i had to wiggle the cylinder free. Mission accomplished gentleman thanks for the assistance!

ryan1985 · February 22, 2013, 07:29 PM

I just crafted a temporary fix to keep my revolver functional until the new spring arrives. I have a few spare extractor spring inserts for the bolt in my ar15 laying around. Took one and shaved it down a little so it'd fit down the hole and act as a shim increasing the tension on the spring. I made sure the extractor insert fit loosely in the hole so it doesn't get wedged in there permanently. Put it back together and tapped the handle and the cylinder stayed locked up just fine!

g.willikers · February 22, 2013, 07:37 PM

Glad it all worked out.
Our consultants' bill is in the mail.

ryan1985 · February 22, 2013, 07:46 PM

Money well spent.

jad0110 · February 22, 2013, 08:12 PM

Congrats, sounds like you found the problem. In the unlikely event that it continues to act up (and for the benefit of other members), since it costs probably more than $60 to send the gun to Taurus (and you have to deal with their often lousy customer service), you are nearly always better off to pay a local gunsmith $50 to $75 to fix problems with a Taurus.

I hear you on your next gun being a S&W. I am partial to them myself, but a working Taurus should also provide years of trouble free service. I had a 6" Taurus 66 I should have never sold, and I'm the happy owner of a cool blued 3" Model 431 .44 Special. Hopefully once this glitch is corrected you'll get lots of good use out of it.

ryan1985 · February 22, 2013, 08:33 PM

I hear you buddy I definetly want this thing to last as long as possible. Yeah I've heard about the issues with taurus's CS so I was wary of sending it to them. Would've also been wary of voiding the warranty by having a gunsmith tinker with it. Plus I like fixing stuff on my own ain't got anything against gunsmiths it's just the way I am. Had it been a problem with the action I wouldn't have messed with that with my current level of knowledge. I intend to learn everything a gunsmith would know at some point though so that's why I tackled it myself(with guidance from you guys of course). I'm 99.9% sure it won't jam again now and I might go out to a range tomorrow and check it out.

spacecoast · February 23, 2013, 07:02 AM

Glad it worked out for ya... and now you know a lot more than you did before.

February 22, 2013, 05:05 PM	#26
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 2,524	Sounds like either the cylinder lock is hanging up on the slot in the frame where it lives, or its spring is wonky, (a highly technical term). __________________ Lock the doors, they're coming in the windows.

February 22, 2013, 05:14 PM	#27
spanishjames Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2010 Posts: 478	I think you're supposed to take the cylinder off before you take the sideplate off. The forward screw on the sideplate usually holds a small pin and spring that hold the cylinder in. Once that screw is off, the cylinder and crane should slide off. Then you can tap the sideplate off. The fact that you removed that screw to take the sideplate off, allows the cylinder to pop out easily. Pictures would help us out here. __________________ Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." -Sydney J. Harris

February 22, 2013, 05:19 PM	#28
Super Sneaky Steve Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 532	Send it back. If you try to fix it and screw it up you'll void the lifetime warrenty. Just be prepared to send it back a few more times as Taurus sucks at fixing their own guns. If you're lucky they will replace it. __________________ anti-state, anti-war, pro-market

February 22, 2013, 05:20 PM	#29
ryan1985 Member Join Date: July 22, 2012 Posts: 24	The spring you're talking about is the one that sits inside the frame of the cylinder crane right? I pulled it out and it's bending to one side and is a little disfigured. I wonder if that be causing my intermediate SA jams during firing sessions? That'd be awesome if it's something minor like that. Last edited by ryan1985; February 22, 2013 at 06:35 PM.

February 22, 2013, 05:53 PM	#33
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 2,524	Look in the owners manual for the exploded view. (Or download one from Taurus). The cylinder stop spring and plunger are listed as parts number 12. It looks like they live in the cylinder crane, are accessed after the cylinder and crane are removed from the revolver frame. Different from S&W. __________________ Lock the doors, they're coming in the windows.

February 22, 2013, 05:37 PM	#30
ryan1985 Member Join Date: July 22, 2012 Posts: 24	I've taken the extractor apart before to clean and lube the insides of it and the cylinder do you think they'll care about that? I haven't messed with the action mechanism though I've only sprayed it down and lubed it. I also polished it and made sure NOT to polish the face of the cylinder as that'll cause clearance issues. I asked them if polishing it would void the warranty when I was ordering a replacement side plate screw. They said no it'll only void the warranty on the finish which was a 2yr warranty that had already expired.

February 22, 2013, 05:44 PM	#31
ryan1985 Member Join Date: July 22, 2012 Posts: 24	And the only reason I polished it was because it had developed a few minor rust spots. I figured it'd be best to polish the whole frame to help keep it from rusting. I live on the gulf coast of texas and I carry it on my property in case I run into any wild hogs. I didn't touch any of the cylinder crane mating surfaces either.

February 22, 2013, 05:52 PM	#32
ryan1985 Member Join Date: July 22, 2012 Posts: 24	You're right spanishjames there is a spring loaded detent in the front side plate screw that holds the crane in. But even with the plate back in place and that screw inserted it still unlocks with a good tap on the frame.

February 22, 2013, 05:57 PM	#34
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 2,524	Are you a member of the taurusarmed.net forum? They have a lot of info for those who are. But you apparently have to be registered to see everything. __________________ Lock the doors, they're coming in the windows.

February 22, 2013, 05:58 PM	#35
ryan1985 Member Join Date: July 22, 2012 Posts: 24	What's happening is that even with the cylinder locked into battery it's unlocking and spinning when I tap on the revolver. I'll try and see if I can get my wife to take a pic or better yet a short video of this with her i phone thingy. Last edited by ryan1985; February 22, 2013 at 06:09 PM.

February 22, 2013, 06:08 PM	#36
ryan1985 Member Join Date: July 22, 2012 Posts: 24	No I'm not a member on they're forum I'll have to go check it out and see if others have that issue. Though to be honest I think you've already hit the nail on the head with spring idea g.willikers. I pulled the plunger out and the spring is indeed "wonky" and bent to one side. It makes since that in it's current condition it isn't holding enough tension on the cylinder lock.

February 22, 2013, 06:17 PM	#37
ryan1985 Member Join Date: July 22, 2012 Posts: 24	Yes I'm certain the "wonky" spring on the tip of the plunger is causing the cylinder to unlock. Now the only question is if it was causing my intermediate SA jams and I have a gut feeling the answer is yes. I'm going to order a new spring from taurus and maybe a new side plate if I can and if it's not too pricey.

February 22, 2013, 06:29 PM	#38
ryan1985 Member Join Date: July 22, 2012 Posts: 24	Confirmed I just pushed forward on the cylinder lock a couple times with a screwdriver and sure enough it failed to return a few times. When it did that it felt just like it did at the range where the hammer only came back partly and i had to wiggle the cylinder free. Mission accomplished gentleman thanks for the assistance!

February 22, 2013, 07:29 PM	#39
ryan1985 Member Join Date: July 22, 2012 Posts: 24	I just crafted a temporary fix to keep my revolver functional until the new spring arrives. I have a few spare extractor spring inserts for the bolt in my ar15 laying around. Took one and shaved it down a little so it'd fit down the hole and act as a shim increasing the tension on the spring. I made sure the extractor insert fit loosely in the hole so it doesn't get wedged in there permanently. Put it back together and tapped the handle and the cylinder stayed locked up just fine!

February 22, 2013, 07:37 PM	#40
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 2,524	Glad it all worked out. Our consultants' bill is in the mail. __________________ Lock the doors, they're coming in the windows.

February 22, 2013, 07:46 PM	#41
ryan1985 Member Join Date: July 22, 2012 Posts: 24	Money well spent.

February 22, 2013, 08:12 PM	#42
jad0110 Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2007 Posts: 571	Congrats, sounds like you found the problem. In the unlikely event that it continues to act up (and for the benefit of other members), since it costs probably more than $60 to send the gun to Taurus (and you have to deal with their often lousy customer service), you are nearly always better off to pay a local gunsmith $50 to $75 to fix problems with a Taurus. I hear you on your next gun being a S&W. I am partial to them myself, but a working Taurus should also provide years of trouble free service. I had a 6" Taurus 66 I should have never sold, and I'm the happy owner of a cool blued 3" Model 431 .44 Special. Hopefully once this glitch is corrected you'll get lots of good use out of it.

February 22, 2013, 08:33 PM	#43
ryan1985 Member Join Date: July 22, 2012 Posts: 24	I hear you buddy I definetly want this thing to last as long as possible. Yeah I've heard about the issues with taurus's CS so I was wary of sending it to them. Would've also been wary of voiding the warranty by having a gunsmith tinker with it. Plus I like fixing stuff on my own ain't got anything against gunsmiths it's just the way I am. Had it been a problem with the action I wouldn't have messed with that with my current level of knowledge. I intend to learn everything a gunsmith would know at some point though so that's why I tackled it myself(with guidance from you guys of course). I'm 99.9% sure it won't jam again now and I might go out to a range tomorrow and check it out.

February 23, 2013, 07:02 AM	#44
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 3,401	Glad it worked out for ya... and now you know a lot more than you did before. __________________ My guns include S&W and Colt revolvers, Colt and Ruger pistols, Remington 870 shotgun, Henry and Marlin .22LR rifles, Hi-Point 9mm carbine and Lancaster Arms AK. I reload handgun rounds with a Lee hand press, over 18K rounds since Nov. 2009 with nary a squib nor kaboom.