diamondback sidekick 9 round 22lr

[giwatcher]

Intermittent problem, hammer sticks at a wall about 1/3 of the way from full single action cock. It can be forced, but should not need to be forced. If the hammer is gently dropped and re-cocked it will cock smoothly until the next time. It is becoming more frequent, as in 3 times per 9 rounds fired from cylinder. Is unrelated to ammo brand, and I have cleaned and oiled. Service said send it back, as it is a known problem that gets better with break in. I have fired 400+ rounds, and it is becoming more frequent rather than less so, so break in doesn't seem to be working.
I hate to trust warranty work unless I have no choice, seems like it rarely fixes the issue without creating a new problem. Anyone aware of what might explain this unique to revolvers? Maybe with your insight I can fix it???

[Shadow9mm]

So you trust the gun and expectit to be safe, functional, and reliable, but you dont trust the people that made it to be able to fix it....

Let me throw this question out there. Where are you expecting to get spare parts from to fix it?

Also, what's the harm in contacting them to ask a question?

[Jim Watson]

That is a copy of a High Standard Double Nine.
Almost in the "No user serviceable parts inside" category.
Let them try to figure it out.

[giwatcher]

To: Shadow 9mm

"Service said send it back, as it is a known problem that gets better with break in. "
Above is a line from my original post. I guess you overlooked it. That means I already contacted them and didn't feel like their answer was any more thoughtful than "send it in and we will check it out". In my experience, that reply is so open ended as to be asking for an incomplete repair or a new problem created by disassembly. We have all had warranty work go awry, agree?

Also, depending on forum member expertise, which I hoped some would have, perhaps there is familiarity with this type of problem unique to revolvers, being improved by an extended break-in, or special oil/grease in the right location, or other easy fix, spring adjustment, etc. that a knowledgeable gun owner might know about. Yes, if parts are required, I would like know this from an unbiased gun owner and compare it to what warranty service is recommended. This is especially true if I have to pay shipping.

The gunsmith or armorer at the company is not necessarily "the people who made it" on the production line.

The wide appeal of forums is there is often someone kind enough to offer constructive advise based on their own knowledge and experience. I see no need to offer non- constructive and harsh non-advise/criticism to a new forum member.

To Jim Watson: I greatly appreciate your comment. Let them try and figure it out is likely a recipe for disaster, but I may have no choice if it becomes unbearable.

I hope others can advise. Maybe someone has this revolver and has had a similar problem.

Have a nice holiday, all.

[Bill DeShivs]

If the gun uses a leaf mainspring, remove the grips and see what it does in relation to the hammer when you cock the gun.

[Jim Watson]

High Standard made a good bit of money reassembling first generation Sentinels for $5 for DIYers who did not know they would need a specific tool. They later relented and made it easier to put back together. The Sidekick is a copy of the Double Nine which works on the Sentinel action, so the question is, did they copy early or late?

[giwatcher]

Thank you, sir. I don't know if it has a leaf mainspring, but I will certainly take your sage advise and check.

[Shadow9mm]

Originally Posted by giwatcher

To: Shadow 9mm

"Service said send it back, as it is a known problem that gets better with break in. "
Above is a line from my original post. I guess you overlooked it. That means I already contacted them and didn't feel like their answer was any more thoughtful than "send it in and we will check it out". In my experience, that reply is so open ended as to be asking for an incomplete repair or a new problem created by disassembly. We have all had warranty work go awry, agree?

Also, depending on forum member expertise, which I hoped some would have, perhaps there is familiarity with this type of problem unique to revolvers, being improved by an extended break-in, or special oil/grease in the right location, or other easy fix, spring adjustment, etc. that a knowledgeable gun owner might know about. Yes, if parts are required, I would like know this from an unbiased gun owner and compare it to what warranty service is recommended. This is especially true if I have to pay shipping.

The gunsmith or armorer at the company is not necessarily "the people who made it" on the production line.

The wide appeal of forums is there is often someone kind enough to offer constructive advise based on their own knowledge and experience. I see no need to offer non- constructive and harsh non-advise/criticism to a new forum member.

To Jim Watson: I greatly appreciate your comment. Let them try and figure it out is likely a recipe for disaster, but I may have no choice if it becomes unbearable.

I hope others can advise. Maybe someone has this revolver and has had a similar problem.

Have a nice holiday, all.

Found the exploded diagram in the manual, page 6 of the manual, page 8 of the pdf https://diamondbackfirearms.com/wp-c...ick-Manual.pdf

Also found an article in american rifleman with a pic of it with the grips off.https://www.americanrifleman.org/con...back-sidekick/

My apologies, I missed that part.

My advice is still to contact them, they said its a known issue, ask them what it is. Call on the phone if you can, companies are generally reluctant to put things in writing but generally talk more freely on the phone in my experience.

If you want it fixed you are most likely going to have to send it in. There is no such thing as a free lunch and there is a reason Diamondback are so "inexpensive". I'm willing to bet the issue is tolerances due to cast parts and burrs on stamped parts that were assembled with no fitting with their expectation of them "self fitting" during break in. as such some minor smithing or replacement of excessively "worn" parts from the "self fitting" process will probably be needed and i would not classify that under your category of "easy fix" as I understand it.

[giwatcher]

Thanks for that extra bit of info. The exploded diagram and picture with the grips off is very helpful. It clearly has a spring and not a tang. I will continue to examine and try to talk directly with the gunsmith to see what they usually do when faced with this problem.

[4V50 Gary]

From the description I'm unsure whether the hammer is locking up when the trigger is being pulled in the double action mode or when the hammer is being cocked in the single action mode.

Could be a burr in the parts, frame or something else. Hard to diagnose the cause just from the first post.

If it's under warranty, send it in.

[giwatcher]

Thanks for the input. It is the same for double and single action. I plan to discuss with diamondback gunsmith if possible.

[4V50 Gary]

In the DA mode the trigger controls most parts. In the SA mode it is the hammer.

The one thing in common is the hammer strut and I'm wondering if the hammer strut is causing the hammer to hang up. Could be burr, it could be caddywampused (Texas term I learned from a classmate).

Let us know what the gunsmith says.

[44 AMP]

caddywampused (Texas term I learned from a classmate).

In the rural NE, its "cattywampus" and means crooked/misaligned, to some degree. Its a term my mother and others of her generation used often, and one few still do these days. We also had "side hill cows" and "mugwumps".

[4V50 Gary]

You're probably right about the spell'n. I'm no expert in twange talk. Now 'splain to me side hill cows and mugwumps.

I have heard wangdoodles though.

If that hammer is potmetal and the hammer strut is steel, I can see where the strut abrades against the hammer.

[Pumpkin]

“caddywumpased” could very well be the sound your Eldo makes after hitting a pot hole with one of your 24’s, in Houston.

[4V50 Gary]

English please for the elderly who don't speak hip-hop?

[44 AMP]

side hill cows are cows with the legs on one side shorter than the other, so they stand up straight on a side hill.

A mugwump is a critter (often a bird but could be anything) that sits on a fence with his mug on one side and his wump on the other.

50s/60s slang (possibly earlier)


My turn, what's an "Eldo" ?? a cadillac, maybe??

[Pumpkin]

You are correct.