S&W .38 J Model Issue

[d_reynolds]

Hello All,
I am on here because I am having an issue with a S&W .38 J Model I have. Got it from a family member, it’s old and wasn’t taken care of. I stripped it down and cleaned it. Put it back together, had issues…and let it sit in pieces for a month and a half. Tonight I decided to sit down and put it back together. I got the other issue figured out. But I still have one issue.

The cylinder rotating arm, or whatever the official name for it is, does not stay in position unless the muzzle is pointing down or flat. If the muzzle is pointed even slightly up the cylinder stops rotating. I can hear the arm swinging around inside the frame. I am wondering if anyone has any advice on how to fix that or if did something wrong in the reassembly. Thanks.

I may take a photo or two tomorrow and post it. But it’s put back together and the sleeping medicine is kicking in. So until I get around to that, hopefully y’all can imagine what I’m talking about.

 

[Braxton1]

If I am reading correctly, this part is called the HAND. Chances are, the spring for it has slipped off of the hand and it is free to just flop around. Easy mistake to make.

 

[d_reynolds]

If I am reading correctly, this part is called the HAND. Chances are, the spring for it has slipped off of the hand and it is free to just flop around. Easy mistake to make.

Interesting. Because there was no spring in the frame for that. The only 2 springs are the hammer spring and the spring that pushes the is behind the trigger. As of now all that holds it in place are 2 pegs which allow it to move in the proper direction. I’ll looking into a hand spring

 

[palmettomoon]

Interesting. Because there was no spring in the frame for that. The only 2 springs are the hammer spring and the spring that pushes the is behind the trigger. As of now all that holds it in place are 2 pegs which allow it to move in the proper direction. I’ll looking into a hand spring

There should be a hand torsion spring. Something must "keep" the hand in place after the cylinder stop engages and rotation is complete.

 

[d_reynolds]

There should be a hand torsion spring. Something must "keep" the hand in place after the cylinder stop engages and rotation is complete.

 

[d_reynolds]

There should be a hand torsion spring. Something must "keep" the hand in place after the cylinder stop engages and rotation is complete.

Unfortunately I do not see it. A parts order at the very least

 

[Braxton1]

That spring is under the Hand and engages a stud on both the Trigger and the Hand.

 

[Badger]

I will send you a pm with a schematic that shows you the spring ... it's a tension spring, not a coil spring and it's very small and inside the trigger body..., most like you are a little out of line and the hand is on the wrong side of the spring..

 

[cmshoot]

Bring it by TruPrep in Marietta and ask for me, Shep. I can get it back together and functioning while you wait, if all the parts are there and in decent shape.

I'm here most days except Thursday-Friday.

 

[RSB]

If I am reading correctly, this part is called the HAND. Chances are, the spring for it has slipped off of the hand and it is free to just flop around. Easy mistake to make.

And harder to fix for the inexperienced. Those little springs can be a real bugger sometimes.