satana

.hi guys , I require alot of help , bought a used k frame with 3 problems ,
1) needed a side plate screw the flat head one [ fixed].
2) hand or paw was install without pre loading the hammer spring [ fixed]
3) the problem.. when I received the revolver opening the cylinder was difficult and firm , if I unscrewed the cylinder rod 1/2 a turn cylinder opened and close freely. upon inspection, a small bushing was missing from inside the cylinder on top of large spring inside the cylinder under the cylinder rod you unscrew to disassemble.
I have a USAF torched k frame airweight , I removed the bushing from the revolver.
I reassembled cylinder assembly with the new bushing installed and now I cannot open the cylinder ???
help. help.

dfariswheel

Obviously the ejector rod bushing was longer in the older gun.

If you got the cylinder to snap shut, (unless you really forced it hard) it will snap back open.
Push forward HARD on the cylinder latch, then press firmly on the cylinder to get it to open out of the frame.

If that doesn't do it, DON'T USE MORE FORCE. It's really stuck and further efforts to get it open will almost surely do serious damage to the gun.
If you have a REAL qualified S&W revolver pistolsmith around take it to him.
Unless you're 100% certain about his qualifications as a gunsmith, be smart; send it in to the S&W factory for repair.

Not only can they get it open, they have brand new parts to repair it properly.
A local may not have the parts and may be tempted to do exactly what you did, install improper parts.

.22M.R.F.

There may be a slight problem with the advice defariswheel offered since S&W will not work on revolvers they do not have replacement parts for. I would add that you need to give them(S&W) the Serial Number and inquire as to whether they will/can make repairs. In the meantime you can try one other thing if you have a small bladed hollow ground screwdriver that is just the right size to go into the front ejector rod catch and depress the spring loaded catch at the same time you push the cylinder release, if it opens replace it with the one you replaced it with before. Please make sure its tight. If the revolver is an older one the threads will be Right Hand, if its newer the threads will be Left Hand. Normally there is a machined portion just back of the knurling on the end that indicates Left Hand Threads. Good Luck!

S&W Customer Service Telephone Number is: 800-331-0852

Please do not take this as a contradiction to the advice dfariswheel offered because S&W just could be your best option.