I have to admit that I'm not a huge revolver fan. I've owned a few, but never for long. I just traded for a S&W snubby a few days ago and have to say that it's a pretty cool little gun. I am in the process of cleaning it up now. How do you clean the trigger innards? Should I even attempt to remove the cover plate, or is that something best left for a smith. The heads of the three screws look perfect (unlike the rest of the gun), which leads me to believe that no one has ever been in there. Could I just blast some brake cleaner up there to clean it up? Any help would be appreciated.
Cleaning a revolvers lock works.
- Thread starter ATTICUS
- Start date
ATTICUS: I have popped the side plate on more than a few SW's. If they have never been off, you usually find a black goo in there that looks like dirty syrup. The powder blowback saturates the oil over time and oxidizes it. You could try taking off the grip and hosing the insides with brake cleaner through the slot in the frame....problem is, then how do you re-lube it? Could shoot in a spray lube. That method is probably better than nothing, but proper cleaning is best.
They are not that hard to clean if you use the right tools and know how. I recommend Kuhnhausens SW revolver manual (about $18 from Brownells). In a nutshell: you need to take off the grip (usually pretty easy but may be stuck on a bit). The three sideplate screws can be tough to take off the first time. You MUST have a good screwdriver with a hardened blade that fits the screw exactly. And, the screws are a funny size... not real wide, but thick in the slot width. Most people stick a screwdriver in there and tear the head up.
The best tool would be to get a screwdriver tip set with lots of tips and a driver handle. If you don't find an exact fit, file one of the tips down. Use penetrating oil into the screws. Lay the frame down on the side and apply pressure straight down as you turn so the screwdriver can' t pop out.
Once the screws are out: the sideplate is usually wedged on tight (by design) DON'T PRY ON IT! Use the wooden end of a hammer or the plastic handle of a screwdriver to whack the frame (handle area) repeatedly about 1" below the sideplate. Hold it over something soft so the sideplate won't fall on the ground.
Sideplate off: hose down everything with cleaner spray (brake cleaner works great) and apply good oil where needed and a good lube like Tetra Lube where you can (especially on hammer/sear faces).
The transfer bar (the piece that is loose) has to be correctly positioned to get the side plate back on. I use a little blue Loctite on the screw threads so I don't have to over torque them going back on. I recommend the Kuhnhausen manual as that will show you how to take out the hammer and do a more thorough cleaning.
They are not that hard to clean if you use the right tools and know how. I recommend Kuhnhausens SW revolver manual (about $18 from Brownells). In a nutshell: you need to take off the grip (usually pretty easy but may be stuck on a bit). The three sideplate screws can be tough to take off the first time. You MUST have a good screwdriver with a hardened blade that fits the screw exactly. And, the screws are a funny size... not real wide, but thick in the slot width. Most people stick a screwdriver in there and tear the head up.
The best tool would be to get a screwdriver tip set with lots of tips and a driver handle. If you don't find an exact fit, file one of the tips down. Use penetrating oil into the screws. Lay the frame down on the side and apply pressure straight down as you turn so the screwdriver can' t pop out.
Once the screws are out: the sideplate is usually wedged on tight (by design) DON'T PRY ON IT! Use the wooden end of a hammer or the plastic handle of a screwdriver to whack the frame (handle area) repeatedly about 1" below the sideplate. Hold it over something soft so the sideplate won't fall on the ground.
Sideplate off: hose down everything with cleaner spray (brake cleaner works great) and apply good oil where needed and a good lube like Tetra Lube where you can (especially on hammer/sear faces).
The transfer bar (the piece that is loose) has to be correctly positioned to get the side plate back on. I use a little blue Loctite on the screw threads so I don't have to over torque them going back on. I recommend the Kuhnhausen manual as that will show you how to take out the hammer and do a more thorough cleaning.
ATTICUS done good.
sideplate hooks into frame up by the hammer.....that's why you dont want to pry on it.
Keep the three screws seperate. They are different.
Go gently back with the sideplate. Hook it at the top first and then press it evenly into place with thumbs, will go hard but be carefull not to bend it. Last bit done with even tightening of screws.
Sam
sideplate hooks into frame up by the hammer.....that's why you dont want to pry on it.
Keep the three screws seperate. They are different.
Go gently back with the sideplate. Hook it at the top first and then press it evenly into place with thumbs, will go hard but be carefull not to bend it. Last bit done with even tightening of screws.
Sam
Mike Irwin
Staff
Even on older S&W's where the sideplate doesn't hook into the frame, you still don't pry it out.
That invariably leads to peining of the edges of the sideplate, giving an ugly raised look, and if the sideplate is REALLY stuck into place, which they can be, can actually cause warping of the sideplate.
That invariably leads to peining of the edges of the sideplate, giving an ugly raised look, and if the sideplate is REALLY stuck into place, which they can be, can actually cause warping of the sideplate.
Best book I ever borrowed from the local library was a gunsmithing book that educated me to the correct ways for removing a S&W side plate, those things are generally on there pretty good(atleast all 3 of my N frames are) and prying on them would cause damage in one way or another. The rapping of the grip frame with an appropriate tool is really best and it when I learned of it I was dumbfounded at the simplicity of it, as a concept I understood it but it just wasn't one of those answers that lept right out at me.
Herb Leventhal
New member
Atticus:
How is your hand healing?
Brake fluid should work fine! Best of luck
Herb
How is your hand healing?
Brake fluid should work fine! Best of luck
Herb
Thanks!