James K said:
No disrespect to anyone, but IMHO, it is not up to the customer to "find a solution" to a design flaw, it is up to the manufacturer to either correct a problem or offer a reasonable explanation for it (assembly error by the customer, for example).
I would agree if there was a design flaw. However, my experience with NAA has been that they freely and speedily "corrected" something that was not even a design flaw in the first place. In the case of an actual design flaw, I would expect an immediate recall.
As I stated earlier, I have an early NAA 22LR that had the original un-notched cylinder. No big deal, not a design flaw, I simply carried it in my shirt pocket with the hammer down on an empty chamber. They later modified the design to include notches in the cylinder that allow you to carry the little guns fully loaded with the hammer down in a notch between the rounds. NAA replaced the cylinder on my gun at no charge with the latest version, sent me a free pair of very nice grips, and returned the gun next day delivery.
See NAA Customer Service here about at the bottom of the page:
https://northamericanarms.com/customer-service/
If you have an older model NAA Mini-Revolver, or know someone who does, please check to see if it is equipped with the NAA Safety Cylinder – if not please call at 800-821-5783 to find out how to update the gun to the new cylinder.
NAA Mini-Revolvers come with a Lifetime Warranty. If anything should ever go wrong with your Mini-Revolver, please call Customer Support to find out how to send the gun to us for repair.
I have no doubt that if there was any problem of substance with the guns that they have been making for over 25 years they would act immediately to correct it.
I've bought a lot of guns, cars, boats, airplanes and other mechanical devices in my lifetime. Many of them have not been perfect, I can't recall any offhand that were manufactured by divine beings. I have yet to brand an entire company and it's entire line of products that the vast majority of owners will testify are perfectly satisfactory as "garbage" and "POS".
From his description of cocking it while dragging the cylinder, I consider it most likely that the OP bent the spring by forcing it out of it's groove while holding the cylinder and trying to cock his gun. An undamaged spring with tension directed into the retaining groove will most likely make his gun 100% (as long as he doesn't hold the cylinder while cocking it) if he is capable of accomplishing it without further damage to his gun, as described in the link on Post #4.
Hopefully the OP doesn't own a BMW and attempt to take the fan off (reverse threads to prevent unscrewing during use, just like the NAA and S&W). It'll be even worse if he tries to change the chuck on his electric drill, everyone of those stupid drill design engineers used reverse thread screws on the retaining bolt. Hard to believe that they were ALL that stupid, isn't it? If you don't have the training, engineering, or common sense background to look at something and understand the parameters that drove it's design, it's probably best to leave it along and let someone else fix it for you. Sometimes it pays to do i little research before beating up your equipment.
EDIT: Just noticed the OP said:
The first time it happened was when I had the hammer pulled back, but not cocked and rotated the cylinder to see how freely it spun. That popped the spring out.
I would suggest that on ANY single action revolver that if you are pulling the hammer back and the cylinder doesn't turn freely (you probably didn't pull it back far enough to disengage the cylinder stop) then DON'T force it!
In the link above at the bottom of the page, NAA also includes directions on loading for those not familiar with single actions. Carefully note #3. If the hammer is NOT pulled far enough back the cylinder will NOT freely rotate!
The Safety Cylinder is a critical part of the gun. We recommend that you practice the following steps to become proficient at using the Safety Cylinder before loading the gun.
First: Make sure the gun is unloaded.
Second: Make sure the gun is unloaded!
Third: Retract the hammer to the point that the cylinder spins freely (about half-way) and keep it retracted.
Fourth: Looking through the top/rear of the frame, locate any of the five milled safety slots (those notches on the cylinder between the chambers), and position any slot directly beneath the blade of the hammer (which is still retracted).
Fifth: While still retracting the hammer, depress the trigger (and keep it depressed)
now allow the hammer to settle into the slot.