S&W 686 no dash ....need help

[mozeppa]

hi,

got my 686 out, took the crane out, sent the cylinder to Dougguy to make all the chambers the same size.
he did a first rate job.

i got it back and did the re-assemble and everything looked perfect.

so i closed the cylinder into the frame.

and now it won't open at all.... i mean i can still rotate the cylinder by holding the
hammer half way back ...or, i can rotate it by using the double action (pulling the trigger.)

this is a "no dash" and has no child safety locking mechanism hole on the left side.

how do i get it open without damaging anything?

[robg]

Has the ejector rod become loose ,unscrewed slightly,its a lh thread.

[mozeppa]

fixed it!

t'was too much crud inside the stem
so while it was all apart i cleaned everything with q-tips and acetone ...rem oiled every thing lightly.
changed the sear spring and main spring to 13 pound instead of the 14 pound in it.

now it has a trigger pull of 2.3 pounds! instead of 4.0
just hope it fires okay now with the lighter springs.....if not i'll change them back.

life is good!

[robg]

If it fires in double action mode with the light spring it will work fine single action.

[mozeppa]

got to shoot it today.... man !...it's a tack driver!

[robg]

Still miss mine (had to hand it in in 98 when they banned pistols here) 6inchbarrel firing pin on hammer pacmaya presentation grips shot mainly double action in comps ,even won a turkey one year .

[jmorris]

IIRC the two I bought when they first came out had to go back for a factory modification and had an extra M stamped on them when they came back.

[Boolit_Head]

All of them up to a point were under that recall. I remember taking mine in and they did it while I waited.

[robg]

They marked the underside of the hammer with an m on mine .never had a problem before the recall .my wife had the 4 inch version.

[Boolit_Head]

Hmm I thought the factory dictated the -m to designate it had been modified per the recall. Never head of under the hammer.

[mozeppa]

anyone remember what the recall was about?

[HarryT]

SMITH & WESSON
MODEL 581, 586, 681, 686, or 581-1,
586-1, 681-1, 686-1 & 686CS-1, REVOLVERSRECALL: Reports have been received from the field where the combination of a SMITH & WESSON L-FRAME 357 MAGNUM REVOLVER and some .357 Magnum ammunition has resulted in unacceptable cylinder binding. L-frame revolvers bearing model numbers:
581, 586, 681, 686, or 581-1, 586-1,
681-1, 686-1, 686CS-1
Cylinder binding can cause a failure to fire. Mishandling a revolver while freeing the cylinder can result in accidental discharge.Cylinder binding can result from a number of causes, including characteristics of an individual revolver or the use of ammunition, which does not conform to industry pressure specifications or is particularly fast burning. Recent developments in ammunition manufacture emphasize the production of .357 Magnum ammunition with increased velocity and greater primer sensitivity.Although there have been very few reported incidents of cylinder binding, in view of our concern for our customer's safety and the reliability of Smith & Wesson products in all circumstances, we issue the following warning:In a situation where a failure to fire can be critical - such as law enforcement or personal protection - do not use .357 Magnum ammunition with an L-frame revolver bearing model numbers 581, 586, 681, 686 or 581-1, 586-1, 681-1, 686-1, 686CS-1 without an "M" over the model number until you have had the revolver modified.Those who need to use their L-frame revolver under these conditions prior to modification can safely fire .38 Special caliber ammunition.Smith & Wesson has developed a modification to improve existing L-frame revolvers. This improvement enables them to fire all .357 Magnum ammunition, without cylinder binding. Shipments of L-frame revolvers from our factory after August 21, 1987 already include this improvement.You can check if your revolver includes this improvement by looking at the left side of the frame when the cylinder is fully open. If your revolver has been stamped either with a "2" or higher number after the basic three-digit model number or with an "M" above the model number, your revolver includes this improvement and does not need modification. If your revolver bears the model number 581, 586, 681, 686, or 581-1, 586-1, 681-1, 686-1, 686CS-1 without an "M" over the model number, it does not include this improvement and your should have your revolver modified.Smith & Wesson will modify your L-frame revolver free of charge to eliminate the possibility of cylinder binding with .357 Magnum ammunition. Law enforcement agencies wishing to arrange for modification of L-frame revolvers should call 800-458-8469 between 9 A.M. and 6 P.M. Eastern time (MA residents call 413-734-8244). Other users should send their revolvers to a Smith & Wesson Warranty Service Center, specifying "L-frame improvement program" and enclosing their name and return address.One of the modifications to improve the L-frame revolver is the installation of a new hammer nose. This obsoletes all old L-frame hammer noses (part numbers 4702 and 7513) and all old L-frame hammer assemblies (part numbers 3366, 3378, 3380, 3382, 3391, 4722, 4723, 4726 and 4728) in field parts inventories. Superseded parts should never be fitted into a modified revolver as this may result in malfunction. It is essential for safety that you return these obsolete L-frame hammer noses and obsolete L-frame hammer assemblies for a free exchange to:

Smith & Wesson
Service Department
2100 Roosevelt Avenue
Springfield, MA 01101
Do not return L-frame hammer-nose bushings from your spare parts inventory inasmuch as they are useable in J, N and K-frame revolvers, which are not included in this Product Warning.We regret any inconvenience this may cause. Smith & Wesson's first concern is the safety of its products and the protection of its customers.

[Boolit_Head]

Well between all the lawyer drivel and if I remember correctly the heart of the problem was the hole in the firing pin bushing was oversize allowing primers to flow back into the gap and bind the cylinder. The fix was a new firing pin bushing.