Schofield cylinder not turning

[Silver_Rings]

I now have 2 Schofields that do Not always rotate the cylinder when the hammer is cocked.  I am guessing the hand is worn.  I'm not sure how many rounds I have through them, but it is in the thousands.

As I have never fitted a hand, how difficult is it do do?

Silver Rings  

[Trailrider]

I wonder if it is the hands or the hand springs losing their temper. Fitting a hand isn't that difficult...providing you are careful...and can file a flat surface (which, in spite of degrees in manufacturing and metals technology and mechanical engineering, I CANNOT!    If you can find a smith who knows what he/she is about, I'd go with him/her.  If you do it yourself, you'd better buy a couple of extra hand/spring sets.

[Silver_Rings]

Thanks for the info Trailrider.  On one pistol the cylinder tends to not rotate on just one chamber.  The other pistol will work fine for a couple of stages then fail to rotate on one chamber.  If I push the cylinder a little the cock the pistol it will rotate.  It is not being caused by a high primer.

Silver Rings

[Trailrider]

When you say, "Push the cylinder", how do you mean that? Rotating the cylinder, or pushing it toward the rear of the gun? One particular chamber, or does it vary? Sounds possibly like there is an endshake problem, i.e., the cylinder has too much gap between the cylinder bearing surface and the frame just back of the barrel forcing cone. Hard to say without being able to examine the gun. I think you have more problem than just the hands.

[Jack Straw]

Trailrider is spot on with what to check but I'll add one to the list;  One of my Schofields will occasionally not carry up properly if it is very dirty.  The cylinder will bind on the frame at the arbor.  Thorough cleaning or at minimum a couple of drops of oil will get it back in action.   This particular gun seems to have all around tighter tolerances than my other Schofs.

[Silver_Rings]

Trailrider, by push I meant, rotate the cylinder by hand a bit.  The one pistol, the problem happen on the same chamber all the time.  This pistol I bought new and unlike my other 2 Schofields it came with a thin washer on the arbor.  I'm guessing this was to fix end play?

The problem occurs even if the pistol is clean.

Silver Rings 

[Pitspitr]

Check the clearance between the cylinder and the frame. Will it turn freely when it's open? On mine the clearance between the cylinder and the frame was close enough that it turned fine until it started heating up then it wouldn't turn even "helping" it and it didn't matter if I was shooting BP or smokeless.

OOPS I just re-read your description. Sounds like a different problem, one with a solution more like Trailrider suggested.

[Trailrider]

Trailrider, by push I meant, rotate the cylinder by hand a bit.  The one pistol, the problem happen on the same chamber all the time.  This pistol I bought new and unlike my other 2 Schofields it came with a thin washer on the arbor.  I'm guessing this was to fix end play?

The problem occurs even if the pistol is clean.

Silver Rings 

Hmmm... That one sounds like the ratchet on the "star" on the rear of the cylinder for that one chamber is buggered up.  Had that problem with an original once-upon-a-time. I might be necessary to have the tooth built up by arc welding and then re-cut. Not a job for the amateur.

[Silver_Rings]

Trailrider, how about replacing the star?

Silver Rings

[Trailrider]

Trailrider, how about replacing the star?

Silver Rings

Umm, yeah. I forgot that is separate from the cylinder (got Colt's & Ruger's on my mind  )  Might still need a tad of fitting, but, if you can get the parts, probably the way to go!

[Silver_Rings]

Trail rider, I'll have to give it some thought as to what to do.

Thanks for the help.

Silver Rings

[Trailrider]

Trail rider, I'll have to give it some thought as to what to do.

Thanks for the help.

Silver Rings

Por nada, Pard. Good luck!
Your obedient servant,

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Before you do anything drastic, check the slot in the frame where the hand pokes through. Make sure there is not a burr there preventing the hand from extending through as far as it is supposed to.

I have an original Schofield that was not rotating the cylinder on one chamber only. This would seem to indicate uneven wear to the ejector star. However when I gave the gun to Happy Trails he discovered a small burr that had been raised over the years (about 130 of them) that was preventing the hand from extending quite all the way. He removed the burr, and the gun cycles fine now. It was just a teeny bit of restriction to the full motion of the hand, but it made a difference.

[Silver_Rings]

Howdy Driftwood,

I'll check that out.  Thanks for the info.

Silver Rings

[Silver_Rings]

Howdy Driftwood,
I filed the bottom of the  slot in the frame the hand comes through and I think that has solved the problem.  I'll find out for sure after a match or two.  Thank you for the info.

Silver Rings