S&W Model 3 Schofield 2000 extractor

[Wayne the Shrink]

I have the above pistol and took it to the range for the second time on Wed - my 59th birthday.  After shooting it for a while the extractor would not extend fully and the pistol would not open fully, it came to a full stop about a third open like something hit a brick wall.  I discovered a lever on the hinge knuckle that allows it to open but not fully extract. 

Given that the lever is there I assume (I know, ass - u- me) that this is somehow a design issue.  Did I do something that set the pistol to do this?  If so, what?  How do I get full extraction back?

I was shooting a Mihec 200 gr lead bullet over 5gr BE, not that the load should have had anything to do with it.  Got the load out of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. 

Wayne the Shrink, proud member CastBoolits.gunloads.com

[Pettifogger]

What's BE?

[Wayne the Shrink]

What's BE?

Bullseye

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Refer to this diagram:  http://www.sam-hane.com/sass/schofield/1898_1.htm

I'd tear the hinge down and pull the cylinder to see if

1)  debris is in the hinge or
2)  the lifter (part J) is cracked or installed incorrectly or
3)  the base pin has a defect or structural failure

Some folks experience binding after shooting blackpowder.

I've also seen an Uberti Schofield with poorly cut forcing cones bind up.  The forcing cone was "shaving lead" off each round and lead shards were being cast down into the hinge.  Recutting the forcing cones fixed this.

[Wayne the Shrink]

Got it running again.  Had never taken it apart, even to taking out the cylinder.  Removed the front screw in the sight, pulled the cylinder with difficulty, found it dry and rusty in there.  Also found that the ejector spring is a light wound wire spring and the end of the wire isn't finished, just cut and left proud of the ejector rod.  It rubs on the inside of the tube it runs in.  I did the best I could to tame it, at least got the sharp cut off point turned down a little, but it still stands proud, the last full turn of the spring is proud. 

Oiled it up well, had to twist the cylinder assembly counter clockwise to get it in the tube because of that spring standing proud.  It runs right though. 

I'm afraid I'll have to take the ejector assembly out of the cylinder to fix that spring.  I assume that this one is screwed together like the Colt's are?