Loose ejector rod

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Zaydok Allen

Zaydok Allen

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I have a S&W revolver and the ejector rod refuses to stay screwed in.

Is there any reason not to use red lock tight on the threads?

Is blue a better idea?
 
I agree that red is not the best choice. The gun will need to come apart some day...

I had the same problem, decades ago, and was considering the use of blue until a grizzled old man told me to try beeswax, of all things. I was completely skeptical, but have not needed to retighten the rod since then.
 
Pat Riot said:
Don’t use RED!
Actually I would hesitate using Blue with those fine threads.
I would first try Loctite Purple. It’s the lowest strength but if it works it will be the easiest to loosen when you do want to disassemble the cylinder assembly.

A link that tells about the different thread locker colors and their use.
https://www.henkel-adhesives.com/us...ts/blog/difference-between-threadlockers.html
Click to expand...
Thanks. The difficulty of disassembly in the event of need of repair is my concern.
 
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I like removable threadlocker for these. I would also caution that you NOT gorilla it; those threads are tiny.

Get it clean, and use a drop of reversible threadlocker.
 
You ain't building the Titanic II, your screwing with a fine piece of machinery. Use purple loctite.
 
Use the thin thread tape, like plummers tape. Works very well.
Or even just use a small piece of plastic wrap. Plummers tape is obviously easier to apply, but both work well. It's what I use.
 
Hey thanks gents. Red is all I have sitting around at the moment, so I thought I’d ask. Seemed excessive and yes, like it would be an encumbrance in the need of repair. I actually have never had this issue before.

Red won’t come near it.

I have some plummer’s tape on hand so I think I’ll try that. I’ll try some Vibra-tire also, when shipping isn’t bogged down by world health emergencies.

Heir Kommt Die Sonne said:
Use the thin thread tape, like plummers tape. Works very well.
Or even just use a small piece of plastic wrap. Plummers tape is obviously easier to apply, but both work well. It's what I use.
Click to expand...
Have you ever had any issue with heat turning that tape into a mess? I assume not since it gets used on hot water lines also.
 
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I almost always use red Loctite. You don’t want it to loosen and you want it to stay put. However, if that makes you uncomfortable, blue or purple can be used. Try the lesser thread lockers first to see if that solves the problem. You can always work up.
 
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Have you ever taken that ejector rod back out after the Red, Max? :eek:
MaxP said:
I almost always use red Loctite. You don’t want it to loosen and you want it to stay put. However, if that makes you uncomfortable, blue or purple can be used. Try the lesser thread lockers first to see if that solves the problem. You can always work up.
Click to expand...
 
I have a Taurus 82 that had the same problem. My buddy gave me a small (resealable!) tube of purple Loctite, and I have had no issues with it since. The purple is made for very small, fine-thread screws. That was probably 5 years ago, and one tube is a lifetime supply. Works great on eyeglasses, too!
 
MaxP said:
I have had to reapply after loosening again. I use it now on everything. It’s not that hard to loosen.
Click to expand...
One of the reasons I thought it MIGHT be a good idea is because of heat.

I wonder if heavy range sessions wound weaken the red over time.
 
460Shooter said:
I have a S&W revolver and the ejector rod refuses to stay screwed in.

Is there any reason not to use red lock tight on the threads?

Is blue a better idea?
Click to expand...


What are you using to tighten the rod? I got one of these a few years ago I’ve never had a rod come loose and my revolvers get shot a lot.
There are many ways and tools to tighten the rod and I’m not trying to be a salesman. His works very well though a bit pricey but well made. Very handy to keep in range bag.
Ive used it on a couple of S&W revolvers that the owners had used various items like red Loctite and was able to remove rod with no damage.
https://gunsmithertools.com/shop?ol...extractor-rod-tool-for-sw-revolvers-uhc74210c
 
Very cool...alas, not for X-frames.
Reeferman said:
What are you using to tighten the rod? I got one of these a few years ago I’ve never had a rod come loose and my revolvers get shot a lot.
There are many ways and tools to tighten the rod and I’m not trying to be a salesman. His works very well though a bit pricey but well made. Very handy to keep in range bag.
Ive used it on a couple of S&W revolvers that the owners had used various items like red Loctite and was able to remove rod with no damage.
https://gunsmithertools.com/shop?olsPage=products/xn-visesmith-a-unique-extractor-rod-tool-for-sw-revolvers-uhc74210c
Click to expand...
 
This is just on a 3” 686. Oddly enough my 460 magnum has no problem with this.

I took the rod apart and used a q tip to clean the threads. Looks like a bit of oil may have penetrated where the rod and ejector come together and lubbed up the threads enough for then to disengage easily.

I threw a little plumbers tape on also as suggested. Seems to be holding while dry firing. I’ll know for sure when I shoot the gun next.
 
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460Shooter said:
Have you ever had any issue with heat turning that tape into a mess? I assume not since it gets used on hot water lines also.
Click to expand...

No, not really. When I unscrew it, I can still put it back in and it still stays. But multiple exits and yea it starts to tear up.
As for it melting or any other problems, no.
 
Reeferman said:
What are you using to tighten the rod? I got one of these a few years ago I’ve never had a rod come loose and my revolvers get shot a lot.
There are many ways and tools to tighten the rod and I’m not trying to be a salesman. His works very well though a bit pricey but well made. Very handy to keep in range bag.
Ive used it on a couple of S&W revolvers that the owners had used various items like red Loctite and was able to remove rod with no damage.
https://gunsmithertools.com/shop?olsPage=products/xn-visesmith-a-unique-extractor-rod-tool-for-sw-revolvers-uhc74210c
Click to expand...
Just my fingers. That tool looks useful. Thanks for the link.
 
Sistema1927 said:
Maybe some people here are using a different type of "red" loctite, but all that I have used require the application of a great amount of heat in order to break free. Not something that I would use on an ejector rod, or just about anything that I might need to disassemble.
Click to expand...
This is what I was talking about.
2145D5E8-87B8-4451-B9BE-B36B1DD69D39.jpeg

It’s the stuff meant to stand up to heat and you have to hit with a torch to loosen it up. I usually go through 200 rounds of full power H110 357s, and then 200 rounds of 38 special +p per range session. The gun gets hot. Real hot. But not torch ignition hot.

Maybe @MaxP is talking about different stuff. Or maybe he has giant, pull your arms off, man hands.

As stated though, I’ve elected not to use this.
 
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