How did I screw up my ejector rod reassembly?

[NoirFan]

So my Ruger Security Six was starting to stick a little bit in double action fire. I decided to take apart the whole cylinder and ejector rod assembly to clean out all the accumulated gunk for the first time and spray down the inside with lubricant. Got everything apart and back together, and now the ejector star won't return to resting position after I depress the ejector; I have to slide the star back and forth manually. The spring is definitely in there so it's not that.

From looking at the exploded view, it looks my my problem is with the #17 washer. I can't find anything like this piece on my workbench, did I just lose it or something? If so, where can I find a new one?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

So my Ruger Security Six was starting to stick a little bit in double action fire. I decided to take apart the whole cylinder and ejector rod assembly to clean out all the accumulated gunk for the first time and spray down the inside with lubricant. Got everything apart and back together, and now the ejector star won't return to resting position after I depress the ejector; I have to slide the star back and forth manually. The spring is definitely in there so it's not that.

From looking at the exploded view, it looks my my problem is with the #17 washer. I can't find anything like this piece on my workbench, did I just lose it or something? If so, where can I find a new one?

View attachment 792105

Looks like you got the diagram from Numrich. Do they not have the washer?
If not, it doesn't appear to be anything special. A trip to the fastener section at the hardware store may yield what you are looking for.

 

[JohnKSa]

Does it move freely back and forth or does it feel like it's dragging? If it feels like it's dragging, does the dragging feel uniform over the entire travel or does it get worse during some points in the travel and better at other points?

If it moves freely back and forth, then it seems like a part is missing and the washer sounds like a good candidate.

If it's dragging and the dragging is uneven then my guess is that something is bent.

If it's dragging and the dragging is uniform, then I would guess there's some foreign object (or an incorrectly installed part) that is jamming things up.

 

[entropy]

Welcome to the Home Gunsmithing course 101;
Lesson one: Always have some way of stopping sprung parts and assemblies from losing parts when disassembling. 2 gallon Ziplok bags work well for this.
Lesson Two: Of you ignore lesson one, you can expect to spend about half the time at the bench looking for parts that fly off.

 

[Bama59]

Take the assembly apart and make note of the parts you have ,doubt you will find the ejector rod washer a gun part at a hardware store. If Numrich doesn't have it don't where you will find one

 

[robhof]

So my Ruger Security Six was starting to stick a little bit in double action fire. I decided to take apart the whole cylinder and ejector rod assembly to clean out all the accumulated gunk for the first time and spray down the inside with lubricant. Got everything apart and back together, and now the ejector star won't return to resting position after I depress the ejector; I have to slide the star back and forth manually. The spring is definitely in there so it's not that.

From looking at the exploded view, it looks my my problem is with the #17 washer. I can't find anything like this piece on my workbench, did I just lose it or something? If so, where can I find a new one?

View attachment 792105

Contact Ruger, explain the problem, they're fine people and will help, Ruger customer service is very good.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Take the assembly apart and make note of the parts you have ,doubt you will find the ejector rod washer a gun part at a hardware store. If Numrich doesn't have it don't where you will find one

Ehhhh.......a washer is a washer. Find one with the right outside diameter and you can drill out the ID to match if necessary. Get several and you can stack them to adjust the spring tension until you get it right.

I would be surprised, though pleasantly, if Ruger still had parts for the 6 series guns.

 

[entropy]

Ehhhh.......a washer is a washer. Find one with the right outside diameter and you can drill out the ID to match if necessary. Get several and you can stack them to adjust the spring tension until you get it right.

Ehhhh......wrong. Gun parts, even washers, are made from specific materials to specific tolerances for a reason. You can sometimes get away with a generic substitution, as in a concurrent thread where I mentioned subtsituting a safety pin body for the mag release spring on a Rem. 742, but was a temporary emergency repair, and was replaced ASAP.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Ehhhh......wrong. Gun parts, even washers, are made from specific materials to specific tolerances for a reason. You can sometimes get away with a generic substitution, as in a concurrent thread where I mentioned subtsituting a safety pin body for the mag release spring on a Rem. 742, but was a temporary emergency repair, and was replaced ASAP.

You work on old machines, including guns, long enough and at some point you will have to fabricate a part or two. The safety and function of the part depends on your skill level and confidence. If you don't feel comfortable fabbing a washer (if it is in fact unavailable), then you should probably let a qualified gunsmith work on your guns in the first place.

To the OP, good luck and no haterade bro.

 

[Kendal Black]

Welcome to the Home Gunsmithing course 101;
Lesson one: Always have some way of stopping sprung parts and assemblies from losing parts when disassembling. 2 gallon Ziplok bags work well for this.
Lesson Two: Of you ignore lesson one, you can expect to spend about half the time at the bench looking for parts that fly off.

Crib note: A powerful magnet is handy when searching for small springs.

 

[popeye]

Looks like a lock washer. Take the crane with you to an Ace Hardware and see if you can find one. Ace store by me carries some screws and parts for guns.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Looks like a lock washer. Take the crane with you to an Ace Hardware and see if you can find one. Ace store by me carries some screws and parts for guns.

View attachment 792147

Here's a Grainger lock washer link which is very similar:
https://www.grainger.com/product/1N...6797!&ef_id=WES2JAAABfs41y6z:20180604203703:s

Their website also lists the ID and OD of all their washers, so a bit of careful measuring may allow you to find a drop-in replacement. Good Luck!

 

[rsrocket1]

Looks like a lock washer. Take the crane with you to an Ace Hardware and see if you can find one. Ace store by me carries some screws and parts for guns.

View attachment 792147

Yup that's it. I took mine (Service Six) apart last week and for the life of me couldn't get the ejector rod to spring back to the closed position. I went back into the garage and found what looked like an internal toothed lock washer sitting on the table. Put it back in and voila!

 

[Sistema1927]

Time for a strong magnet and a bright flashlight. It might be that 5 minutes (or 5 hours) of searching will solve your problem.

 

[FROGO207]

I have had times when an ejector star will work better without binding in one position than in the other five. After getting a washer this might be a problem also if it still does not work.

 

[Varminterror]

Contact Ruger, explain the problem, they're fine people and will help, Ruger customer service is very good.

It’s a Six Series. It’s been years since Ruger quit supporting them.

 

[RKRCPA]

I happen to have mine apart for cleaning. This is what you are looking for.

 

[robhof]

It’s a Six Series. It’s been years since Ruger quit supporting them.

I would still give them a call, I've gotten help and parts for my Old Armies and Ruger has officially stated they no longer carry parts for them. Ruger may still use some of the same parts in newer models and may have a suitable replacement part.

 

[NoirFan]

Looks like you got the diagram from Numrich. Do they not have the washer?
If not, it doesn't appear to be anything special. A trip to the fastener section at the hardware store may yield what you are looking for.

Hi all, thanks for the help on this one. it turns out a trip to the hardware store got me what I needed. I couldn't find a lock washer to fit but a standard Everbilt #8 washer did the job. The ejector functions smoothly with a strong return now. I'll update this thread if any future problems arise from using this replacement part.

 

[Sistema1927]

I love a happy ending.