I lost a small plastic pad of cylinder's screw hole.

[efeng9622]

I lost a small plastic washer of cylinder's screw hole.

I lost a small plastic washer when I took apart the cylinder ( Charter Arms pitbull 9mm revolver). When I released the cylinder’s screw from the gun body , I found there is a thin plastic washer in the screw hole, but when I tried to put the screw back , the washer come out and already broken! I never saw my S&W 67 revolver which I sold with this kind of washer , I believe this washer may is useless because it is too thin and light to be used. but now I like to know if I need to order this washer from Charter Arms or just let screw with no washer? Putting the washer back to the hole is pretty difficult , I had to try several times.
Thanks!

 

[RecoilRob]

You might give Charter Arms a call and ask them to send you the washer....all they can say is no and make you buy it. Numrich Arms has them...for $10.00!!! http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/CharterArms-33179/Revolvers-35692/Bulldog-37978.htm Looks like all the various revolvers use that same little washer but man...it's a pricely little thing. Best way out would be for Charter to 'goodwill' you a new one in the mail.

I don't know if I'd want to run the gun without that washer in place as, sitting here...I'm not sure just what it's doing and whether you could just leave it out or not. Most of the time, when a part is put in a gun...it kind of needs to be there for some reason. Good luck!

 

[efeng9622]

RecoilRob.
I think even I buy a new one and put it back , it will be worn off soon because it is too thin and made by plastic. If I haven’t taken apart the cylinder for several months, who knew it is still there or already was worn?
thanks!

 

[Snyper]

I'm pretty sure over half of all gun problems come from people taking them apart when it's really not necessary.

 

[efeng9622]

I agree with you but sometimes taking apart cylinder is necessary. I did before ( S & W 67) many times but didn't see this washer.

 

[Jim Watson]

The Single Action Army is bad to kick its many screws loose. At one time, Colts had those tissue thin plastic washers under all the screws.
I think that is what it is for in your Charter, to keep the cylinder yoke screw from loosening.

If Charter would not send me one or several, before I paid $10 for one, I would use a sharpened case mouth of the right diameter as a wad punch and cut a washer out of whatever plastic I had around of about the right thickness. I do not think it is a critical working part.

 

[Jim K]

Hi, efeng9622,

Are you sure that washer goes where you indicate? I don't recall any washer in the position you show, but there is a washer like that that goes between the crane and the ejector rod return spring. It provides a seat for the return spring, and keeps the spring end from catching, but I don't know how necessary it is. I am sure it has no significant support role, so I would make one out any convenient piece of plastic, or better, steel, of the right size and thickness.

Jim

 

[mnrivrat]

JimK

I think the washer in question is the crane screw washer. The OP may be trying to assemble the washer on the crane indentation he points to , but it is shown on the parts drawings as going between the crane screw head and the frame .
You should just be able to slide it onto the crane screw before assembly , and that doesn't correspond to being difficult to install or having to put it into the hole prior to assembly.

 

[RecoilRob]

If that little washer is indeed included to help keep the screw from working loose...and serves no spacing function on the crane to frame fit, then a drop of Loctite Blue would do the deed just as well...or better.

 

[efeng9622]

@Jim K, did you have this gun before? because the washer is very small, thin and light,
I am not able to make one with same size and thickness. thanks!

 

[efeng9622]

murivrat,

If I am able to slide it onto the crane screw before assembly, it maybe has broken when I inserted the screw because it is really thin that I never saw before. I am waiting for the Charter arms send to me the washer not matter it is for free or I have to pay.

Thanks!

 

[efeng9622]

I think next time I will do clear only and try my best don’t take apart the revolver unless really have to do. Disassembling cylinder looks like pretty difficult than the gun "body" . I checked youtube never found any video about how to take apart cylinder.

 

[mnrivrat]

murivrat,

If I am able to slide it onto the crane screw before assembly, it maybe has broken when I inserted the screw because it is really thin that I never saw before. I am waiting for the Charter arms send to me the washer not matter it is for free or I have to pay.

Thanks!

efeng9622,

If you were trying to assemble the cylinder and crane back into the frame by placing the washer onto that recess in the crane it could have broken then because it likely does not have enough clearance to fit there.

Pull up the drawing from the link provided by RecoilRob and you will clearly see the washer shown between the crane screw and the frame. It does not show it as being at the base of the crane at the small recess your arrow points to.

 

[efeng9622]

mnrivrat,

I can try your way to sleeve the new washer onto the screw then insert screw to the hole instead of putting it at the base of the crane. You are right because the clearance is very small. but I still have a question and will make a picture to show all tonight.

Thanks!

 

[weaselfire]

I agree with you but sometimes taking apart cylinder is necessary. I did before ( S & W 67) many times but didn't see this washer.

Yeah, but they keep gunsmiths in business.

Jeff

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[Jim K]

OK, I'm on track now. I thought you were referring to P/N 29, the ejector rod washer, but I see it is P/N 5, the crane screw washer. That little plastic washer has no purpose except to keep the crane screw from turning, acting like a lock washer. (Colt uses the same thing on the SAA, for example to keep from having the screws work loose.) Without it you might have to check and maybe tighten the crane screw once in a while.

If that it a nuisance, the same thing can be accomplished a lot cheaper with a dab of blue Loctite or nail polish on the crane screw threads

Jim

 

[efeng9622]

Jim K,

I was referring P/N 5 not 29. Charter arms agreed to send me some.

 

[efeng9622]

I don’t know if someone here also owns this gun has a same feeling with me, the cylinder and crane are not strong enough. maybe the undercover revolver just like that because it should be lighter?

 

[efeng9622]

I just received those washers from Charter arms and put one back to the crane, now it is OK. but I feel the washer will be worn off soon because it is too thin. So maybe the gun uses it or not doesn't matter. because no one always to take apart the screw to check it .

Thanks!

 

[Jim K]

I had a Charter many years ago, on their first go-round, and am about as sure as I can be that it had no such washer. I never had any problem just tightening the screw normally. I didn't think much of the gun and it was one of the few I have sold.

Jim

 

[mnrivrat]

but I feel the washer will be worn off soon because it is too thin.

If installed as a lock washer for the crane screw there is nothing to wear on the surface of the part. No reason for it to wear out.

 

[4v50 Gary]

The washer also serves as a bearing. I'd make one out of brass. Get .010 sheet brass and place it between two pieces of steel. Drill a hole (same diameter as the washer). Then trim with a file until it fits. Better to do that than spend $10.

 

[Jim K]

Crane not strong enough for what? All it does is support the cylinder while reloading; once the cylinder is closed and locked, the crane just sits there, there is no strain on it.

The cylinder is also plenty strong enough; Charter cylinders are all 5 shot, so are quite a bit stronger than 6 shot cylinders that have the stop notch at the center of the charge hole.

Jim