S&W revolver question

A friend just brought a 686 (nope, not a bullseye gun) over for me to troubleshoot as he was having erratic ignition. Not knowing the history I expected to find that the springs had been 'tuned' too light for factory primers. Well, the hammer felt just a bit 'off' but I had reasonably good ignition in single action but less so with double action. Could not find anything wrong with the main spring so I figured I better look inside. Removing the sideplate resulted in the hammer sliding out onto the bench. I am used to having to remove almost everything else before the hammer can be removed but the reason became apparent when I realized that the hammer pin had come out with the hammer. By all appearances the hammer pin was (spin?) welded to the inside of the frame when the gun was built, there is a slight 'dish' where the pin would normally be attached. I am not rushing to take any of mine apart for comparison but I think I recall the pin and a larger diameter 'bushing' being pressed or shrunk into the frame in them rather than the pin being 'stand alone'.
Anyone seen this happen before? Is it common on the newer guns?

Bruce

Bruce;

I could be wrong, and have been many times before

From what I know, the hammer pin is pressed into a raised machined boss in the frame.
There is also a corresponding raised machined boss in the side plate.
The raised bosses center the hammer in the frame when assembled.

If, the side plate were removed or installed improperly, it could have bent the hammer pin.
Over time, the pin could come loose from being in a bind/canted.

Also a side plate that is not machined properly(with the pin holes in the proper location) could also put a bind on the hammer pin and cause premature wear and failure.

What kind of mileage on the gun, new to owner, second or third hand ?

Some pic's of the pin, boss in the frame, side plate and both sides of the hammer ?

Clarence

Hammers do not just fall out of Smith revolvers,sounds like the pin has broken off from the frame.
It is pressed in at the factory.They do not break often ,but they do break . You will need to call Smith and then send it back for repair

Going from memory of my own S&Ws I was thinking that the raised boss might have been pressed into the frame along with the pin but I am not rushing to take mine apart just for reference. The 686 does not really show evidence of having that raised boss I recall seeing and the pin is quite definitely broken off the frame but the appearance of the 'break' made me wonder if the pin was 'spin welded' to the frame to save machine time (and money). The owner is swamped with work at his 'real' job at present so we haven't had a chance to go over the history, looks used but not abused to me. He holds an FFL and this is one of his personal guns, I have advised that it will need to be sent back to Springfield. Just trying to understand how this could happen.

Pin is laying on it's side for reference, 'near' it's original mounting location, I should have turned it around so that the bottom (previously welded?) side was visible.




Bruce

Things happen, it could be any number of reasons. One of the most common is testing the trigger pull without the side plate on,without the support of the side plate the pin will break off. And as far as I know this requires repair at the factory

That is absolutely a factory repair.  All the bosses are pressed in to the frame.

S&W repair as KC stated

kc.crawford.7 wrote:That is absolutely a factory repair.  All the bosses are pressed in to the frame.

No argument about it being a factory repair here, he will be shipping it back at some point. Good to know that the boss is pressed in, I was thinking that it looked like a 'cost cutting' weld on this gun, maybe to go along with the non-pinned barrel and non recessed chambers. If the pin is machined integral with the boss and pressed in I can see where a fracture like that could occur.

Thanks to all for the wisdom, I always learn stuff here!

Bruce

Joe Leininger at Mojo Custom guns 248-867-8685  has the fixture and the ability to repair broken studs.

Tom

[quote="9146gt"]Joe Leininger at Mojo Custom guns 248-867-8685  has the fixture and the ability to repair broken studs.

Tom[/quote

If Joe does, he does great work
Jim

Talked with the owner of the 686 today, it is already back in Springfield for repair. They told him that it was not covered under warranty (too old) as it was among the first L frames made. That seems like all the more reason that they would want to 'make it right' but he doesn't really care if they charge him, just wants in back in working order.
Once again a 'Thank You' to everyone for help and advice!

Bruce