Single six pawl spring? Please help

[ruukeri]

Hello all. New to the forum. I own two Ruger single six new model revolvers with 9 1/2" barrels. While dry firing (used protection in cylinder) I noticed that the cylinder had stop clicking and it rolled freely in both directions. Took the cylinder out and examined the gun and noticed that the pawl(?) was loose and there was a piece of spring in the opening behind pawl. So I contacted local gunsmith and he send me a picture so I could order correct spring from him because he isn't too familiar with S6:s. Now I'd like to know if I read the picture right as I will order part number XR0 5000.

http://img148.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=892426295_50th31_122_477lo.jpg
This I believe is called the pawl. Am I correct?

http://img225.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=892425668_RugerSingleSix_122_1139lo.jpg
And there's the spring XR0 5000.

Please excuse my grammar and/or other oddities in text. English isn't my native language.

 

[rugerguy]

yes, that is the correct part number, and when you re-install it, make sure you put the 'plunger' in first ( to the front) and then the spring, the spring should be sticking out the back , so be careful you do NOT "pinch" or bend it when putting the frame back on the gun......sounds like it was put together "backwards" and that's why it "broke".

 

[ruukeri]

Thank you!! I give it to my local gunsmith to re-install. Just to be sure
I won't take the chance to screw it up and then go to the gunsmith with a whole lot of parts and tell him to put it together
I don't have the guts to start practicing disassembly/reassembly without proper knowledge or tools because I want the gun to work properly. Maybe one day when the gun is ready to be scrapped, then I will learn it.

As to my knowledge the gun is never disassembled.. It's used gun though so I'm not really sure. So either the spring somehow just got old or somebody has made a mistake assembling it and it took over 20 years and few thousand shots to break. I don't know but I'm really thankful for your information.

 

[rugerguy]

Bottom line is that for the spring to come out of the space behind the pawl, either the plunger broke, fell apart and let the spring get out of the hole behind the pawl, there just is NOT enough room for BOTH to come out, as the spring would be depressed behind the plunger, and back into the hole, between the plunger and the "grip frame"...so if something didn't "break", then it was in backwards.......the smith should be able to help you out.Good luck

 

[mike7mm08]

I would order the plunger as well. It is possible to get things to function without the plunger. For a little while anyways. Very possible the plunger was lost when the gun was disassembled at one point. Also I have found it a good idea to have all easily lost small parts for a gun on hand before I take it apart. Would rather not tell you how many different ways and times I learned that lesson. :roll:

 

[ruukeri]

I will order the plunger as well. It might be broken or just the spring as there was a small piece of spring behind the behind the pawl. First I thought it was just gun powder residue but when I cleaned it from powder, I realized it was a little piece of spring. Picture attached.

http://img222.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=932442390_spring_122_658lo.jpg

 

[flatgate]

By the looks of things the spring is obviously broken and must be replaced.

flatgate

 

[Hondo44]

I too believe it's pretty obvious the spring/plunger assembly was installed backwards causing the spring to be pinched and a piece snapped off. But the 1st rule is: always diagnose before ordering parts. You don't have to take apart very far to get to the pawl spring. Once you watch the 1st video, you might feel a little silly paying a gunsmith for the repair. But if it makes you feel better that's OK too. Recognize however, the more you know and do on your own guns, the easier they are to live with and the more you'll love 'em.

Dissassembly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfOXBa8K8Ow

NM Reassembly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zEKDqwkgEs&feature=related

 

[ruukeri]

I too believe it's pretty obvious the spring/plunger assembly was installed backwards causing the spring to be pinched and a piece snapped off. But the 1st rule is: always diagnose before ordering parts. You don't have to take apart very far to get to the pawl spring. Once you watch the 1st video, you might feel a little silly paying a gunsmith for the repair. But if it makes you feel better that's OK too. Recognize however, the more you know and do on your own guns, the easier they are to live with and the more you'll love 'em.

Thank you for those videos. I think I will try to do it myself. Hope I don't screw it up.

 

[kitkin]

Hello all. New to the forum. I own two Ruger single six new model revolvers with 9 1/2" barrels. While dry firing (used protection in cylinder) I noticed that the cylinder had stop clicking and it rolled freely in both directions. Took the cylinder out and examined the gun and noticed that the pawl(?) was loose and there was a piece of spring in the opening behind pawl. So I contacted local gunsmith and he send me a picture so I could order correct spring from him because he isn't too familiar with S6:s. Now I'd like to know if I read the picture right as I will order part number XR0 5000.

http://img148.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=892426295_50th31_122_477lo.jpg
This I believe is called the pawl. Am I correct?

http://img225.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=892425668_RugerSingleSix_122_1139lo.jpg
And there's the spring XR0 5000.

Please excuse my grammar and/or other oddities in text. English isn't my native language.

Am I the only one that noticed the pawl looks like its been altered to allow cylinder to turn backward.

 

[Hondo44]

No, it's clearly been altered for the cyl to free spin. But that isn't related to the problem. It would still click when he advances the cyl if the spring was operating correctly. He just may have not noticed before that the cyl will spin in reverse. But it's another clue that the gun has been worked on before and supports the case that the spring/plunger may have been incorrectly installed.

 

[kitkin]

No, it's clearly been altered for the cyl to free spin. But that isn't related to the problem. It would still click when he advances the cyl if the spring was operating correctly. He just may have not noticed before that the cyl will spin in reverse. But it's another clue that the gun has been worked on before and supports the case that the spring/plunger may have been incorrectly installed.

So you are saying with the loading gate open and the cylinder is turned even with a altered pawl there should be a click.
If it clicks that means the pawl is engaging the cylinder and if that is the case it will not turn in reverse. The pawl is altered so as to not engage the cylinder when it is rotated .

 

[Hondo44]

No, it's clearly been altered for the cyl to free spin. But that isn't related to the problem. It would still click when he advances the cyl if the spring was operating correctly. He just may have not noticed before that the cyl will spin in reverse. But it's another clue that the gun has been worked on before and supports the case that the spring/plunger may have been incorrectly installed.

So you are saying with the loading gate open and the cylinder is turned even with a altered pawl there should be a click.
If it clicks that means the pawl is engaging the cylinder and if that is the case it will not turn in reverse. The pawl is altered so as to not engage the cylinder when it is rotated .

kitkin,

In general you're right. Sorry for the confusion. But the OP said the pawl stopped clicking and started turning in reverse. So his modified free spin pawl apparently was not working correctly as a free spin. I said he may have not noticed it spun in reverse although that's not likely, but occasionally you find some free spin pawls that do work and give a slight click.

I know, it's counterintuitive but a few posters have posted questions on this forum asking about it, particularly new Ruger NVs and Flat Tops that have the free spin pawl and the indexing pawl to align the chamber with the loading gate. They reported two audible clicls when moving the cyl forward, the cyl pawl and the indexing pawl. Don't ask me how it happens but apparently it exists and like I say, it's counterintuitive to how the free spin pawl is supposed to work.

 

[ruukeri]

Thank you all for your help! I did manage to disassemble and reassemble the whole thing. The pawl spring was in 3 parts and I had to use a toothpick to fish it all out.
Turns out that the previous owner had installed the plunger&spring backwards. It was assembled spring first and plunger last. Rugerguy was right when he suspected it
Today I'm going to the range and test it.
Took a while for me to have the guts to do this whole operation but it was worth it.
Next time it will be much more easy and good thing that Ruger co. had those videos in Youtube.

 

[rugerguy]

Good for you, glad it worked out, and you got up the "guts" to go for it...its NOT "rocket science" ,just have to take your time, and it gets better faster,AND easier with time, practice......besides look at the money you saved from the "gunsmithing" bill.........

 

[Ale-8(1)]

It's a somewhat common occurrence, exacerbated by the fact that at least one of the "exploded parts diagrams" floating around shows the improper orientation of the plunger and spring.

As mentioned, the plunger goes in the hole first.

 

[ruukeri]

At the range the gun worked like an angel. It must've been somekind of mishap from the previous owner to put that spring in first and then the plunger. Because the grip frame spring goes in first he/she have done the same with that pawl spring. Although my manual says that plunger first. Well it's much more easy to look the disassembly/assembly from video than just doing it with the help of owners manual.
But once again many thanks to you and good shooting to all.

 

[Hondo44]

You might want to check your other gun and see if that one is in backwards also.

Happy shooting my friend!