Dusty Devil Dale Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 (edited) A local cowgirl friend asked me to take a look at her Ruger Single Six pistol. It frequently skips past one (always the same one) index recess on the cylinder, leaving the gun out of battery for the following round. I microscopically inspected and measured the cylinder recess dimensions and spacing, sprocket spacing, and hand/pawl (lower spur) engagement length and angle/fit. I found no differences between the cylinder recesses and no differences or wear on the pawl or sprocket. When I swapped in another cylinder from her other pistol, the gun ran fine, and the problem transfered with the cylinder to her other gun. So, I chucked the problem cylinder both, between centers, then from the external circumference in a precision second operation lathe and measured the runout of the hole and the outside cylinder circumference, at both ends and over the index recesses. Runout was 0.037" at the sprocket end, 0.041 at the recesses, and 0.044" at the front hub. That seemed excessive. (By comparison, the other good cylinder runout was 0.011", 0.014", and 0.018", respectively. ) I have been unable to find replacement cylinders for the old Single Six revolvers. So unless somebody out there sees other options, I see only two possible remedial paths. 1) Take a spare bolt and TIG Weld on a longer upper tang, machined 0.040" longer than the original, hoping the longer locking tab will engage the recess on all 6 cylinder stations, or 2) LN2-Freeze, then Press a tightly fitted pin into the center cylinder bore, then re-bore to spec. a new (round, rather than oval cross section bearing hole). The first jeopardizes only the cheaply replaceable bolt, while the re-boring option necessitates precision lathe work, and matching of the cylinder and pin alloy hardness to assure concentricity of the new boring. I am less than confident about attempting that work myself. Done professionally, the cost could easily approach or exceed the gun's value. Does anybody else see another option? I have already replaced the worn base pin. End play on the cylinder is within spec. at <0.005" All of this points up the importance of thoroughly and frequently cleaning the base pin and the center bore, and properly lubricating both. The center bore is only about 1 -2 mm away from the firing chamber, so the carbon and cellulose crud that you see on the front hub is also blown into the front of the center bore. Frequent careful cleaning is a cheap, easy alternative to some expensive gunsmiting work. I will appreciate any thoughts or options anyone may have to offer. Thank you in advance. DDD Edited March 22 by Dusty Devil Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawnee Hills Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 Depending on the size needed to correct the runout, another option would be to rebore the hole and install an oversized base pin. Of course the holes in the frame will need to be enlarged as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Devil Dale Posted March 22 Author Share Posted March 22 A man has to recognize his limitations. I suspect that level of gunsmithing is far above my pay grade. It might make the gun work, but I don't have the tooling or holding jigs to avoid really messing up the receiver. I NEVER alter a receiver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Null N. Void Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 Call Ruger. They can help. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Devil Dale Posted March 22 Author Share Posted March 22 6 minutes ago, Null N. Void said: Call Ruger. They can help. Somehow, I neglected that option. The DIY in me always looks for what I can do first. Sometimes, that carries a bit too far. Thank you! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skullbone Willie Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 Had one of my Vaqueros skipping, sent it back to Ruger and got it back in a month. New cylinder was required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Red Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 (edited) Have couple cylinders for sale in classified. TR Edited March 22 by Texas Red addition 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake-eye, SASS#45097 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 Would adjusting the offending racket do anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assassin Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 (edited) It's that loading gate detent, spring not the cylinder. I've repaired a couple. Always the same cylinder that skips. Edited March 23 by Assassin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 Call Ruger, have serial number handy. Ask for a unground cylinder stop and also for a cylinder pawl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Devil Dale Posted March 23 Author Share Posted March 23 4 hours ago, Assassin said: It's that loading gate detent, spring not the cylinder. I've repaired a couple. Always the same cylinder that skips. Thank you. I will change the spring. The gate snaps shut solidly, though, and the bolt comes up in proper time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assassin Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 7 hours ago, Dusty Devil Dale said: Thank you. I will change the spring. The gate snaps shut solidly, though, and the bolt comes up in proper time. 7 hours ago, Dusty Devil Dale said: Thank you. I will change the spring. The gate snaps shut solidly, though, and the bolt comes up in proper time. You need to get the new one and compare it to the existing spring. I thought it was strange myself until I could see the parts side by side. Then, it made sense. Good luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted March 25 Share Posted March 25 I always learn so much from posts like these. Thank you. Hugs! Scarlett 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Sledge Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 Thanks guys this is what happened to my ruger two weeks ago in the FL state match. As Paul Harvey would say, Now we know the rest of the story! Cheers JB Sledge 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Devil Dale Posted April 12 Author Share Posted April 12 (edited) Update: I tried something simple first. The cylinder center bore was 0.041" out of round over the stop recesses, so about half of that should be the expected maximum increase in gap distance over the bolt catch as the cylinder rotates. I machined 0.024" off of the top of bolt's lower arm, below the cylinder catch process (where the bolt contacts the frame, stopping the bolt's rise toward the cylinder.) That change did, in fact, allow the bolt catch to elevate by roughly the same amount. Yesterday, I tested by running 100 rounds through the pistol without any skips or jambs. It was a band aid over a bigger cylinder bore roundness problem, but a cheap band aid by comparison with replacement or performing major cylinder surgery. Edited April 12 by Dusty Devil Dale 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go West Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 Ruger will do warranty work free no matter if you are not the original owner. Pull out all non-stock parts before sending it in or you won't get them back. They will return the gun after fixing and may only cost shipping and a bit of waiting time. I had one pistol many years ago that over rotated. I sent it in and had it back within a couple of weeks. That gun is still running strong. It is certainly faster than I am at this point. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Devil Dale Posted April 12 Author Share Posted April 12 4 minutes ago, Go West said: Ruger will do warranty work free no matter if you are not the original owner. Pull out all non-stock parts before sending it in or you won't get them back. They will return the gun after fixing and may only cost shipping and a bit of waiting time. I had one pistol many years ago that over rotated. I sent it in and had it back within a couple of weeks. That gun is still running strong. It is certainly faster than I am at this point. Good to know Ruger still backs their products. This was not my own gun, and it has been short-stroked and had trigger work done in the past, so my flexibility was pretty limited. But still good to know. Thx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 On 3/22/2024 at 5:53 PM, Texas Red said: Have couple cylinders for sale in classified. TR This looks like the easy fix! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Bullweed Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 I had a similar issue about 1.5 years ago with a Ruger Birdshead .32 Mag. Sent it to Ruger on a Friday; got it back the following Wednesday. I accepted Ruger's offer for shipping for $60 for two-way Fedup and the repair was at no cost. There is not a better company anywhere, in any industry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 On 3/22/2024 at 8:28 PM, Assassin said: It's that loading gate detent, spring not the cylinder. I've repaired a couple. Always the same cylinder that skips. WOW! Wasn’t this your answer on a recent different thread? Crazy how a little part - spring and detent can impact something so much. Hugs! Scarlett 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLACKFOOT SASS #11947 Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 I had one doing that. Ruger replaced the cylinder and did a bit of fitting and no problem. Blackfoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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