Timing a revolver?

[detroit360]

Can some one tell me about timing a revolver?

[Survey Punk]

A properly timed revolver is one where the chamber, bore, and hammer (firing pin) are in perfect alignment at the instant of firing. all the parts moving in symphony. If you think about all the parts that have to be in perfect sync, in a revolver single or double action, to achive this you can see what a daunting task it could become.
Fortunately in the modern world tolerences are such that any mass produced revolver will be "good enough" for average use.
The sweetest revolver I ever shot was a S&W M10 slicked up for PPC competion in the late '60s. The double action was almost effortless.

JB

[azdave12]

Originally posted by detroit360
Can some one tell me about timing a revolver?

If by that you mean "correcting an out-of-time revolver"....there are several ways. Replacing/fitting a new hand, peening and reshaping pads, and even putting the "slightest" curve in a hand to advance timing are all armorer approved methods.
I've used all methods, and simple replacement with an oversize hand, and filing the pads for PERFECT timing is my favorite method.

[aardq]

Question for Azdave. What are pads and where are they?

Thanks,
Dan

[azdave12]

The pads are on the extractor star...open a cylinder, look at the chambers and you will see 6 (typically) "pads" surrounding the center pin...these pads are what the hand engages to rotate the cylinder.
In older Smiths, the pads are "distinctly" individual, and "hand fitted" for not only advancing the cylinder, but creating a tight lockup.

In newer Smiths, that have CNC stars, the pads are not individual, and have very little handfitting...they merely advance the cylinder, and do little for a tight lockup....the new design relies on the cylinder stop for lockup.

[whirlibird]

To put it bluntly, leave the timing to those who've had the training or get the training.

There's fewer ways to screw up a wheelgun faster than to mess with the timing without knowing exactly what you are doing.

I'm not trying to be rude, just realistic.

[azdave12]

Originally posted by whirlibird
To put it bluntly, leave the timing to those who've had the training or get the training.

There's fewer ways to screw up a wheelgun faster than to mess with the timing without knowing exactly what you are doing.

I'm not trying to be rude, just realistic.

Hmmm, didn't notice here in the thread where anyone was suggesting that someone "mess with the timing". I see merely definitions of "revolver timing"...and my definition of "correcting an out-of-time revolver".

In my experience, when someone asks a question about "timing"...it is because they've been told that their revolver is "out of time"....hence my explanation that there are ways to correct it.
In other words...if he is having a problem, all is not lost.

I stated common remedies...but didn't give detail of the procedures...that alone should tell someone its not for the "tinkerer".:wink:

[whirlibird]

Originally posted by azdave12


Hmmm, didn't notice here in the thread where anyone was suggesting that someone "mess with the timing". I see merely definitions of "revolver timing"...and my definition of "correcting an out-of-time revolver".

In my experience, when someone asks a question about "timing"...it is because they've been told that their revolver is "out of time"....hence my explanation that there are ways to correct it.
In other words...if he is having a problem, all is not lost.

I stated common remedies...but didn't give detail of the procedures...that alone should tell someone its not for the "tinkerer".:wink:

Normally when someone asks about timing there's a hundred ways to correct it that quickly follow, right or most often wrong. I'd rather head off any issues before it happens.

And since no details were given originally, I'm still gonna go with the "Put down the Files and stones!" answer. While I've made a bunch of cash rebuilding wheelguns and auto's, there's a limit on how many I want to see.

And there's no way I'm going to assume that no details will discourage anyone, I've worked over too many guns that tinkerers have fixed whether they had information or not. The gun rags and forums are full of methods and means to "fix and repair" what ain't broke.

And I'll agree, it can be fixed. Most of the time fairly cheaply and easily but it's not for the beginner or faint of heart.

[azdave12]

Originally posted by whirlibird


Normally when someone asks about timing there's a hundred ways to correct it that quickly follow, right or most often wrong. I'd rather head off any issues before it happens.

And since no details were given originally, I'm still gonna go with the "Put down the Files and stones!" answer. While I've made a bunch of cash rebuilding wheelguns and auto's, there's a limit on how many I want to see.

And there's no way I'm going to assume that no details will discourage anyone, I've worked over too many guns that tinkerers have fixed whether they had information or not. The gun rags and forums are full of methods and means to "fix and repair" what ain't broke.

And I'll agree, it can be fixed. Most of the time fairly cheaply and easily but it's not for the beginner or faint of heart.

Well, if anybody gets "boy, that sure sounds easy...where's my Leatherman" out of what I said...they DESERVE what they get:biggrin:

My post was purposely vague....but assures people there are corrections.
I sure didn't make "a bunch of cash" working on revolvers...just what my dept. paid me every 2 weeks, and these were all hard usage duty guns with honest wear...not tinkerer delights:wink: All the typical issues..endshake, timing, pushoff, etc

Learning how to "correct timing" is not an "online thread course".

[Gazz]

Do not get timing and indexing confused. Timing has to do with the cylinder locking bolt moving in and out of the corresponding mortise in the cylinder at the correct time. Indexing is the cylinder/chamber lining up correctly with the bore. While the two functions are intertwined, a revolver can be properly timed and not index correctly or vice versa.

[azdave12]

Barrel/chamber alignment IS the "hazard" of an "out of time" revolver.
If the cylinder is not locked (by the cylinder stop in the CS notch) at the time of full cock or hammer drop (DA), then obviously "alignment" is off...creating a "potential" hazard.
The forcing cone area of the barrel is forgiving to a degree of "mis-alignment", but only to a point.

I will give My definition of revolver "timing".....

Immediately upon movement of the trigger/hammer, the cylinder stop drops down into the frame, allowing the cylinder to rotate. The hand comes out of the frame, making contact with the pad, beginning rotation.
Somewhere in the middle of cylinder rotation to the next chamber, the cylinder stop will pop back out of the frame.....the hand will transition from pushing "up" on the pad to pushing onto the "side". The cylinder stop will enter the cylinder stop notch (on the cylinder)....effectively locking the cylinder. Then the hammer will arrive at full cock or the hammer will drop (DA).
That is the sequence of events in a nutshell in a properly timed revolver.

For an OUT OF TIME revolver....the hammer will be at full cock OR drop, WITHOUT the cylinder being locked into place by the cylinder stop.
Again, IN A NUTSHELL.

Barrel/chamber alignment...which was referred to as "indexing"...is a BYPRODUCT of timing, in most cases.

BUT...I have had new revolvers, right from the factory, that wouldn't pass a range rod test....they TIMED perfectly, but barrel/chamber alingment would be off slightly....because the offending chamber was bored off. A manufacturing defect (such as misbored chamber, mismachined CS notch, etc) is the only time I would consider "indexing" a seperate issue form timing.