Sidewinder Open/Close Hard?

[boddah4]

Today I was at Cabelas and looked at a sidewinder. I and the salesman had a hard time opening and closing the cylinder on it. Is this typical? Do they "break in" and get easier? Is there a trick to it?
I got rid of my minimag because I didn't like having to remove the cylinder on it to load and unload it. I worry that the sidewinder won't be much better.

[ikoiko]

You need to push on the cylinder and knurled pin area.

[boddah4]

You need to push on the cylinder and knurled pin area.

We were, maybe a trick to it we weren't doing consistently.

[OV-1D]

 I've had that knurled section start to unscrew which prevented me from openning and closing easierly , it does unscrew if anybodys having same problems . Dab of locktight screw back on . 

[jennflip]

When closing the sidewinder I push on the cylinder with my left thumb and with my right thumbnail I push on the " ball bearing" tip to start it in the slot and then push cylinder and knurled part "home"====   works great

[boddah4]

Sounds like it works well once you get used to it?

[Scroller]

Hammer must be in half cock to swing cylinder.

[JRobyn]

The spring on the cylinder pin tip is quite stout, maybe a little bit more than necessary.  And the tip is more of a cone than a ball (like a tiny ball bearing).  And the "ramp" in the frame that the tip presses into is very tiny so there's not much ability to machine it into a smooth gradual ramp.

All of this combines to make the tip a bit difficult to "snap" back into the frame, especially when one is new.  I smoothed my pin tip some with some fine sandpaper, and made sure that the whole pin assembly was thoroughly lubed with a high-quality lube.  And then cycled it repeatedly to help break it in.

I can now "snap" the cylinder and pin back in with just pressure on the cylinder, but it takes more force than I like to use with a small delicate (?) crane like this, so I usually help it back in with direct pressure on the knurled part of the pin assembly.

There are compromises when making things as small as practical.

[Ruger]

I, too, found that good lube and a little polishing on the pin tip helped with closing the cylinder.  It also helps if you rotate the cylinder slightly as you press in.  Even though I can now close it with just pressure on the crane, I still use two hands to assist the pin tip.  Treat it tenderly; there are too may full size revolvers out there where the cylinder rod was bend from banging the cylinder into place.

[JRobyn]

Isn't it Smith revolvers that can be damaged by just "flipping" the crane closed?

[heyjoe]

any revolver with a crane can be damaged doing the wrist flip to close the cylinder.

[RogueTS1]

Flipping the cylinder of a revolver closed is a big no no................

[OV-1D]

Flipping the cylinder of a revolver closed is a big no no................

  I think Rogue you wanted to add is if the crank rod isn't too long as the Sidewinder is a little too long and delicate for man-handling like such . Maybe !

[bbgun]

Leave the wrist-flipping to Jimmie Cagney.

[Ruger]

Leave the wrist-flipping to Jimmie Cagney.

That what I say, see.

[JRobyn]

any revolver with a crane can be damaged doing the wrist flip to close the cylinder.

I do NOT actually do it with my Super Red Hawk, but if I did, I think its robust construction could handle it.

[Ruger]

I do NOT actually do it with my Super Red Hawk, but if I did, I think its robust construction could handle it.

Makes me cringe just thinking about it!

[bleak_window]

I always flipped my LCR cylinder closed because I hated than gun.  Traded it for a real gun. 

[OV-1D]

 Today I just received my first metal NAA box and to my surprise a four inch barreled Sidewinder was in it with the conversion cylinder . The release lever is real stiff for sure , Used some white lithium grease on the tip , openned and closed it a few dozen times and thats all it took . Used dry lubricant spray on the rest of the gun , works like a charm . Wish the knurl was deeper etched for grabbing purposes . The wood stock grips are a very miserable fit though , really sorry looking . Price was right thru Bud'sGuns and fast too . Now to work on some antler boot grips for the perfect look . 
  Heck I'm using Sandy's picture , except my piece is prettier  , it's what threw me into buying one , simply a beautiful picture .   Got to admit this metal lock box is a fantastic plus , thanks Sandy .

P.S. I did exclude California from the Union for the picture only . 

[RogueTS1]

Photos please when you finish and mount the new grips OV. It sounds like a wonderful plan.

[OV-1D]

 Will do Rogue , I'm picking thru my stock supplies to see which is going to make it really come alive and sassy . I ordered NAA's basket weave holster and a flap holster also one of those will dress it up nicely . I'm a fan of their holsters , the basket weave model is made that it will last for centuries . 

[estuardo]

For the OP...mine was difficult to open at first, but after cleaning it when I brought it home, it worked fine. My biggest concern now with it, is the crane screw comes loose very quickly! Thankfully, I bought a couple extra screw in case...