1969 Vintage Ruger Single Six Cylinder locked up

[glanceblamm]

My BIL has a 69 vintage ruger single six (excellent condition & fired little) that has a locked up cylinder.

When I examined it, I found that to open the loading gate will free up that cylinder lock but the hammer will not. What gives? you would think that this would be the last thing to go wrong with this revolver.
Do we need to order a specific part to your knowledge before tearing this down?
Thanks
GB

[gunnut69]

Sounds like an early SingleSix with the kit installed by Ruger to change it over so that the hammer doesn't have to be cocked to rotate and load the cylinder. It should work much as the current model does.

[glanceblamm]

Only bad part being that the hammer will not cock to advance the cylinder and fire the piece because the hammer will not free up the cylinder stop.

The mechanics of the hammer/pawl work just fine without the cylinder in place but will not release the cylinder stop as said...Opening the loading gate will release the stop.

[gunnut69]

OK If this is indeed an old model converted by Ruger it should function as do the new ones. The upgrade done by Ruger allows cylinder rotation when the loading gate is open. In an old model such as you have there was origianlly no connection between the gate and the sylinder release and loading was done with the hammer in the half cock position. How many clicks do you hear when operating the hammer. Original SingleSix revolvers had 3 positions on the hammer, down(forward, no cylinder rotation) half cock(allows cylinder rotation) and full cock(No cylinder rotation) the later models only have 2 fully forward and full cock..  If the hammer does not free the cylinder lock and allow rotation then I would suspect either a broken part or erroneous assembly. Is this a new piece to you? You said the hammer and pawl function normally with the cylinder removed, does the cylinder lock drop down as normal when the hammer is being cocked? You don't need special parts to take a Ruger SingleSix apart but if it has been converted the conversion parts are not usually sold by Ruger. It is also posibble the BIL simply reassembled the piece incorrectly although I'm not aware of how that could be done..

[glanceblamm]

Is this a new piece to you?

Very new but I know it's history (long story)

You said the hammer and pawl function normally with the cylinder removed, does the cylinder lock drop down as normal when the hammer is being cocked?

No, that cylinder lock will not drop down which is causing the problem. The lock remains upright when cocking (cylinder removed-cylinder pin in place) That lock can be depressed via finger pressure with the resistance of the spring that holds it upright being felt. The Hammer does absolutley nothing to relive the upward spring pressure. Does not feel that anything is loose and cannot hear anything rattle or get excessive play out of it. If the loading gate is opened though, that lock will smoothly slip below the base of the cylinder frame.

If the hammer does not free the cylinder lock and allow rotation then I would suspect either a broken part or erroneous assembly

I tend to agree but thought this problem might be of a more simple measure since that loading gate will free up the lock so easily. The gun has had less than 500 rounds through it (probably more like 150-200rds)
And has never been disassembled.....I Just Had A Horrible Thought But Would Have To Question The Bil & Nephew....You Don't Think That They Tryed To Fan This S/A Do You? 

Thanks for the help, sounds like disassembly is in order.

[gunnut69]

Firstly a 1969 vintage SingleSix revolver should NOT allow cylinder rotation unless Ruger has applied the upgrade which means it has been apart. Perhaps the tail is broken from the cylinder locking bolt. this would preclude the hammers actuation of the bolt release but the gate release would still function. It will need take down to be sure though. Also I don't see how it could happen and not leave pieces in the frame.. Still I've done this enough to know that anything is possible. The gate is acting as it should and there is no undue force needed to get the lock to move so the hammers actuation of the lock is all thats left to question. Taking the  gun down should give us the answer. Fanning is hard on a single action revolver but I've not known it to create any specific parts breakage problems but it may have broken this particular part as it is actuated by the motion of the hammer.. Keep us apprised of what you find.

[glanceblamm]

Keep us apprised of what you find.

Made the find this afternoon after reviewing your earlier post's on the clicks & such and seeing what this one did. The action seemed to be a little stiff so I got out the rem oil and added one drop to either side of the hammer and a drop to the inside of the cocked hammer and let it run down to the sear. A drop of oil was put in the pawl housing from the cylinder side and yet another drop was added to the cylinder locking tab and allowed to run down then back with the barrel pointed straight up.

Had to run out back and pickup some empty .22 casings to fill the cylinder (didnt want to chance breaking a firing pin on the gun and cause additional problems) and then I would open the loading gate and advance the cylinder to just past the indent then close the gate and use the hammer to revolve the cylinder to the next mark (read full cocked) then dry fire it. I did this six or seven times then the Ruger started operating exactly like it should with that lock dropping down when the hammer was eased back.

The ruger did come to me with instructions (heck, it even came with the original box along with the wax paper the revolver was wrapped in) and it appears that the Trigger And Cylinder Latch Pivot may have been froze up? at any rate it is working and smoothly at that.

I do not know whether or not to be  or  in lieu of all these post...the sad part is that I found the gun to be a good shooter just this evening and it will now have to go back home. Overall condition is very good to pristine.
Thanks for the help   

P.S. I had seen this whole package in the outer box years ago...Seems like it had a description of the Ruger along with the price tag on it for under $70 I would have to ask the bil if it still exists.