Help! I took my revolver apart and can't get it back together.( 686-3)

[hunting1bob]

I was looking in my revolver trying to figure out how everything worked and I pulled the hand off of the trigger and there must have been a spring holding the hand up against the cylinder. I cannot find where the spring, or where it goes, but I know it needs one.   I cannot find a diagram or a picture of this assembly, I'm sure its an easy fix if someone could help me out. The revolver is a smith 686-3 Thanks.

[LEO]

Go to the Gun Parts Corportaion website, they have diagarams of S&W revolvers that will probably help you.  Don't feel to bad this happens more often than you would think.  Good luck

[Graybeard]

Our Gunsmithing Forum here would be the best place to get the info you need on putting it back together. I pretty much make it a rule to not take the side plate off my S&W guns, I did it in the past and sure didn't like the out come.

[gunblade]

The hand spring is inside the trigger.  It's held in place with a pin so it won't fall out.  The hand should have two studs on it...one short, one long.   The long leg of the spring rests on the long stud on the hand and that's what gives it the spring tension.  When you replace the hand you have to hold the long leg of the spring out of the way while you insert the hand.  When you release the spring the hand will have tension again.  I use the mainspring...the long flat piece that connects to the hammer and is held in place by the strain screw in the front bottom of the grip frame.  The mainspring should have two "hooks" on the narrow end where it hooks onto the hammer.  Use those hooks to capture the long leg of the hand spring and pull it up out of the way while you put the hand back in.  You could also use a small screwdriver or punch.  Not too hard once you figure it out.

[hunting1bob]

Thanks for the help, I stopped by the gunshop today and they explained how to remove the trigger assembely.  I took it home and had it back together in about a half hour.  I also used the mainspring for a hook, it worked pretty good.