[lazyluke]

I picked up a .357 Windicator through a Gallery of Guns deal the other day. The thing was swimming in oil so I set to disassemble it and wipe it down. Was astonished that there is no sideplate on these, no easy way to get to the innards that I can see. Got the cylinder and crane off and unscrewed the cylinder release. Then parts started falling out of the damn thing. What the heck? I now had in my hand what the exploded view referred to as the plunger, the angle piece and the angle-piece spring. Being somewhat mechanically inclined I still had to spend quite a bit of time,with a flashlight trying to look into the hammer works area to figure things out. Could not for the life of me find a disassembly and reassembly guide anywhere on the net. I guess they're parts of the hammer safety and I had to install them through the top of the hammer area with the hammer cocked. I can't figure out where the tiny spring goes or how to install it. Hate to have to send it in for that to be done. Any ideas?

 

[TrucksNCoffee]

I sure am sorry to hear about your Windicator woes. I own one of them and really like it. If and when it needs any kind of repair, however, I shall take it to the gunsmith at my favorite gun store, with whom I am on a first name basis. I have some mechanical skills, but my eyesight and right hand function are not what they were. I hope you can get it repaired.

 

[GhostHorse]

I googled "windicator disassembly" and found the owner's manual. The design reminds me of my Ruger Security Six; it doesn't have a side plate either.

http://stevespages.com/pdf/eaa_windicator.pdf

Hope this helps. The "extra spring" can be a really, really frustrating part. On anything.

 

[olfarhors]

I always end up with extra parts when I work on one of my guns!
thats how I got so many extra parts in the parts bin.

 

[texastaurusguy]

I always end up with extra parts when I work on one of my guns!
thats how I got so many extra parts in the parts bin.

Keep saving up all those extra parts, and you'll be able to build a new gun someday.

 

[kmw1954]

From the title I thought this thing just started falling apart in your hand for no good reason.

 

[GhostHorse]

Just like my '57 '58 '59 '60 '61 '62 Cadillac.

 

[olfarhors]

Keep saving up all those extra parts, and you'll be able to build a new gun someday.

What exactly do you mean by "SOME DAY"
let me show you my parts gun that I built.
Don't get excited, its a clone with a good paint job on it, its made from extra ATI, Citadel and Rock Island parts.---:thumb:

 

[olfarhors]

From the title I thought this thing just started falling apart in your hand for no good reason.

nope!
I refuse to go there!
you are just trying to get me banned!!!
HE said it was a EAA, that's all I am saying!

 

[lazyluke]

From the title I thought this thing just started falling apart in your hand for no good reason.

Well, there actually is no good reason for parts to exit the gun just because you took off the cylinder release. Would be nice if they would warn people. lol
"Caution, if you remove this, you'll be sorry".
I'm sure that I'm not the first one this has happened to. We'll see what they say when I call them.

 

[taurustoter]

Well, if there is no side plate, I really can't see how you will get it back together.

 

[GhostHorse]

Well, there actually is no good reason for parts to exit the gun just because you took off the cylinder release. Would be nice if they would warn people. lol
"Caution, if you remove this, you'll be sorry".

Just what we need; more warning labels!

Well, if there is no side plate, I really can't see how you will get it back together.

As already noted, lots of revolvers don't have side plates. Rugers. Some Charter Arms - maybe all, I don't know.

On revolvers like this, a sort of chassis drops out of the frame, and that holds a lot of the smaller parts.

 

[olfarhors]

Well, if there is no side plate, I really can't see how you will get it back together.

Find a friend, relative or gun smith with veeery looong skinny fingers!!!

 

[lazyluke]

There is a pin through the frame just below the cylinder release and one at front of cylinder. I sent an email to EAA about the problem and will see what they say.

 

[lazyluke]

Find a friend, relative or gun smith with veeery looong skinny fingers!!!

I did have to use tweezers to get those parts in. lol

 

[lazyluke]

So, EAA sent an answer to my question of where the spring goes. One line, it goes behind the button. No kidding! Where behind the button? Between the cylinder release button and the angle piece? Behind the angle piece? Does it stand up or lay on its side? What is its purpose? Waiting for a response to those questions.

 

[lazyluke]

Well, Mr. Snarky from EAA, told me that part should never have been removed. Wow, a cylinder release latch should never be removed, really? All he had to constructively say was that the latch has a small hole behind it. The hole is in the angle piece and the release screw goes into it to hold it on. I got the tiny spring into that hole and attached the release. I can't see what the hell it does but whatever.
If anyone that owns a Windicator reads this, does your cylinder release wiggle around while secured to the gun?

 

[GhostHorse]

"Behind the button?" Really? Wow. That sure clears that up!

 

[once0217]

Well, Mr. Snarky from EAA, told me that part should never have been removed. Wow, a cylinder release latch should never be removed, really? All he had to constructively say was that the latch has a small hole behind it. The hole is in the angle piece and the release screw goes into it to hold it on. I got the tiny spring into that hole and attached the release. I can't see what the hell it does but whatever.
If anyone that owns a Windicator reads this, does your cylinder release wiggle around while secured to the gun?

I have one and yup it wiggles, but so does my 85. So to me this seems normal.

 

[jimb1972]

If you are going to take stuff apart I recommend the gun digest assembly/disassembly guides. They have saved my bacon more than once.