[Blackcloud2]

Several weeks back I reported I had bought an Air Lite J-Frame from a cop friend of my son and I had initially cleaned out the innards with spray Brake Cleaner and lubed to correct a slow resetting trigger. Well I thought I had it corrected, but a little over 2 weeks back I was watching TV, bored and decided to pull it out from my pocket (in a sleeve), unloaded it and did some dry firing at the TV, very relaxing…until it wasn’t. All was good until I’d try some rapid fire drills and dang it, the trigger would not reset without help, not something I want to happen in a shooting situation. So, I put it into an automatic transmission fluid soak, interrupting the soak one week ago to cycle it several times, then back into the soak. This morning I pulled it out to ‘drip dry’ and then sprayed and flushed it with denatured alcohol, along with a good oiling in the moving parts area and I CANNOT do anything to repeat a slow trigger reset, so I think I got the crud out once and for all.

This gun was carried but not fired for several years and then it sat idle for even more years and I suspect it suffered from a lack of cycling and cleaning. It might have also been sprayed with WD-40, but I need to talk to him to find out about that possibility, there are still folks out there that have been told that it’s a good gun cleaner and preservative and it’s not. Again, until I talk to him, I’m only guessing, but the bottom line is I now have another pocket carry back in the rotation! If time is not an issue, the ATF bath method is a good alternative to pulling a side plate, especially if you’re not completely comfortable with the process.

 

[bearcat6]

I believe it was retired detective Pierce Brooks who wrote about an officer that had been on the job for several years was killed in a shooting. When the officers revolver was examined they had to beat the cylinder open with a plastic mallet due to corrosion, the ammo was corroded and stuck in the cylinder. The gun was totally non-functional. It seems like that gun had lived in that holster all the years this guy was a cop with no maintenance.
He had a good buddy who ran the pistol range who kept him qualified on paper, but he would never fire the course. I believe Brooks book I read that in was Tombstone Courage.

 

[jeepnut]

Glad you seem to have it cleaned and 100% functional. Always good to have a backup to the EDCs.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Good job, Stacy! I was contemplating one of those for use as concealed carry with an ankle holster. Upon further reflection, I felt it wouldn't work out since I wear shorts most of the year.

 

[RKBA]

I have a 70s vintage Airweight 37 that supposedly spent his whole life as a back up piece. I bought it from the grandson and it’s suffered most of the same ailments as yours did when I got it. It took a rubber mallet to open the cylinder as well. It took a lot to get it back into shootable condition