Bb/pellet gun repair

Saltwater60

Saltwater60

20×102mm Vulcan
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Today at thanksgiving my grandma gave me my grandfathers old BB gun. Don't tell the cops, but I tried it in my backyard and everything works except it does not fire. It pumps, cocks, and wants to fire, but there is no air behind it. It's in really pretty good shape except in sure a seal is worn out or something like that. It's a Benjamin 117 and looks to be from 1938-1942. So it's old and freaking awesome. I'd like to get it working again any ideas would be great. Last thing I want to do is ruin it so I'll just display it if it's not repairable. I love old things and this is pretty cool. Thanks guys.
 

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218bee

218bee

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Have the same pistol... Try oiling the plunger/piston/tube with a light oil like "3 in 1", or the like. NEVER use tranny fluid or anything detergent. Pretty sure the plunger head is leather. Just needs to swell. There's also a brass valve with rubber seal/Orings in the tube, where the plunger seats. This will get lubed by cocking & firing. Should come back to life with gentle use. Mine is very accurate but it's no 17 Remington... Kinda slow, chronying at around 300 fps. One warning I'll give you...The knuckle/hinge that the pump arm pivots on is made out of cheesy pot metal and once broken, can't be fixed. Have to fab a whole new intricate part.. Ask me how I know..lol
These are truly a piece of Americana and are a lot of fun to shoot....enjoy
 
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Different Drummer

Different Drummer

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I have a 1949 ers Crossman .22 Cal. pellet pistol that needs work. Last year I came across a gun store table at the Syracuse gun show. He said he did repairs and had a source for parts etc. He reassured me that he could make my pellet gun like new.
Sent him an e-mail a few weeks later and never got a reply. I will look and see if I saved his business card. He is someplace in the western part of the State.
Has a full service store with gun smith services.
 
Saltwater60

Saltwater60

20×102mm Vulcan
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218bee said:
Have the same pistol... Try oiling the plunger/piston/tube with a light oil like "3 in 1", or the like. NEVER use tranny fluid or anything detergent. Pretty sure the plunger head is leather. Just needs to swell. There's also a brass valve with rubber seal/Orings in the tube, where the plunger seats. This will get lubed by cocking & firing. Should come back to life with gentle use. Mine is very accurate but it's no 17 Remington... Kinda slow, chronying at around 300 fps. One warning I'll give you...The knuckle/hinge that the pump arm pivots on is made out of cheesy pot metal and once broken, can't be fixed. Have to fab a whole new intricate part.. Ask me how I know..lol
These are truly a piece of Americana and are a lot of fun to shoot....enjoy
Click to expand...
So your exactly correct. I cleaned it up and put a bit of oil on the plunger and all moving parts. I noticed that the air was blowing out the back so I put a bit of oil and solvent through the barrel and an old lead pellet came out. I think it was a bit lodged in the barrel. I cleaned the barrel with a solvent soaked patch and wala it works. I'm happy. It's freaking cool. Thanks for the info on the pot metal part. Good thing my brother in laws an engineer with a lathe and mill in his garage. He makes all sorts of shit. For now it works. Yeah I figured it would not shoot too fast, but in just happy it works.
 
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