Can pumper seals still be good after 70 years?
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Vintage Air Gun Gate
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Can pumper seals still be good after 70 years?
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Topic: Can pumper seals still be good after 70 years? (Read 606 times))
45flint
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 4072
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Real Name: Steve
Can pumper seals still be good after 70 years?
«
on:
December 05, 2018, 11:38:45 AM »
Have bought a lot of vintage airguns and I find leather seals can almost last indefinitely, but pumper seals not being leather tend to have to be replaced when you buy a vintage gun. I have a 70 year old Crosman 108 that still pumps up and hold air indefinitely. I see no signs anywhere that the gun has been opened up? The screw heads are prestine. Am I kidding myself thinking these are original seals? Seems so unlikely.
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Wooster, Ohio
Andrew
Plinker
Posts: 209
Re: Can pumper seals still be good after 70 years?
«
Reply #1 on:
December 05, 2018, 03:53:11 PM »
I think Steve cause you and I concentrate on pristine examples which are near new cosmetically means they've been well cared for and stored in a steady uniform climate in the homes they've come from.
My few pumpers, after drink of secret sauce when I first get them are slick and smooth as a new one I reckon.
I'd say the rough guns out there that have been well used and left somewhere that may have absorbed moisture in the winter months then only to dry out hard during those hot summer months would play havoc on seals.
As an example my god father when he passed away some 15 years ago left me his 1972 VW Beetle with only 51,000 miles on the clock, when he had it, it was always garaged and now I have it in my man cave, all the window rubbers, door seals, engine hoses etc are still malleable and in good nick, compared to say a 46 yr old car that's been outside all it's life, the seals etc would have deteriorated and corroded away by now.
That's just MHO.
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19Sheridan57
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 3392
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Real Name: Steve
Re: Can pumper seals still be good after 70 years?
«
Reply #2 on:
December 05, 2018, 05:12:26 PM »
I have run across just a few very old Sheridans that still had their original seals & were shooting within tolerances. These were usually 1 owner rifles with very light use & well maintained.
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Habanero69er
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Real Name: Dave
Re: Can pumper seals still be good after 70 years?
«
Reply #3 on:
December 05, 2018, 09:05:55 PM »
As Steve noted, if the rifle is well maintained, stored in the proper fashion & lightly used, why not?
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WyoMan
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 839
Real Name: Gary
Re: Can pumper seals still be good after 70 years?
«
Reply #4 on:
December 06, 2018, 12:47:52 AM »
I think they can... It seems like to me that if you keep your seals wet with lube, you'll keep the oxygen and ozone at bay... which will slow down the aging process. i.e... cracking, hardness, non-resiliency, etc.
Keep them wet for longevity.
And keep your replacement stash in air-tight baggies.... jmo-
Wyo
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45flint
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 4072
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Real Name: Steve
Re: Can pumper seals still be good after 70 years?
«
Reply #5 on:
December 06, 2018, 08:28:41 AM »
It does remind us that we often buy guns not really knowing their history. This rifle was a bit of an enigma in that when I got it it was just filthy. I assume maybe a estate auction find that someone was turning over for a profit. I remember it took a good hour to clean it up. A seemingly damaged butt plate was just about prestine after caked on crud was removed. Metalwork was also in great condition. Only part showing finish loss was the thumb nut under the stock and a lost back sight. Maybe early on it was used but well taken care of and then the aged or last owner left it to grim up? Wish these things could tell their story.
«
Last Edit: December 06, 2018, 10:21:17 AM by 45flint
»
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Wooster, Ohio
north country gal
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 2794
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Real Name: Joanie
Re: Can pumper seals still be good after 70 years?
«
Reply #6 on:
December 06, 2018, 09:15:20 PM »
Have a 60s Sheridan that shows some use, but it shoots just fine, right there with my 80s vintage Blue Streaks. On the other hand, have an early 90s Benjamin 397 that outwardly is mint, but will definitely need new seals. I think a lot of it was how they guns were stored and maintained. All it takes is a previous owner not knowing enough to store the gun with a couple pumps to maintain seal integrity and then letting it sit in the closet, collecting dust to have an issue with holding air. Sometimes the seals can be brought back to life with some lubrication and little patience and sometimes not. Really, really helps if you test pump before you buy. Over all, though, I think it's pretty amazing at how these vintage pumpers can keep on shooting for decades with so little care. Love our high end springers and PCPs, but the vintage Sheridan and Benjamins have a special place in my heart, since those are the guns I've been shooting form the very start.
«
Last Edit: December 06, 2018, 09:23:24 PM by North Country Gal
»
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Rhinelander, Wi
brewbean
Plinker
Posts: 108
Gotta Love Your Sheridan
Real Name: Bruce
Re: Can pumper seals still be good after 70 years?
«
Reply #7 on:
December 07, 2018, 11:13:28 AM »
I have my Dad's '69 Sheridan with original seals intact. It's only been lightly lubed and has never been opened up. It holds its air for months on end and shoots great.
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Utah
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Can pumper seals still be good after 70 years?