Hatsan 95 loose barrel pivot

[Zsigmund]

 I recently bought a refurbished Hatsan 95. It shoots pretty well with open sights, but I wanted to try it with a scope.
When shooting it scoped it had a lot of horizontal stringing of shots. I found the barrel had a significant amount of side-to-side play when closed.

 I cleaned up the pivot bolt and locking screw and tightened it one scallop (which took a lot of force). The pivot was a little tighter than perfect and the barrel slop was gone.
All seemed good and it shot well for about fifty shots. Now the side-to-side play is back and scoped accuracy has degraded.

 The pivot bolt doesn't look worn. Wondering if anyone else has had this issue and if there's a solution?

 Cheers 

[mikeyb]

Yeah, I have many Hatsan refurbs and most needed some work. None so far had a side-2-side wiggle that wasn't fixed with one more "scallop" turn on the pivot bolt.

I recently had a barrel/fork issue with a bargain Umarex break-barrel (Syrix). Not a Hatsan but a very similar problem to your Mod95.

Side slop was unacceptable for the accuracy I wanted. Tightened the pivot bolt but the slop came back quickly. I think the force needed to squash the forks was large enough to "stretch" the pivot bolt? If true just cranking the bolt would never be a viable fix.

I did NOT want to crush the forks in a vise because the forks were VERY parallel and bending them IN would only result in a pinch point at the fork tips.

I fabricated a simple thin fender washer out of HDPE and was able to wedge it in on one side of the pivot. Other materials might be better and/or last longer but the plastic was on-hand at the right thickness so I tried it first. Was concerned about a shim washer on only one side but the tiny offset didn't seem to hurt accuracy at all.

After the repair the barrel slop is still zero at ~200 pellets. I have NO IDEA how long my washer-fix will last but I can fabricate a new one and replace it in about 15 minutes.

I could have returned the rifle for refund but I really LIKED its performance (except the slop). Vertical lockup was TIGHT, shot cycle was sweet, and the stock fit/feel was perfect for me. It was only ~$70 and I had decided I was going to keep it so a little tuning/repair effort was a fun challenge.

Hope that helps :-)

[Zsigmund]

Yeah, I have many Hatsan refurbs and most needed some work. None so far had a side-2-side wiggle that wasn't fixed with one more "scallop" turn on the pivot bolt.

I recently had a barrel/fork issue with a bargain Umarex break-barrel (Syrix). Not a Hatsan but a very similar problem to your Mod95.

Side slop was unacceptable for the accuracy I wanted. Tightened the pivot bolt but the slop came back quickly. I think the force needed to squash the forks was large enough to "stretch" the pivot bolt? If true just cranking the bolt would never be a viable fix.

I did NOT want to crush the forks in a vise because the forks were VERY parallel and bending them IN would only result in a pinch point at the fork tips.

I fabricated a simple thin fender washer out of HDPE and was able to wedge it in on one side of the pivot. Other materials might be better and/or last longer but the plastic was on-hand at the right thickness so I tried it first. Was concerned about a shim washer on only one side but the tiny offset didn't seem to hurt accuracy at all.

After the repair the barrel slop is still zero at ~200 pellets. I have NO IDEA how long my washer-fix will last but I can fabricate a new one and replace it in about 15 minutes.

I could have returned the rifle for refund but I really LIKED its performance (except the slop). Vertical lockup was TIGHT, shot cycle was sweet, and the stock fit/feel was perfect for me. It was only ~$70 and I had decided I was going to keep it so a little tuning/repair effort was a fun challenge.

Hope that helps :-)

 Hey Michael, I was hoping you were going to chime in here!

 Thanks a bunch, I had not considered the pivot bolt stretching, that makes a lot of sense. I'll figure out a shim and give it a whirl.
I would return this 95 but I've already gone through the whole thing and tuned up the trigger etc.

 I'll report back once I succeed or fail, lol.

[Blowpipe Sam]

I have shimmed the barrel pivot on my .22 caliber mod 125 after the pivot bolt and nut refused to stay tight.  I made several shims configured as round washers cut from beer can aluminum.  I used the Hatsan washer as a guide and cut around it with a sharp X-acto knife.  It only took one shim so I have several spares if needed in the future.

[Zsigmund]

I have shimmed the barrel pivot on my .22 caliber mod 125 after the pivot bolt and nut refused to stay tight.  I made several shims configured as round washers cut from beer can aluminum.  I used the Hatsan washer as a guide and cut around it with a sharp X-acto knife.  It only took one shim so I have several spares if needed in the future.

 Thank you! Guess I'll have to go to the store and pick up a six-pack dangit!   

[Ike the GSD]

"I would return this 95 but I've already gone through the whole thing and tuned up the trigger etc." It wouldn't do you any good to send it back for that problem because they don't know how to fix it anyway.😵😜

[Blowpipe Sam]

"I would return this 95 but I've already gone through the whole thing and tuned up the trigger etc." It wouldn't do you any good to send it back for that problem because they don't know how to fix it anyway.😵😜

As MikeyB has noted Hatsans are not out-of-the-box shooters.  Hatsan QC can be spotty and the quality of some materials used is below normal American standards.  Hatsan is notorious for their cheap screws, thin bluing and cursory finished machine work.  My Hatsans are all pets that require regular adjustment to keep them shooting hard and accurately.  With that said all my Hatsans are accurate and the most powerful air guns that I own.  All get used heavily during hunting season.  Since I enjoy tinkering with air guns keeping the Hatsans running is not onerous but if you prefer shooting to turning wrenches you’ld better stay away from them.

[mikeyb]

The loose barrel repair should be relatively easy for those familiar with working on springers so I'm confident Glenn's effort will be successful.

Good luck with the repair :-)

Glenn...
Is your Mod95 a coil spring model?
Does it still have a little "twang" even after your tuneup?

I've replaced the short loose plastic factory spring guide with a (DIY) longer fitted steel spring guide in my Mod95* coil spring models. It makes the shot cycle very smooth!
It's a reversible change so if the new guide does something you don't like (possibly dropping 1-2 FPE) the factory guide can always be put back in.

*Same guide works very well in coil spring Mod85, Striker, & Edge rifles.
I wish Hatsan would read my posts regarding their spring guides and redesign them closer to my specs. Yeah, I'll keep dreamin' :-)

[Ike the GSD]

"The loose barrel repair should be relatively easy for those familiar with working on springers so I'm confident Glenn's effort will be successful." In my particular case I don't think it would be so easy because I think the barrel pivot hole was drilled too large andwould require a bushing to properly fix it in addition to thicker bearing washers . I'm perfectly capable of fixing the POS they sent me, but I don't make a habbit of voiding the warranty on new rifles I purchase. I realize it was a $200 rifle and I expected it to have its foibles, I said as much in previous posts, it's the underhanded way Hatsan handled the situation that brings my Irish to the top. They're going to re sell that rifle and do the same thing to someone else and that should bother everyone on this forum!

[Zsigmund]

"I would return this 95 but I've already gone through the whole thing and tuned up the trigger etc." It wouldn't do you any good to send it back for that problem because they don't know how to fix it anyway.😵😜

"I would return this 95 but I've already gone through the whole thing and tuned up the trigger etc." It wouldn't do you any good to send it back for that problem because they don't know how to fix it anyway.😵😜

As MikeyB has noted Hatsans are not out-of-the-box shooters.  Hatsan QC can be spotty and the quality of some materials used is below normal American standards.  Hatsan is notorious for their cheap screws, thin bluing and cursory finished machine work.  My Hatsans are all pets that require regular adjustment to keep them shooting hard and accurately.  With that said all my Hatsans are accurate and the most powerful air guns that I own.  All get used heavily during hunting season.  Since I enjoy tinkering with air guns keeping the Hatsans running is not onerous but if you prefer shooting to turning wrenches you’ld better stay away from them.

 I bought my fine example refurbished, expressly to experience a Hatsan and play with the Quattro trigger etc. I too enjoy working on airguns and pretty much everything, so a lot of the entertainment value is in that. I'm not worried about it, surely I will get my $114 worth of enjoyment out of this rifle one way or another. 

 Now, if I'd paid full price or this happened on a Weihrauch or something I wouldn't be happy at all.

 I appreciate all the comments on this thread, thank you!

[Zsigmund]

The loose barrel repair should be relatively easy for those familiar with working on springers so I'm confident Glenn's effort will be successful.

Good luck with the repair :-)

Glenn...
Is your Mod95 a coil spring model?
Does it still have a little "twang" even after your tuneup?

I've replaced the short loose plastic factory spring guide with a (DIY) longer fitted steel spring guide in my Mod95* coil spring models. It makes the shot cycle very smooth!
It's a reversible change so if the new guide does something you don't like (possibly dropping 1-2 FPE) the factory guide can always be put back in.

*Same guide works very well in coil spring Mod85, Striker, & Edge rifles.
I wish Hatsan would read my posts regarding their spring guides and redesign them closer to my specs. Yeah, I'll keep dreamin' :-)

 Yes it's a coil spring 95.

 It still has a little twang in it, I didn't use 'tar' just regular moly on the spring. I will check out the spring guide fit when I pop it back apart for the shim job.
I don't have access to a lathe at the moment, maybe I'll try shimming the spring guide also.

 Thanks for the suggestions, I really appreciate them!

[gloob]

If it still has side-side play after tightening and lock the pivot screw as much as possible, it is not necessarily an easy fix.

It may come down to properly fitting the breech block into the tube "fork." This may require careful examination, bending the forks closer, removal of metal, re-flattening of the surfaces. It's a bit of a skill. But if you're lucky, maybe it is fixed by inserting shim washer(s) between breech block and tube forks.

[Zsigmund]

If it still has side-side play after tightening and lock the pivot screw as much as possible, it is not necessarily an easy fix.

It may come down to properly fitting the breech block into the tube "fork." This may require careful examination, bending the forks closer, removal of metal, re-flattening of the surfaces. It's a bit of a skill. But if you're lucky, maybe it is fixed by inserting shim washer(s) between breech block and tube forks.

 I ordered some steel shim material for this and other future projects, unfortunately the USPS lost the package and I had to re-order.. Was hoping to be finished with this by now.
If the shimming doesn't work I'll use the rifle with open sights as it performs well that way. 

 Cheers,
 G

[Zsigmund]

  I made up some shim washers from .005 stainless steel. Used a hole-punch die for the bolt hole, then traced around the outside of the stock washers and cut them out with tin snips.
With one on each side, the barrel snugged up nicely with only moderate force needed on the pivot bolt.

 The 95 shoots better now, the barrel pivoting smoothly and no play. With a couple hundred shots since adding the washers, I believe it is fixed, time will tell.

 Thanks for all the advice and comments, I do appreciate them. 

 

[H95Kidd]

Glad you got her fixed, great idea about the homespun washers. These 95's seem to vary quite a bit in terms of barrel fitment, however mine was GTG right out of the box, very tight on the pivot and it shot pretty accurately as well. I did pay the price later on as the Vortex ram gave up prematurely. My first major repair, but she's still going since then. The 95 has since earned it's keep defending my place from backyard shed-destroying groundhogs. JSB 15.89's proved to be the right medicine.

[Zsigmund]

Glad you got her fixed, great idea about the homespun washers. These 95's seem to vary quite a bit in terms of barrel fitment, however mine was GTG right out of the box, very tight on the pivot and it shot pretty accurately as well. I did pay the price later on as the Vortex ram gave up prematurely. My first major repair, but she's still going since then. The 95 has since earned it's keep defending my place from backyard shed-destroying groundhogs. JSB 15.89's proved to be the right medicine.

 It has been a good learning experience. The 95 continues to function well and has better accuracy for me with the fix. I want to add some washers to a couple of my cheap Chinese guns to see if they can benefit from it. I'll have to try some JSB 15.89's too.

Keep up the good fight, defend the shed!