GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Vintage Air Gun Gate => Topic started by: Blowpipe Sam on November 22, 2022, 11:33:23 PM
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A coworker of mine recently mentioned that he had an old Benjamin air rifle that wouldn’t hold air. He said he had taken it apart and couldn’t get it back together again. I told him if it was a Benjamin it was probably worth fixing and could he make me some photos of it?
Well today he brought a basket case 397 in to work in a plastic bag. Just a bag of parts missing the stock. He couldn’t get the valve out of course but it looked like all the rest of it was in there.
Now this fellow is a master mechanic who can fix anything and I know if I can put him on the right track that he can do a better job of fixing it than I can. Obviously the valve needs rebuilding and I don’t have the tools for that but I know that you guys know about this stuff.
To start with I thought I’d try to find out what year this thing was made. It’s marked “397PA” and the serial number is 299702214. I don’t know much about Benjis but I think this one is from the mid to late nineties?
Can anyone recommend some good YouTube videos on 397 repair?
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A '99 PA is a cartridge valve model and super easy to work on. It doesn't require special tools. I hope your friend didn't lose the wood- it was real walnut.
Here's a vid I found but I haven't watched it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RneBX-u8-aQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RneBX-u8-aQ)
Here's the parts diagram https://support.crosman.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/201590860/B397-EVP___PL2.pdf (https://support.crosman.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/201590860/B397-EVP___PL2.pdf)
Have fun!
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A '99 PA is a cartridge valve model and super easy to work on. It doesn't require special tools. I hope your friend didn't lose the wood- it was real walnut.
Here's a vid I found but I haven't watched it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RneBX-u8-aQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RneBX-u8-aQ)
Here's the parts diagram https://support.crosman.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/201590860/B397-EVP___PL2.pdf (https://support.crosman.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/201590860/B397-EVP___PL2.pdf)
Have fun!
Thank you!
He didn’t know it wasn’t there until he showed me the bag and I noticed the only thing missing was the stock.
He said he would try to find the stock but even without it the gun is worth repairing and finding a replacement.
I’ve never worked on a Benjamin and I thought you needed a special tool to pull the valve. I think I’ve got every tool Needed. I’m thinking a Mac1 rebuild kit unless someone has a better recommendation?
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The older guns prior to 1995 need the special tool.
It's least expensive to order direct from Crosman over the phone- you just need the part numbers. If you go that way, you might as well get extras so you have parts on hand for the next gun and it will still be cheaper than one aftermarket seal kit.
Have fun!
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I have a 392PA (cartridge) and was surprised... it is so much easier to work on than the Crosman 1400.
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I have a 392PA (cartridge) and was surprised... it is so much easier to work on than the Crosman 1400.
well that’s good to know. I’m a bear for 1400’s!
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E-Z peesey.........
Crosman MAY have the stock.
I will check tomorrow.
Do you have the forearm?
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E-Z peesey.........
Crosman MAY have the stock.
I will check tomorrow.
Do you have the forearm?
Got the forearm. Looks like it may be missing one roll pin. I haven’t messed with it what with the thanksgiving holiday and all.
I did put a roller bearing in one of my Crosman Fires. Very nice trigger now! Short and crisp. Thank you for the bearing. I hope some of that junk I sent you turns out to be useable.
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Sho 'nuf........
I have coil springs en route for the 2 Rugers.....
Gonna put a wood stock on the Crosman when I get a trigger guard.
I gotta dig into my box o'scopes.....
I LOVE to tinker........
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I just put a 392 back together …as mentioned Crosman had all the parts…including barrel and tube…good luck
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You might check with this guy for a stock;
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/spo/7561346397.html
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Allen (my coworker) dropped off a bag O’ parts today and here’s what we got.
The valve is still inside the tube and the stock screw is in the mortise in the stock. Does it look like I’m missing anything?
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I think it's all there except for one of the little cam cover screws. But it might be screwed into the bolt. You might be able to match something up at the hardware store or just order one from Crosman when you get your rebuild parts.
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I don't see the guide for the hammer spring...
A 1/4" dia or so pin maybe 1" long with a flange head
You can push the valve our the rear with a long dowel
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I don’t see a hammer spring guide on the parts list for this gun Ron.
I’m going to have a go at removing the valve.
Wish me luck! ;D
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The valve is out! Man that was easy! Pushed it right out with a plastic coated ram rod. Disassembly from here looks pretty much like a Crosman 2100 valve.
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I don’t see a hammer spring guide on the parts list for this gun Ron.
I’m going to have a go at removing the valve.
Wish me luck! ;D
I recon that one dunna have one.....
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I think it's all there except for one of the little cam cover screws. But it might be screwed into the bolt. You might be able to match something up at the hardware store or just order one from Crosman when you get your rebuild parts.
If it is the black cam cover screw that I see in the bolt, you'll need the actual "Bolt Locking Lug" p/n 397-044 for the bolt, then you can use that screw where it belongs on the cam cover. But you'll need to look closer and verify that. It's hard to tell from the pic.
Have fun!
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I think it's all there except for one of the little cam cover screws. But it might be screwed into the bolt. You might be able to match something up at the hardware store or just order one from Crosman when you get your rebuild parts.
If it is the black cam cover screw that I see in the bolt, you'll need the actual "Bolt Locking Lug" p/n 397-044 for the bolt, then you can use that screw where it belongs on the cam cover. But you'll need to look closer and verify that. It's hard to tell from the pic.
Have fun!
Looks like the Bolt Lug to me...much too tall to be a cam plate screw...
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The missing screw is in the cam plate. Just not real visible in the photo.
The valve disassembly was a cinch. No tools needed. Inside the valve was bone dry. No trace of oil. I think this gun was running dry for a while. I believe that I will reassemble the gun and give it a good juicing and see what happens. It might not need a reseal after all.
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Crosman /Benji doesn't want much oil in the valve.....that is how come you should NOT oil the piston cup....
Oil the pivot points only; they say sufficient lubrication will migrate to the valve from there.....
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After waiting through the holidays for parts and then waiting a bit longer for some parts that didn’t get shipped I’ve finally got this thing back together! Huzzah!
It is tight. It pumps up with considerably more effort than my Crosman 1400’s! I haven’t had a chance to more than test for function but everything seems to be working as specified. It’s sitting in the corner with eight pumps in it right now. We’ll see if it holds air over night.
Thanks to all who responded. This was my first Benjamin rebuild and yes it was easier than a 1400.
Next is a 2240 reseal and then a complete restoration of a 20 year old 1377.