Interesting problem with a Webley Alecto / Zoraki HP-01

[BurghDude]

Greetings

I recently bought an Alecto, and found it has an issue I've never heard of before.  I hope maybe one of you have some insight into this, and maybe how to fix it.

The situation is this:  If I pump once and fire, the air charge is completely dumped (with a nice little pop).  If I pump twice and fire, the air change is completely dumped (with a louder pop).  If I pump three times and fire, I get a little mouse fart of a pop!  Most of the air charge is NOT released.  If I rearm the trigger by opening the top just enough to let the trigger engage, then next pull of the trigger might release the remaining air charge (with an appropriately louder still pop).  Or, I might get a pop like with one pump, and have to arm and fire a third time to get the air charge completely dumped.

I've taken it apart, redid the lube, checked the valve (which was clean and appeared defect free), and the behavior is exactly as it was before.  The only path I can think to go is with the assumption that the hammer springs have gone weak over time.  Of course I can't yet find a source for new hammer springs.

So the questions:  Has anyone encountered this?  If so, how was it fixed?  Have I overlooked anything?  Might anyone know of a place I could get replacement springs?

Thanks for looking.

[CraigH]

I do not have an Alecto.   But it sounds like valve lock - too much pressure for the hammer spring in the pistol.   From your post it sounds like this is a new gun, or at least new to you.   If new, some amount of warranty support should be available for a hammer spring.   (no idea on such support for that pistol)

[BurghDude]

It definitely does sound like valve lock, the more I'm playing with it.  I found another clue this evening.  2.5 pumps works!  2.75 ish pumps works too!  Pretty much, if I don't full stroke the pump all 3 times, it pretty much works.  If I full stroke it all 3 times, then the issue comes up.  So that kind of seems to tie back to the hammer springs to me... like they've lost just enough force that they just can't move the hammer enough at that pressure.

Just for the record, this gun is not new, but definitely new to me.  And the Alecto has been out of production for at least a couple of years, I believe.  I guess I'm late to that party.

Thank for the input.

[WyoMan]

Hi Vince, I suppose it could be fatigued hammer springs but that wouldn't be my first suspect. Check to see if you have a sticky valve stem... pretty easy to do...



With the lever open apply some 20 wt ND lube as shown above. Pull the valve stem open (pulling on the blue washer) and you should get a pop from the first stage... repeat until it opens smoothly... I'm just guessing here, hth...

Wyo

[BurghDude]

Hello!

Thanks for the advice.  I did already try that, exactly that way (pulling, oiling, working it in and out, and even rotating the stem).  The stem feels nice and smooth.  Later I took the valve apart and checked for anything sticky or binding on the inside, and couldn't find anything there either.

Thanks again for writing.