Browning leverage gas ram conversion

[Compulsive Tinkerer]

Hello guys and gals.  Sorry I've been away for a while.  Just purchased 36 acers and have been busy moving and building a homestead.  Anywho...
 Had some of my guns out recently and was blasting the cob webs out of them so to speak.   Clean, oil , shoot, etc ..
One of those is my leverage in 22.   One of my favorite.   Its Been around a while and has a noticeable loss of spring power.  Seals are holding up.   She needs a rebuild, and I would like to go with a gas ram.  Make it a little more modern. Haven't been able to find any reliable info other than some have done it successfully.    The leverage is old news im most forums and i guess no ones talking about them much anymore.   Please help.   Thanks in advance.

[Tater]

Moved to the China Gate.

[mikeyb]

First, I don't own one so this is just an opinion post. I remember wanting one but never pulled the trigger to buy.

Looks like Browning (Umarex) Leverage is also the Xisco XS46U.

My "opinion" based on the parts diagram is a gas spring conversion will not be worth the effort.

Looks like you may(?) have to make irreversible changes to the rifle, make some centering spacers yourself, and locate a gas spring with enough stroke and force to bring the rifle back to factory spec. The gas spring itself might be as simple as an NP1 or NP2 from Crosman (assuming it has sufficient stroke and the diameter fits). The leverage spring guide will have to go (easy/hard, don't know) and centering washers/spacers made so there are NO side loads (only axial forces) on the gas spring. The spacers will need to preload the gas spring at least ~1/8 inch. Hopefully the stroke length of the Leverage is no greater than 4" (~100mm) or the NPs will not work.

I've made several conversions in Hatsan break-barrels:

coil spring to NP conversion
Vortex (air spring) to coil spring
Vortex (air spring) to NP gas spring

all with excellent results.

IMO a coil spring with a properly fitted spring guide shoots just as nice as any gas or air spring. Coil springs are also MORE RELIABLE for me. That statement comes from from recently experiencing multiple failures of air springs. No coil spring or gas spring failures yet, but I'm ready if/when they do fail.

I'd suggest talking to Mike at Flying Dragon Air Rifles about the conversion or about getting a NEW coil spring. I bet he will have the best solution for you.
http://flyingdragonairrifles.org

[Compulsive Tinkerer]

Im not apposed to just replacing the spring.   Like i said, its one of my oldest and favorite gun.  Its seen a lot of use.   I figured if i was rebuilding it anyway, why not...   
As far as mike with flying dragon goes.  I asked him a few years ago to tune this same gun.  He was apparently not interested.  Even after several messages, he didn't even bother to respond. I ended up just doing it myself.   
 I got the idea for the conversion after stumbling across a post on this forum.  The poster stated that it went smoothly and shared a link of the step by step process that someone else has posted.  The link was inactive.   But did a few searches and came up with a few people that say they had done it, but no details.  I appreciate your input.  Will take it under advisement for sure.   Assuming i ever get any specific info.   I am stuck on a boat for another 30 days.  If i haven't come up with anything by then, replacement sprig it is. 

[lefteyeshot]

I'd just replace the spring and seals and call it done.

[Compulsive Tinkerer]

Thanks Tim
But as my user name might suggest, it goes against my nature to do things the easy way.   However that is a definite plan B.   
  I would normally just go at it and figure it out as i went.   But that is always more expensive.   Thanks to someone who shall not be named, money is kind of tight these days.   I cant justify buying a bunch of unnecessary stuff. If it does turn out that the conversion would require permanent alterations, then im most definitely just going to rebuild as is.   Might even give Mike another chance, but someone suggested when I tried last time that he doesn't work on guns that are not purchased from him.  (Safety concerns). I get that.   

[HPP-Mechanic]

I bought a XS46U in .22 from Flying Dragon last year and opted for a tune upgrade from Mike.  The last time (a few years ago) these guns were available, they were gas-ram powered.  Now they are spring-powered.

[Compulsive Tinkerer]

Interesting.   If this platform was offered in gas ram at one point, it could be a mater of some drop in parts.   I just checked the flying dragon website.   It doesn't look like he has any available at the moment.   It does appear that the xs46u is the same gun.  I will message Mike again, hopefully he will respond this time. 

[lefteyeshot]

Levrage/46U are the same gun. When they first came out the only difference was the Leverage came with a picatinny scope rail. That's why I bought the Browning. Never really cared for the gun. Cant' remember what came of it. It was just a re-designed Tech Force 99 to me which I have two and prefer. Thinking about ordering a Hammerli Force 900, a TF99 clone, from Kral.

[uglymike]

Interesting.   If this platform was offered in gas ram at one point, it could be a mater of some drop in parts.   I just checked the flying dragon website.   It doesn't look like he has any available at the moment.   It does appear that the xs46u is the same gun.  I will message Mike again, hopefully he will respond this time.

call Mike between 9 A.M. and noon Iowa time M-F.

[Compulsive Tinkerer]

I sent him a message through the website.   I will call if and when we pass by a city with better cell service.   Its very hit or miss out on the river.  Between that and the engine noise, it makes phone conversations unproductive to say the least. 

[mikeiniowa]

Adding a ram will increase cocking effort to around 50 lbs., no real gain in velocity or accuracy...

[Compulsive Tinkerer]

Sounds like a new spring and tune are the way to go