Drop in piston upgrade for c362

[Ronno6]

I remember this  . It was a very clever solution with the option to go either way with adjustability for either type. Very nice! 

It would probably been just as easy to make a separate FT piston head.
But this was a trick option I wanted to make.

Alliance hobby has an adjustable FT piston for the 362 reasonably priced at $59 shipped.

Does adding adjustability improve the performance of the stock pump cup/valve setup?

[Spooner]

Performance from the original cone / valve setup, no. It simply gives you the option to set the piston length longer or shorter. I have read here where a couple members "shimmed" their pump cups believing that they were not seating properly enough. This is an option that would let you adjust it without shimming. 

Ron's setup is very nice in the regard that it lets you use a single piston with changeable heads to do either flat top or coned. I have his in my 367 in the flat top configuration and I am very happy with it! 

I think that if Alliance had sold his that way, with both heads included with the rear piston section, it would have been an ideal alternative to people who might later decide to change from FT to cone or vice-versa. It is still a nice alternative sold as is and at a decent price.

[Mike71]

Getting Mr Ron to build me one, alot of it Just Because lol. Like alot of things, is it really needed ? No, do I want it. You betcha.
But I read that they have benefits for lower pump counts.
Talking about adjustable flat top piston setup.

[Van]

  The adjustable piston can make sure you get more air in the valve per pump resulting in more fps at lower pump count.  Some, but maybe not all, non adjustable pistons leave a bit of air trapped between pump cup and valve at end of stroke.  That was happening with my non adjustable Blue Streak.  Just adding Mac1 adjustable rod to the gun and adjusting a slight bit longer it went from 645fps at 8 pumps to 695fps at 8. I only had to go about a half turn longer on the rod to get more air in the valve per pump. It can also happen on flattop setups if there is space left on too short of a stroke resulting in trapped air  that does not get into the valve.

[Mike71]

I've always been in the mind that as long as it's not overly difficult or costly and you can actually see gains from a mod, why not get the most efficient setup.
Just if the cost and difficulty are just not worth it then I'll settle for what it is, the 362 is a cheap Crosman I know. But if I can get high 600s with 18+gr Crow Magnums and 700+ with 14+gr I'd be very happy.

[Van]

  I will leave my 362 as is on the pump setup.  It is doing very well at 8 pumps with 14.3g pellets. It gets slightly over 700fps if I make sure I open the pump arm all the way at the top stroke. It seems to be setup pretty well for pumping with the factory pump system. If Mac1 gets back going full time I wish he would offer a Steel Billet Pump Arm as he did for the 392 Benjamins. I have one of those and it is great. You will never bend it pumping and has no wiggle as it sets in a solid steel end plug like a Sheridan.

[Mike71]

I know to leave the internal volume in the valve alone, but I will smooth out the exhaust port, BOSS transfer port and extended prob bolt. That with the adjustable flat top piston and valve face, what ever that gives me it is what ever it turns out to be. I'll have to wait and see if it needs a softer valve spring or not and I'll stick with the stock hammer and spring setup.

[Ronno6]

I wonder how much of an effect the FT valve and piston would have on a 2100 or 2200.......
I'm sure it has been done before.....
The valves in those rifles are shorter than in the 362.

[Van]

I wonder how much of an effect the FT valve and piston would have on a 2100 or 2200.......
I'm sure it has been done before.....
The valves in those rifles are shorter than in the 362.

   I don't think the short front cone on a 2100 can be ground down flat without getting into the check valve. I have put a flattop 1377 valve and adjustable piston into a 2100 tube by notching the valve body to slide back in the tube but this was using all 1377 parts to make a extended tube 1377 though. The modded 1377 valve and piston might not work in a 2100 style gun but it would be fun to try.

[Ronno6]

Maybe the configuration wouldn't need to be flat....
Possibly do an inverse taper in the piston to match the nose of the valve.
What matters is the elimination of headspace between pump and valve faces.
I don't know how close to the lip the O-ring cam be placed......
May have to use a thinner CS O-ring.........

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.