PR900W Predator pcp Broken handle off of bolt.

[Hypervelocity 1]

I was shooting yesterday in my cellar. well my bolt seemed like it was getting a little harder to engage/disengage, it broke off in my hand.
I was truly amazed! I looked at the bolt where the handle broke, and I couldn't tell how it was attached cause it was flush after breaking.
I Emailed the shop and asked if it was threaded. Indeed it was . Well, guess it was time to go to work. I was deciding whether or not to dis-
assemble the rifle , or try to operate with it intact. Leaving the rifle together seemed a lot easier to me if It would turn out like that. First thing I did was oil up the bolt with some air tool oil I had. Now the bolt can be grabbed from behind cause it slides out the back of the action.
It seemed to be sliding better now with the lube all over it. I positioned the rifle in the original styrofoam half of box it came mailed in with the bolt facing up at me. I moved it in the position that I could get access to best. I grabbed a 1/16" sell centering bit and threw it in the cordless. It was slow going at first. But after it started cutting slowly, I added a little oil to the bit for better cutting. In about 2 more minutes I was through the broken handle threads. I grabbed a Great Neck EZ-Out that was a 1/16 to 1/8" size. I placed it in the hole and gave it a quick, sharp tap with a small hammer. I grabbed ahold of it with a pair of pliers and gave a slow left turn. Voila' . Bingo! It was coming out.
 After getting the offending piece out, several shavings remained all around. After choosing my next course of action, I grabbed a magnetic swivel headed pick-up tool. Several passes left the slide and action metal shaving free. Took a little trip to the bolt and nut shop and grabbed a few 4mm bolts that were 1and1/2" long and a few 4mm nuts also. They fit perfect. I threaded a nut all the way on one of the bolts to have a little more grip on my new "PELLET SHIFTER." I then applied black electrical tape around the exposed part of the bolt shaft so it wouldn't scratch anything around the action cutout. Works as good as new. Looks good too.

[anti-squirrel]

Nice bit of handiwork!

[TL100]

Sad to report I'm part of this club as well.
Broke the handle yesterday at the range. Later, was able to unscrew the leftover piece by drilling a small hole in the center and gluing a tiny allen wrench in it. I decided to take the gun apart to make sure I can work on the bolt alone and not the fully-scoped gun. Was also a great excuse to check all the O-rings and clean them up/replace.
I like the solution you came up with and will be on my way to HomeDepot in a few hours

[Ribbonstone]

 Also a member of the BBHC (busted bold handle club)...looks like it's not an uncommon problem.

My solution (about 9 months of use now) was to run a 8-32 tap into the existing bolt hole and put on an old Crosman bolt handle (maybe a 2260...maybe a Disco...don't remember where it came from).

Won't cut full depth threads, but enough for a good bite....and lock tite helps.


It's a little too thick.   Just a little hand polishing of the shank and it locks down with no slack.  Figured the "no slack" part was a "plus" as the orginals often have a little slack (we push them forward loading...if there is slack, it would give them a running start at smacking into the locking recess).

[TunedAccuracy]

I will never understand why people will buy cheap junk.

[rkr]

I will never understand why people will buy cheap junk.

Some people buy expensive junk

[Wayne52]

I will never understand why people will buy cheap junk.

Some people buy expensive junk

lol

[Bob Pratl]

I will never understand why people will buy cheap junk.

Some people buy expensive junk

I like inexpensive junk and I find it very rewarding when I make it better. Expensive Air Guns work and offer no challenge.

[Sfttailrdr46]

I will never understand why people will buy cheap junk.

Yes for all the reasons listed above . As a tinkerer if I screw up a cheap piece of junk there is no drama and they are useful as learning tools. On the other hand if I screw up one of my expensive pieces of junk there will be drama 

[Wayne52]

Well so far I haven't screwed up any cheap pieces of junk yet, they're all working just fine

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

FYI: If you e-mail Julie at SPA (sales@china-airrifle.com) and let her know your bolt handle broke, she will send you a replacement.

Disclaimer:  Mine arrived yesterday, but I wasn't home to sign for it so I don't know if they have improved the quality any over the bolt handles that came with the rifles.

[avator]

LOL.... I got a bunch of really good shooting "cheap junk". What I don't understand is people who buy expensive junk that happens to be made the same place the cheap junk is made and claim it's better.

[Pelletina Leadinger]

Is this happening to both the the 177 cal and the .22 cal quite a bit? I've heard of this happening a lot to the .177 cal but if it is happening equally as much to the .22 cal I'd better be planning on a fix soon. Would greasing the bolt help?

[Sfttailrdr46]

A little gentle polishing with various grades of wet dry paper ending with 1500 grit then some Ultimox #226 applied sparingly or a good quality dry lube will not hurt

[Pelletina Leadinger]

A little gentle polishing with various grades of wet dry paper ending with 1500 grit then some Ultimox #226 applied sparingly or a good quality dry lube will not hurt

Thanks, will do.

[TL100]

I will never understand why people will buy cheap junk.

Also, some people cannot afford expensive junk, but still want to experience the fun that airguns offer.
A 1.5" group at 50 yds with a tinkered $200 gun is certainly more rewarding than a 10-in-1-hole with a $2000 gun, because it's not expected.
Of course, if you hunt small game, accuracy is a must to achieve humane kills, but then one adjusts the optimal shooting distance accordingly.
I've seen people with AirArms gun screw up because of them, not the gun.
Enjoy your expensive toys and always be safe.

[Xraycer]

I will never understand why people will buy cheap junk.

Some people buy expensive junk

True that!

My wife and son owns +$100 brand name winter jackets (Under Armour and North Face), both have broken zippers......my son's jacket is less than a year old. I own about 4 jackets, I bought from Walmart, all well under $50 each, I use daily and one even for skiing. All are several years old and still works great and are comfortable. I even have a few(from Walmart) that are twice as old, that I use for dirty jobs, and are still in perfect working conditions.

I'm not saying all cheap things are made well, but I prefer to seek for the diamond in the rough, rather than drinking the "you get, what you pay" for Koolaid

[SpiralGroove]

Hey Guys,
I may soon be a member of this esteemed club .  I really enjoy working on junk and own a Diana Stormrider.  The bolt hasn't broken yet .....
 


Has anyone tried Hardening the threaded end of the bolt handle?  Just heat it up with a torch and quench in oil to harden. 
After all the problem is soft steel-> Right?

[Ribbonstone]

Problem is likely too hard steel (or it would bend and not just snap at the start of the threads).

As for cheap junk....I rather like outshooting the guy with the expensive toy.

[TunedAccuracy]

And as we delve further into the , cons, since there are no pros when it comes to cheap junk, we can see the masses who bought and own cheap junk , come out in droves to defend their cheap junk.
With statements like , " Cheap junk is just as good as the upper echelon." " Cheap junk that is clearly stamped,  made in china,  is made in the same place as a Daystate"
And my all time favorite, " Cheap junk is more accurate and better built than higher end airguns." Which is obviously why we see them falling apart on a daily basis along with a list of other problems.
Ok I am stopping now, before I have you guys chasing me down the street with nooses and pitchforks.