2240 weak Co2 piercing.

[kcatx]

I dug out my 2240 (14" barrel) which I haven't played with in probably a couple of years.     Put a new scope on it and fixed the transfer port leak.   Was testing it with a variety of pellets today and surprised to see that it was shooting best with RWS Superdomes-- I had assumed the JSB's or Vortex Supreme's would be better.  Anyway, after going through probably 3-4 Co2s I noticed that it wasn't piercing the Co2 very well anymore-- there was complete holes through at the start of my testing and at the end the Co2 was barely pierced.   On the last co2 I lost track of shots and figured it was low so I popped it open and took out the co2-- the pierce was so weak that I pulled it out of the gun and held it upside down while it spewed out co2. 
I have a power adjuster on it and of course messed with it a bit while testing.   Each time I swapped co2 I would do 2 shots to pierce the co2 before loading a pellet.   I'm wondering now if the piercing pin is worn down or otherwise broken.   I have a parts 2250 lying around (with a co2 stuck in it I found today) that I could salvage a piercing pin from if need by, however I was wondering if anybody had any pictures of what a good pin looks like so I can determine if this is indeed my issue.
Any other suggestions?

..and yes, I do put some pellgun oil on the end of each co2 as I load it up-- always have, always will.

Any suggestions or photos would be welcome!

[rsterne]

If you back the power adjuster out too far, the piercing pin won't pierce the cartridge properly....

Bob

[kcatx]

If you back the power adjuster out too far, the piercing pin won't pierce the cartridge properly....

Bob

Yeah, I was aware of that so put it nearly all the way in while piercing as well-- that's why I was assuming that maybe I messed up the pin.  Either that or somehow the power adjust spring broke or became bound up or something so it was no longer as strong as it should be.    I'll likely tear into it tomorrow, so hopefully somebody can point me to what a proper piercing pin should look like so I can see if that's my issue.

[Blue]

put it nearly all the way in while piercing as well-- that's why I was assuming that maybe I messed up the pin.

Could be that the spring took a bit of a set when it got cranked all the way in and has lost a little "oomph" because it's a little shorter now.

I just cracked open a brand new valve so I could get you a picture of a new valve stem/piercing pin, here's what it looks like.

Blue

[Wayne52]

Maybe the hammer spring is getting weak, it's possible it doesn't have the umph to pierce it good anymore, that would also inhibit the power as well.  It's doubtful that it would be the piercing point on the valve stem, they're really hardened and it's doubtful that would be the problem.

[kcatx]

Awesome thanks Blue and Wayne, hopefully I'll get into it today.   Gotta edit up last nights ratting video first though!

[rsterne]

If you adusted the trigger incorrectly, you may have drag on the hammer.... but that should also give you low velocity.... Have you changed brands of CO2?....

Bob

[kcatx]

I haven't changed brands of Co2, using the same 40 count box of Crosman ones actually.
As I have power adjusters on both the 2240 and 2250 I pulled out the springs and compared them-- they look identical, with identical length.  I swapped them around and the result is the same.   
Attached is a picture of one of the Co2s I used at the start of my testing the other day (on the right) and a recent one now (on the left).
I've just tried it with the RVA all the way in while piercing as well-- the results are the same all the way in, about halfway out or quite a ways out.

When I get a chance I'll pull out the piercing pin, but as Wayne52 mentioned it seems unlikely that's the problem.  What are the odds it's the valve spring then?  I believe that springs pushes against the pin so to me so I can't imagine how it could have gotten STRONGER over time and limiting the pin strike..

[Arkmaker]

Do you have a chrony? I'm thinking that just because it is a smaller hole that it doesn't mean less power. Just take a tad longer to fill the valve. It is a gas, so it can't take that awful long, can it? If you are losing power, it could be something else. My 1740 peirces the carts just like your pic and shoot right at 500 fps for 40-45 shoots. Chrony can tell you a lot.

[ToRmEnToR]

If you adusted the trigger incorrectly, you may have drag on the hammer.... but that should also give you low velocity.... Have you changed brands of CO2?....

Bob

This is what cause poor piercing and erratic velocities on My 2400kt.. Gave the trigger a little more room to travel after the shot and it fixed both issues..

[kcatx]

I do have a chrony Arkmaker, although I haven't chronied it in years.    It's possible it was trigger related, although I do have a stock trigger in the 2240.   Anyway, problem solved now-- I pulled out both the valves in the 2240 and the 2250, both looked fine-- no issues with the pin as expected.   While I had them apart I figured I'd rather the 2250 longer tube and fore grip so I basically just went and swapped steel breeches (2250 had plastic, only 2240 had full size steel) and barrel (given I knew the 2240's barrel was proving accurate).  I put both of them back together, and low and behold BOTH now the old 2240 (now 2250) and 2250 (now 2240!) pierce the co2 just fine! 
Anyway, a worthwhile exercise as I had lost interest in the 22XX platform and now am considering getting a 16" or 18" for the 2250 and may consider a HPA solution, now that I have a pump for the Maximus.
Thanks for all the help guys-- much appreciated!