Is this common?

[rafterp]

Was enjoying an afternoon shooting my Crosman Vantage NP. I shot it and immediately started hearing a hissing sound and that ended that...I guess the piston failed??
I've been kind of snake-bit on this gun, but I've learned a lot, lol! My wife was teasing that I spend more time working on it, than shooting it! Finally got a whole afternoon of hitting the bull more often than not, at 10yds. Heavier pellets really helped. GRT III trigger really helped. Just starting to enjoy it today, when the piston failed. Sounded like a CO2 cartridge when you pierce it...but it kept on for 30 seconds or so. No compression at all now. Have any of you ever had one fail like that? Can they be replaced? Can one purchase a spring to replace the piston? What are your recommendations; would you put a spring in over a piston?

[mobilehomer]

Call Crosman. If in warranty, they will either send you a UPS label or possibly a new ram. Easy to replace.

[mobilehomer]

And NO, it is not common.

[Roadworthy]

Ken nailed it on both counts - if it's on warranty Crosman will replace it free.  If you're not comfortable they'll do it but if you opt to send it in remove the GRT III trigger first.  You won't get it back.

The Nitro Piston fails only very rarely.  They usually last for YEARS!!

Yes, it can be replaced with a steel spring but you should be aware - sometimes those fail, too.

[rafterp]

Thanks ya'll...it's not under warranty. If Crosman will sell me the part, is it just a matter of swapping the old for the new one? I've had the rifle apart. When I put in the GRT III trigger, I took everything out and cleaned the chamber. Replaced piston seal. Put it back with some moly on the new seal. I didn't do anything to the ram. After I put it all back together, I was pleased that my groups were starting to shrink. Today I was shooting targets with a dozen or so 1" bulls, and was able to put a pellet in each one at 10yds. I was trying to see how many I could put in the center bull and got to 9 when it started hissing at me! I think I'll call Crosman and see if they'll sell me a new gas ram. The price of one on PA was about half the price of the gun, so I'm not sure it's worth putting more $ in it?? Thanks for the feedback!

[Privateer]

Crosman will sell you the new NP with no problem.
Just get the part number and call them Monday morning.
I'd not install a spring at this point. You'd have to do so much more work and need a few extra parts.

[rafterp]

Thanks Jeff, I really don't want to do more work on it. Finally felt like I was getting it shooting well enough to do a little pest control and this happened. I'll give them a call.

[SteveP-52]

Part number for the gas piston: BT9M22-00-5A

[SteveP-52]

Part number for the gas piston: BT9M22-00-5A

Had to quote myself because they once again removed the Modify button...lol. Nick Panther gave me a list of part numbers when I was thinking of converting my Optimus to a gas ram. He said the whole setup of gas ram, piston, seal and some other minor pieces was only like $56 straight from Crosman, so the ram itself shouldn't be too big a hit in your wallet.

[Privateer]

It is VERY rare for the Crosman NP to go out like that.
Not that it does not happen but usually it's a slow bleed down and you hear no sounds.
Most just lose power but never go totally dead.

[mentolio]

Last time I bought one the piston was sub-30 bucks, with shipping. I have heard Crosman has increased their bulk shipping cost, tho I don't know from experience. Never hurts to ask if they will replace it, in spite of being out of warranty, but they likely will want the gun which could be problematic?

[rafterp]

Yes, I don't think I'll ship it...for the shipping and parts, I could almost get a new one from PA! I think I'm going to try to combine the order and see if I can purchase a synthetic stock, a metal muzzle brake, and the gas ram. Thanks everybody for your feedback.

[mentolio]

That^ sounds like a fine idea. Maybe add some seals (breach and piston) to that as well? Y'know, for your next couple of guns?

[SteveP-52]

Never hurts to have a couple spare breech and piston seals in the tool box just in case and since they're not expensive, I'd consider grabbing a couple.

[rafterp]

Good idea! I'll add it to the list. 

[HYspd]

if you aren't able to stack 80+ out of 100, you and i need to have a talk...like voice while you do things to the rifle and tell me the results in real.time....there are several issues out of the dozens possible and you need a hand with the weeding process...


PS yep everybody is giving you the correct.info about the ram.....crosman's website support manuals and diagrams (evp)....find your rifle and get the part number for the ram from the diagram pages (download the PDF file and open with adobe acrobat...