Aluminum Crosman 180/187/400 barrel spacer blank?

[MultimediaMan]

A while back (Late 2019 early 2020) I saw an FleaBay listing for some black anodized Extruded Aluminum barrel spacer blanking material? Unfortunately, I can't find the listing, nor can i find a source for this.

Any help would be appreciated.

I have an early 2nd. Model 180 (Diecast trigger, dual power hammer with the little #4-40 Power Adjuster, all Brass Valve) which I am in the process of rescuing which has a fairly dinged-up plastic spacer with some swelling around the transfer port, and I figured while I'm there, may as well address that.

Unrelated but Interesting:

I had to re-seal the gun (no surprise). However, when disassembling the rifle (It was clear the gas tube hammer assembly had never been disassembled) to re-reseal the gun (went with urethane O-rings).

However, after the reseal, it was dumping gas out of the exhaust valve (not a huge surprise). 1 CO2 Cartridge (These things happen).

I checked the valve seal, but didn't see any obvious damage, but I chuck up the valve/valve seal in the lathe, and faced off 0.010" from it anyway and reassembled the rifle; it still leaked gas. 2 CO2 Cartridges (Why do these things happen to me?).

I questioned my mechanical skills and took apart the gun once more, carefully reassembling with the parts diagram and several pictures of bodies from the internet (Crosman 180/400 valve bodies, you pervs!) as a guide. It still leaked gas. 3 CO2 Cartridges (OK, now I'm wondering about global warming, the future of the rain forest, and the cost of CO2 powerlets).

I questioned my life choices, went to confession, then back to workbench. Once again disassembling the rifle, remembered that "The truth lies within..." I looked at the valve seat, and decided to give it a good cleaning/ polish with some Simichrome and a couple of cotton swabs. Nothing really obvious, but it did look like there was a thin indentation/ dent/ deformation on the raised seat. Next, I dabbed some magic marker onto the valve seal and lightly tapped it against the valve body seat. The Valve Seat showed no contact in one thin area (a single radial spot across one part of the valve face), so I tried it cleaning it again and repeating the marker check couple of times; it seemed to confirm the issue.  I placed the valve body into the lathe (Jacobs Rubber Collet Chuck to the rescue) and went in with very small (1/8") boring bar and touched off and faced the (raised) valve seat back 0.003"... no doubt about it: Something had left a small dent/impression/crease on the valve seat... ended up taking another 0.005" to get a clean, uninterrupted face cut across the seat. I deburred it lightly with some green Scotchbrite and called it good...

No idea what did it or when it occurred, but the cause of it all seemed to be FOD (Foreign Object Damage) to the valve seat. The 180 currently holds gas indefinitely.

 

[45flint]

Wow impressive, does show how difficult it can be to find little issues!  Not everyone has your skills and equipment.  Good job.

[Mike Baker]

Rick had the aluminum barrel spacers for the 180 but he is out at this time. He all so had them for the 1400. He might still have them for the 1400. If not I have a couple to sell. Rick Willnecker. Precision Pellet, Contact him at http://www.airgunshop.net/ or call 717-382-1481. Email airgunshop@aol.com 37 Stoney Lane, New Park, PA 17352,

[oldair]

Subtly damaged valve seats are a not uncommon issue with Crosman/Sheridan/Benjamin guns.  It's good practice to polish and examine them before reassembly, and sometimes a reface is required to take care of nicks or dents.  Apparently particles of dirt or debris are the culprit, easy to imagine on pumpers but less so on CO2 guns - although maybe tiny shards from piercing the cartridge could be the cause?

On the barrel spacers, Alan Becker also had some made up; I don't know if he's still in business but they are at the bottom of this page:
http://www.abairgun.com/ServicePage.htm
This outfit claims to have plastic ones:
https://alliancehobby.com/spacers.htm

Don R.

[MultimediaMan]

Thanks to you both Mike and oldair, I'll check them out. Mike, I may be sending you a PM if I strike out.