Daisy 853 953 Rebuild 1rst Attempt Do’s and Don’ts

[threesuns]

Some how I have acquired a couple Daisy’s this year despite telling my self “Don’t go there! Stick with what you know, Crosman and Sheridan.”

Turns out I liked the 853! Lengthened the stock and like it even more. Upgraded the rear site, better still. And have read about making it even better with some trigger work.

Recently had an opportunity locally and acquired a 953 that needs to be resealed. Looks like an adult stocked version of my 853 but with composite pump arm vs cast. And If I read the date code right “4M000398” should be a NRA members only 1rst year, December 1984, rifle??

Any who - plan to mod the trigger on the 853 and reseal while apart getting experience for the 953. Ordered parts from Daisy, which arrived super fast and the lever assembly is cast! and the pump is solid NOT cupped! and ID’d as a 853 part NOT 953!

Do I use what Daisy supplied or will I devalue the 953 for the serious Daisy guys?

Will update with progress but still have 6-8 more weeks of work B4 the season at the Country Club is done.

[Ronno6]

Definitely use the new parts.
The 953 is the lowest of the SSP Avanti series, so no worries about collector value.
Main difference is the Daisy barrel vs, Walther and no peep sights.......
Who would disassemble to check anyway??

[threesuns]

These Daisy ads from 1984 and 1985 show the 953 with same target sights as my original 853 sights and both say it has a LW barrel.

I’ll have to verify when dissembled.

Wonder how many NRA member rifles were produced and sold in 1984?

[Ronno6]

These Daisy ads from 1984 and 1985 show the 953 with same target sights as my original 853 sights and both say it has a LW barrel.

I’ll have to verify when dissembled.

Wonder how many NRA member rifles were produced and sold in 1984?

I thought the 953 was the low end....I guess it's the 753......
No, from what i am seeing, the 753 is the top, the 953 is 2 levels lower.....
https://www.airgundepot.com/daisy-953-target-pro.html
https://www.airgundepot.com/daisy-avanti-753s-10m-match-grade-pellet-rifle.html

There will be no indecision around here......will there??

[threesuns]

Reaffirmed my 853 is shooting 485fps, with JSB 7.87s Exact Express Premium, before disassembly. I think that’s pretty close to spec.

Also found an old thread discussing the early 953s like mine - https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=65117.0 - appears to be a 5 year run from 1984-89 with a LW barrel, before being reintroduced in 2004 with a Daisy barrel.

[threesuns]

Have been reading / watching disassembly tutorials for the my Daisy rebuild, and with a tournament today at the Country Club, I got out way earlier than expected.

1rst pic - couple differences between the 1984 953 and my 853C.

2nd pic - the valve stem. Didn’t expect that! I really hope the seat seal is good.

3rd pic - checked head space with the new pump arm and piston. Looks very good! Arm is open 1-1/8 inch when faces make contact. There was no contact with the original components though they were very close.

Going to clean everything good and polish the hammer and sear before reassembly.

[threesuns]

Got side tracked … the hammer spring is pretty long and needs a guide … will it help?? I definitely wouldn’t hurt.

Not as straight forward as what I am accustomed to - here’s what I came up with - utilized a spent 22 mag case - I think it’ll work

Back to cleaning and polishing

[threesuns]

Success, the 953 is back to life. 👍 Not sure how long it had been sitting but any lubricant that had been applied was a tough dried stuck on residue. Dawn Ultra Platinum Powerwash Spray broke it down.

I did NOT do the FULL trigger mod! I did spent a fair amount of time polishing the hammer and seer contact points. And after reassembly - went back in a few more times - and wound up removing about a 32nd from the seer contact point and 2 coils off the seer spring. I don’t have a way to measure the trigger pull but there is a very short 1rst stage and a super smooth 2nd that breaks cleanly!

For reassembly the hammer and seer were NOT lubricated while non metal parts received a lite smear of silicone grease. Surprised to find an ALL METAL valve stem, I am fortunate the seat seal was still good. I only needed to use 1 O-ring from the rebuild kit since the new pump link already had the O-ring and foam oiler installed.

The spring guide if nothing else made reassembly a little easier by minimizing the the desire for the hammer and spring to want to bulge up when seated.

Hows it shoot? 10 each
7.87gr JSB Exact Express Premium … High 491.6 low 487.3 avg 489.2fps
Vogel Merlin Match + … High 473.4 Low 458.3 avg 465.8
RWS Meister-kugelin … High 468.7 Low 464.4 avg 466.5

The JSB and RWS pellets loaded very consistent and resulted in a minimal ES. Vogels must have a greater variance in sizing and was noticeable when loading. All pellets were as accurate as each other, as good as I can shoot.

I will be making a blinder to use with the daisy rear site and will have to order replacement inserts for the front, as I think it has the largest aperture installed. Definitely blocks a lot more of the target than the 1 in my 853.

Made a 2nd spring guide to use in the 853 and want to look more closely at the mechanics, to see if I can add any cam over, like the new link did for the 953.

[threesuns]

Curious if the 953 would perform with heavy pellets, just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke - 1 JSB makes me think this thing will shoot just about whatever I feed it.

[threesuns]

Revisited my 853 this afternoon to add the spring guide, I had made last week when rebuilding the 953. Plus wanting to get an idea of what it will take to add a little cam over to the pump mechanism.

Anyone familiar with the 7X7 pistols knows Daisy recommends adjusting the pump piston till the lever is not more than 1-1/2” from closing when making contact with the valve. Since the X53 rifle’s lever is more that double the length and the pump rod is composite NOT metal, setting the cam over using the same 1-1/2” should not put excessive strain on the system.

My feeler gauges are too wide to use 🤔 while not precise, compressing a tooth pic and then measuring, should get me close

[threesuns]

Update my piston mod is complete. I used the old 953 piston and kept the 853 piston stock so I can go back if needed.

Results were anemic - using 7.87gr JSBs - 5 shots 485.8, 486.9, 495, 492.5, 490 average 490.4fps

While waiting for the JB Weld to set I looked at maxing out the stroke of the 853 to increase efficiency. Adding the shim with the modded piston, still using 7.87gr JSBs - 5 shots 494.2, 502.1, 499.1, 501.5, 494.1 average 498.2

I’m reusing the O-rings and poppet and will added fresh seals when I find my happy place. I’m just curious where x53 platform maxes out with simple tricks.

I’ve read, opening the hole in the valve retainer will boost fps. From 03/2014 here on GTA “There was a post somewhere not here that a youth shooting instructor drilled out the port right behind the piston and claimed more fps”. I have a spare clip from the reseal kit ??

Also read about poppet mods “Ray Appelles … 853 he modified for FT use. It involved making a new valve stem poppet a little larger than the stock poppet”. While not something I can do I am thinking of reducing the stem diameter, rite behind the poppet, like I’ve done with Crosmans to increase flow ??

[threesuns]

So it was actually the Canadian Airgun Forum that specifically mentioned opening the hole in the valve clip to increase fps. I was doubtful, and with my 853 I saw no difference at all.

As for modifying the poppet stem, any change is too small, after only a handful of shots to say definitively.

I had also read of modifying the lever latch, the part that contacts the hammer. But when with the lever closed I can’t see any reason to ever try it.

I know no 2 guns, even of the same model, will produce the same results. What has me stumped is, my 853 is now launching 7.87gr JSBs and Meister-kugeluns just a tad faster than my 953, each one as accurate as I can shoot, but heavier pellets are slower and 10gr’s are significantly slower by 30fps ??

[threesuns]

Last mod with my limited abilities and the one I should’ve started with when fully disassembled for the trigger work - adding an O-ring seal to the pellet probe!

After marking the max depth, with the bolt closed, in the assembled action. The bolt was removed, chucked in my drill press, via the nose, and spun at the slowest speed, then using a new Sawzall blade, I was able cut the groove.

Highest speed of 5 JSB 7.87grs was 513fps

And just because - Gamo Raptor pellets, which were NOT accurate at all! gave a high of 581fps

[happymecanic]

So it was actually the Canadian Airgun Forum that specifically mentioned opening the hole in the valve clip to increase fps. I was doubtful, and with my 853 I saw no difference at all.

As for modifying the poppet stem, any change is too small, after only a handful of shots to say definitively.

I had also read of modifying the lever latch, the part that contacts the hammer. But when with the lever closed I can’t see any reason to ever try it.

I know no 2 guns, even of the same model, will produce the same results. What has me stumped is, my 853 is now launching 7.87gr JSBs and Meister-kugeluns just a tad faster than my 953, each one as accurate as I can shoot, but heavier pellets are slower and 10gr’s are significantly slower by 30fps ??

Hi Threesuns, I gained 17 fps on my 953 with the lever latch mod alone. See my posts on the CAF (my avatar is airmec over there): https://www.airgunforum.ca/forums/post576482.html?hilit=Daisy%20953#p576482

[threesuns]

I gained 17 fps on my 953 with the lever latch mod alone. See my posts

If I had your abilities!

Your link didn’t mention it but, like the 7X7 pistols, do you have to cock your 953 first since the latch mod? Seems to me, when the lever opens, the stronger latch spring causes the hammer to be pushed back off the stem, closing the valve.

Since modifying my piston to allow for some cam-over, the nub that contacts the piston is just proud of the valve face, with the lever fully closed. Another 10-15 fps would be a nice bonus, just not sure its there with my rifle and abilities.

[happymecanic]

I gained 17 fps on my 953 with the lever latch mod alone. See my posts

If I had your abilities!

Your link didn’t mention it but, like the 7X7 pistols, do you have to cock your 953 first since the latch mod? Seems to me, when the lever opens, the stronger latch spring causes the hammer to be pushed back off the stem, closing the valve.

Since modifying my piston to allow for some cam-over, the nub that contacts the piston is just proud of the valve face, with the lever fully closed. Another 10-15 fps would be a nice bonus, just not sure its there with my rifle and abilities.

As far as I can tell your abilities are already pretty good! No, I don't have to cock the gun before pumping; I didn't modify the valve in any ways, I kept the stock spring intact and all seems to be good, I just tried it yesterday.

Keep it up, very nice work so far .

Cheers!

[threesuns]

853 update - finally got around to reshaping the grip area and refinishing the stock. I’m liking the way it feels - what do you think?