So it's old... (part 6)

[Methuselah]

(Crosman 140, the journey continues)

I ordered an arbor press off eBay and used it to remove the pins. They were stubborn but yielded and I'd decided where the problem was.

It pumped up fine, just didn't hold but a few minutes. General concensus here is the teflon seals work. I don't trust them, but I trust the folks here - the valve did not get opened.

So, had to be the quad seal, which was new.

That quad seal had some brown clay like stuff caked on it. Most came off with fingernail and steel dental pick. I wasn't worried about scratches on it because after, it got coated with silicone plumber's grease.

To test, well, you saw the pic, that knerreled pin was not driven and the front pivoted on a punch. No way I was assembling it again until it's holding pressure. And it does now.

It's reassembled, time for some target shooting, hopefully this weekend.

I have no idea where that residue came from. Picked up from the pop off cap, excretion, or maybe I just didn't scrutinize it before I installed it.  Oh, contrary to what I  thought, that arbor press wasn't very effective putting it back together. Maybe just poor fixturing on my part.

Rear pin was driven and small fraction into the rear plug. I made sure to orient it the same way and "line up" the knerreling in the receiver.

I'm hoping it's going to be a keeper 

[/rambling mode off]

[bantam5s]

Are you talking about the press in threaded bushing for the trigger group screws ?

[Methuselah]

Are you talking about the press in threaded bushing for the trigger group screws ?

That's the one, but I had difficulty with both pins actually.

The "bushing" one I can't say for sure might have been self-inflicted if I didn't get it started in the receiver with the splines aligned. But I also suspect I put it back a little deeper and it previously hadn't cut into the rear plug.

It was so difficult to get in that I bought the press so wouldn't have to beat on it to dissassemble again.

I believe it should last several decades now, but it was also important to me that if it ever needed to come back apart it was in good enough condition to withstand another reseal job.

I learned a lot of lessons the hard way on this one...

[Methuselah]

Rear sight all the way down, shooting off a porch rail.

Numbers can up with quad seal fix

Pumps       Fps
3                 416.8
4                 475.8
5                 514.1
6                 547.8
7                 573.3
8                 601.0

[Blowpipe Sam]

Those are good numbers.  At eight pumps you should be between 12 and 13 FPE.  Accuracy doesn’t look bad either.  I’ve had very good luck with both the 15.9gr GTFT and the 17.6gr GTFT from Norma in all my 1400’s.  I bet your groups will tighten up with a better pellet.

[Methuselah]

I'm actually still scratching my head wondering how I'm gonna bring em down.

Maybe I'll stuff some wood shims between barrel and pump tube...

[bantam5s]

I'm actually still scratching my head wondering how I'm gonna bring em down.

Maybe I'll stuff some wood shims between barrel and pump tube...

Make the front sight taller.
You can heat and bend open the front sight to raise it up, build it up with some JB weld putty, or make a sheet metal sight that fits over the front sight and attaches with a screw going through the opening .

[Methuselah]

That sight ramp came loose, it's now tight again after installing the barrel.

I've got it standing, and pick it up clenching the barrel down to the receiver  ...  apparently not a good idea

[Blowpipe Sam]

Precision Pellet sells a very nice aluminum replacement barrel spacer for the 140/1400.  Reasonably priced also.  I have two.

[Methuselah]

Precision Pellet sells a very nice aluminum replacement barrel spacer for the 140/1400.  Reasonably priced also.  I have two.

Sounds like the perfect solution! I'll definitely have to look into it, thanks Captain!

[Methuselah]

Those are good numbers.  At eight it should be between 12 and 13 FPE.  Accuracy doesn’t look bad either.  I’ve had very good luck with both the 15.9gr GTFT and the 17.6gr GTFT from Norma in all my 1400’s.  I bet your groups will tighten up with a better pellet.

I just popped into a site with calculators, 600 is about 11 1/2. I've got several more lined up needing repair, but I'm not "above" tinkering. Is that an indicator the pump end needs extending a bit?

When I put it together I didn't mess with adjusting it bc it wasn't holding, and after reseal the pump handle didn't droop so I was thinking it made it to over-center position.

About accuracy, I'm kinda torn there. I know some of the "misses" were me. I wrote a lot more but deleted (boring)...

[Blowpipe Sam]

Try an incremental adjustment of the piston length.  The pump linkage develops some slop as it ages but the adjustable piston will compensate.  My 1st model 1400 went from 11-12 FPE at eight pumps to 13 after a slight adjustment.

[Methuselah]

On shooting 4" high, Rick at Precision Pellet informs me his spacers will not fit a 140 unless it originally came with one.

Pic I'll upload below shows somewhat normal looking gap, created using wood shims. Without them it's close or touching near the middle. Last night I took off the barrel and made 1st attempt at bending. Check was with 12" steel ruler. Too dark for shooting when I finished.

Maybe I'm repeating myself, but I'm considering trying a current production 2260 spacer. I do think I'll be able to get it sorted one way or another...

This rifle is growing on me. Quiet, pretty powerful at 3 or 4 pumps, and the hold just plain feels good.

[Blowpipe Sam]

Since it’s a 140 you might have to trim the length a bit but it will certainly fit between the barrel and tube.

Following your travails has reminded me how tough these old Crosman’s are.  You’ve brought that one back from the grave.  Kudos!

[Methuselah]

Since it’s a 140 you might have to trim the length a bit but it will certainly fit between the barrel and tube.

Following your travails has reminded me how tough these old Crosman’s are.  You’ve brought that one back from the grave.  Kudos!

very kind