Can someone explain what the "bearing" is on a Sheridan Blue Streak?

[ryan805]

Hello All,

I'm new here and I'm sorry if I could have searched this question somewhere on the forum and found the answer. I promise I'll take some more time to understand the site and how to navigate very soon. I have a 1978 Sheridan Blue Streak and I'm getting ready to be replacing the bolt. I saw this instruction on a bolt I purchased off of Ebay: When installing the bearing, use a wood popsicle stick to press on the bearing. The wood will conform to the bearing holding it in place better than metal.

Can someone give me a little help. When I took out the "homemade" bolt that was put in my gun when I sent it off to get the seals replaced and the stock refinished, I noticed that it didn't have an o-ring on the bolt, nor did a see a spring come out. (I put my hand over the bolt when removing it and no spring). So, when I receive the new aftermarket bolt, I'd like to know what I'm doing.

I did order the book: "Know Your Sheridan Rifles & Pistols" but it won't be here for a few days after I receive the new bolt.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you to all for the warm welcoming so far. Looking forward to learning from all of the enthusiasts here.

Ryan

[TooJung2Die]

I think I know what the bolt "bearing" is. The bolt has four parts; Bolt, Cocking Lug, O-ring, and the Tension Spring. I've heard on some Sheridans there is a tiny ball bearing on top of the tension spring. This bearing is hard to install and easy to lose. My Sheridan doesn't have this bearing and the Sheridan Repair Manual v4.3 I have doesn't show it either. If you don't have the bearing, forget about it. You don't need it.

The o-ring is size -004 or dimensions: 5/64"ID X 13/64"OD X 1/16"CS.

[eeler1]

What Jon said.  Benjamin had a similar bolt for their pumpups, and it had a ball bearing on top of the spring.  Sheridans had a spring, no ball.  The spring just puts a little tension on the bolt so it doesn't rattle around, it's not really mandatory either.  The ball is 3/32", by memory.  I've lost dozens of them during installation on the Benjamins, as the ball doesn't like going into the hole on top of the spring.  Be sure to come back and let us know how the new bolt works out.

[ryan805]

Thank you both! I will come back and let you know how it went. Really appreciate the thorough explanation and help!

[bantam5s]

Exactly what they said.
You can put a bearing in there even though they didn't originally have one, I recommend doing it.
Buy a small bearing and you can take it apart for the ball bearings inside.

[JKM6442]

What Jon said.  Benjamin had a similar bolt for their pumpups, and it had a ball bearing on top of the spring.  Sheridans had a spring, no ball.  The spring just puts a little tension on the bolt so it doesn't rattle around, it's not really mandatory either.  The ball is 3/32", by memory.  I've lost dozens of them during installation on the Benjamins, as the ball doesn't like going into the hole on top of the spring.  Be sure to come back and let us know how the new bolt works out.

If you've got a Sheridan with just the spring then somebody pulled the bolt and lost the tension ball.  If you're using a Sheridan with just the spring, the end of the spring is liable to become lodged between the bolt and the top of the breech and jam the bolt.

[eeler1]

Well, if that's the case, the Sheridan factory must've been a dangerous place with all those ball bearings flying out of bolts and covering the floor, as none ever left the factory with a ball.  But, yeah, like David said, it's not a bad idea to install the ball on the spring.  Your choice.

[bantam5s]

What Jon said.  Benjamin had a similar bolt for their pumpups, and it had a ball bearing on top of the spring.  Sheridans had a spring, no ball.  The spring just puts a little tension on the bolt so it doesn't rattle around, it's not really mandatory either.  The ball is 3/32", by memory.  I've lost dozens of them during installation on the Benjamins, as the ball doesn't like going into the hole on top of the spring.  Be sure to come back and let us know how the new bolt works out.

If you've got a Sheridan with just the spring then somebody pulled the bolt and lost the tension ball.  If you're using a Sheridan with just the spring, the end of the spring is liable to become lodged between the bolt and the top of the breech and jam the bolt.

As far as I know they didnt come with one.
My '79 didn't and the cam plate screws had not been touched before me, same goes for my '80 E pistol.

[ryan805]

Exactly what they said.
You can put a bearing in there even though they didn't originally have one, I recommend doing it.
Buy a small bearing and you can take it apart for the ball bearings inside.

Hey David,

I was coming back here to look for this exact info, so thank you. I have a skateboard bearing that I use for a drawer slide on my truck sleeping platform and I'm wondering if I can use on of the balls inside. I like the idea of adding one even if it didn't come with one. I saw Jon mention it might be a  3/32 ball, so I'll see what I can find.

Thank you and to everyone else who has chimed in with help. Really looking forward to getting my gun back to working order.

My father who gave me the gun is now gone and he and I spent a ton of time in the back yard culling the local squirl population that infiltrated our attic. When he first gave me the rifle, I was only ten and could not pump the gun myself. I remember only being able to pump it three times for a couple of years after that. Great memories!

[TooJung2Die]

I'm surprised this topic has created this much debate so I'll add to it. 
I've repaired a few Sheridans for myself and friends and none of them had a ball bearing on the bolt tension spring. I thought having a ball in there might be a good idea so scavenged a tiny ball bearing that fit in the hole. I ended up not being able to use it because even with the tension spring fully compressed there wasn't enough room in the hole for both the spring and the ball. The ball stuck out of the hole too far to get the bolt back in. I went back to using just the spring.

[Van]

I have 3 printed schematics and parts lists and none show a ball bearing. One from UJ's repair manual and others from the online vendors.  All just show the spring by itself.   My 1971 made Blue Streak did not have one when I rebuilt it. It sounds like a good idea if it had one but it it sems like there is not enough room.

[oldair]

Sheridans didn't use a ball.  To add one for smoother operation, you could cut the spring or replace it with a shorter one.  The flint spring from a disposable lighter can be cut for experimentation while keeping your original if desired.

Don R.

[bantam5s]

I have 3 printed schematics and parts lists and none show a ball bearing. One from UJ's repair manual and others from the online vendors.  All just show the spring by itself.   My 1971 made Blue Streak did not have one when I rebuilt it. It sounds like a good idea if it had one but it it sems like there is not enough room.

Just clip a coil or two off the spring.
If I remember correctly I lost my bolt spring the 2nd time I had to work on it and cut the sprin from a disposable lighter to length.

[bantam5s]

Exactly what they said.
You can put a bearing in there even though they didn't originally have one, I recommend doing it.
Buy a small bearing and you can take it apart for the ball bearings inside.

Hey David,

I was coming back here to look for this exact info, so thank you. I have a skateboard bearing that I use for a drawer slide on my truck sleeping platform and I'm wondering if I can use on of the balls inside. I like the idea of adding one even if it didn't come with one. I saw Jon mention it might be a  3/32 ball, so I'll see what I can find.

Thank you and to everyone else who has chimed in with help. Really looking forward to getting my gun back to working order.

My father who gave me the gun is now gone and he and I spent a ton of time in the back yard culling the local squirl population that infiltrated our attic. When he first gave me the rifle, I was only ten and could not pump the gun myself. I remember only being able to pump it three times for a couple of years after that. Great memories!

A skateboard bearing is going to be too large, you'll need a bearing around 5/8 across to find suitable sized ball bearings.

I know what you mean, I could not pump my blue streak as a kid when my dad would let me shoot it.
Thankfully I had my own gun and he didn't give me 'Ol blue till I was a teenager and my my Crosman 66 had stopped working.
By that time I had no problem pumping it, and I was passed the stage where I might have spray painted the stock or carved on it...etc like I had done with my 1st red Ryder and my Crosman 66.

[ryan805]

Well, now I'm conflicted on whether to experiment with it or just run the spring by itself. I think what I might do is try to find a couple of the springs and order them and see. I really don't want to do anything that would hurt the gun at this point though. Too much sentimental value.

If they didn't come with a spring when new, I don't see the harm in running it without the bearing. I put about 20-50 pellets a week through it when I was younger and did that for years and never had an issue with my gun. When all my friends who had Daisy 880 guns would somehow manage to break their guns, mine just kept on. At that time I did nothing to "care" for my gun... no oil, no storing it with 2 pumps, nothing. I treated it like any young kid would treat something.. terrible. It ran solid despite how I treated it. It was only when I stopped using it and stored it did the seals wear out. Now, I'll take much better care of it, but don't know if I should mess with something that clearly worked well as it was.

[eeler1]

Maybe we came across too strong, sorry.  Don’t overthink it, I vote for no ball.

[TooJung2Die]

Don’t overthink it, I vote for no ball.

I agree, no ball. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

That said... Much of this forum is devoted to improving and re-engineering air guns to make them better. I can't look at anything without figuring it out a way to make it better. My wife complains, "Can't you leave anything alone? Why do have to take everything apart?"    I had to drill and tap my Sheridan to fit a peep sight. I tried the ball bearing just to see! Scavenging the spring from a disposable flint lighter to replace a lost bolt tension spring is a great idea and works perfect.

[cvasquez]

Ok so the spring goes in first into the hole. Then the tiny ball. You need to depress the ball so its flush with the bolts outer surface so the bolt can slide into the breech.I use a very thin plastic 6 inch ruler . Works like a charm and can wrap around the bolt shaft while depressing the ball.You then feed in the bolt.  I bet 99% of sheridans have lost this ball upon dissassembly because its so easy to do. anyway with the ball contacting the inner  surface of the breech under spring tension the bolt slides smoothly with no wobble.