Need help ..... what to do with an old Benji 310

[tneynop]

I have taken possesion of a Benji 310 made in 1963. I know nothing about the gun other than it probably has not been touched or fired in 30 - 40 years.

I have not tried to fire it and am wondering if I should attempt to or if I should try to introduce some WD40 to it first or what.

I don't want to cause any damage to it so I am proceeding cautiously. Can someone give me some guidance here? I don't have a clue.

I know nothing about this gun and how it works.

[amb5500c]

Wont hurt nothing to try it. Either it'll work, or not. If not, try a few drops of transmission fluid on the leather seal. Give it over night to soak in, and try again.
Richard

[Hedgeapple]

if you decide to fix it yourself it takes a special tool to get valve apart....  valve is actually soldered in barrel and you actually rebuild valve in gun....it is really easy to ruin a sheridan or benjamin rifle with out this tool..other then that it is pretty easy job....the trick is locating and findin tool......several repair shops sell the tool
Larry

[warwolfmk2]

Sir please put the can down and step away from the WD-40.
 But seriously you should keep WD40 as faraway from your airguns as possable it's really not good for them it can eat the finish and seals away in minutes.

[tneynop]

I have heard both positive and negative things about using WD40 on air guns. I will admit I am a lot more comfortable with ATF than WD40.

I am leaning towards a light touch of ATF and if no success, find someone who knows what they are doing, to go over it.

[SnoValley]

Warwolf is correct, do not use WD on your air gun!!!
Non detergent 30wt oil is the oil of choice if you don't have Pellgun oil or Tim's sauce.
Put a couple drops in the area where you can see the pump cup and pump a couple times, then fire without a pellet. this will help spread the oil through out. Do this a couple times, then let it sit overnight. It might take a couple days if it is not holding air for the seals to soften. I've revived a couple this way. If you decide to rebuild, it's not too difficult you just need the tool for the valve. they have lead seals and if removed carefully can often be reused. The usual vendors should have kits available. I've had great service from Precision Pellet, Rick actually makes some parts for the Benji's that are not available elsewhere.
David

PM me if you need help

[Tom @ Buzzard Bluff]

You have been given good advice about WD-40! I would go so far as to say that you'll be far ahead of the game to not put it on ANY kind of gun! WD-40 is NOT a lubricant. As the lighter elements in the formula dry up the residue turns into a pretty darn good adhesive. Adhesives aren't good for moving parts.

You can get repair kits w/instructions plus the valve wrench from Ron Sauls at Bryan & Assoc. (just google) If you can catch him on the phone he will even give hints of the best way to use them and he is the epitome of 'Southern Gentleman' and pure delight to talk to as well.

FWIW----the 310 & later 340 models were the smoothbore BB models from Benjamin. They shoot BBs with surprising accuracy and .177 pellets almost as well as a rifled bore out to 10-15 yds. I think of them as the perfect 'Grandson rifle'. Kids can go thru so many rounds that they can wreck Grandpa's budget with pellets if he's on a limited income. But BBs are still cheap. An old Benjamin also teaches possibly the most important life lesson that can be imparted to youngsters in this era of no failure allowed and ego massaging. That is the same lesson I have as my primary operating principle---TANSTAAFL. (There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch) An old Benji makes a young'un earn every bit of increased energy he attains by increasingly difficult charging strokes. It's a win/win deal---for both Grandpa and Grandson. Grandpa can afford to let the young'un shoot and the kid learns that anything worth having must be earned by the sweat of his brow.
What's not to like?   
Sorry---suffering from a philosophical moment here on the Bluff.          Tom

[tneynop]

Thank you for all of the great advice!  I have stepped away from the WD40 and promise to never return!

There's nothing more meaningful than a philosopher with a gun!

[SAADE]

tneyop: STOP! Send the gun to me immediately, you may put your eye out with that thing.LOL

[tneynop]

Awwwwwwwwwwww gee mom!

I'll be careful!

[Petey]

Couldn't be helped...

[tneynop]

I put a few drops of type "F" ATF in the area of the pump cup and upon pumping, you can hear the air escape in about 3 or 4 seconds and stop. Guess I'll have to give a few days to soak in.

[TimmyMac1]

Sir please put the can down and step away from the WD-40.

What he Said for Sure. EXCEPT;
The one thing that WD40 Will do is delead a Barrel that you may think is clean.

After pulling dry patches or whatever you do to clean your barrel, try putting some WD40 on a tight patch and pull that. You will be blown away how much lead you pull out.

After discovering this from a fellow airgunner Lonnie Smith I used this method to clean my barrel of the BR gun I took 3rd place with in HV class World AirRifle Benchrest Championship held in South Carolina this Summer.

We cleaned the barrel every 100 rounds to keep it in top form. WD on a Patch then Rem oil on 3-3 Patches.

On the 310 since it is a BB gun what I'd do with it is use the trade in option from Crosman and get a 392 or 397 from them by adding the trade in fee. Then you have a rifled gun that works. Be sure to lube it as the Oil starved guns like to stop working. Secret Sauce is the Stuff that'll make it work best.

Edited to add the Trade in option

[Tom @ Buzzard Bluff]

"The one thing that WD40 Will do is delead a Barrel that you may think is clean."

Thanks Tim----and to Lonnie Smith for sharing a good use for WD-40!
My old gunsmith Uncle loved the stuff! It kept him profitable when hunters gummed up their deer rifles and had to pay him for a complete dis-assembly and cleaning after the firing pin refused to fall fast enough to light the wick from a cold blind on opening morning.    Tom

[RedFeather]

I'll pass.  It's one of the smells in life that I absolutely hate.  Were I to open up the gun locker and have Eau du WD40 hit me, I'd take up paint ball. 

[tneynop]

I appreciate all of the advice but I have to admit, after working in Steel Mills for 28 years .......... I kind of enjoy a little "Eau du WD40!"  I guess I just got used to it after so long a time.

[tneynop]

OK, have had type "F" ATF in gun for 8 days, gun will not hold air. Assumption is new seals required.

Anyone know where I can get an exploded parts view for this gun? Crosman site doesn't appear to have a download available for a Benji 310. Is their another source for one?

[Tom @ Buzzard Bluff]

Any parts breakdowns applicable to 312, 317, 340, 347 and 342 will get you in the ballpark except for barrels & bolts.

[tneynop]

Tom, I appreciate the advice however after going to the Crosman site and looking for illustrations on any of those suggested guns, I came up with nothing.

Is there somewhere else I might find them?

[Tom @ Buzzard Bluff]

Tom, I appreciate the advice however after going to the Crosman site and looking for illustrations on any of those suggested guns, I came up with nothing.

Is there somewhere else I might find them?

IIRC Ron Sauls at Bryan & Assoc. provides copies of the original Benjamin repair instructions with his overhaul kits that includes the IPB (Illustrated Parts Breakdown).