I think I may have a problem with my new benjamin pump. Updated with Better Pics

[alex77147]

I got my pump from sun optics, I had it for a little over a year and had it apart at least three times.  It doesn't look as bad as this one but man if I used this daily I would probably have to rebuild it weekly.  I will use some rubbing compound on the main tube and see if that helps.

[Tom SC]

  Nah, thats unacceptable IMO . Mine has way over 50 fills with one over haul and still looks and pumps like new. This is disappointing sorry there being this way.

[dukemeister]

They told me thee resealed it, lubed it, and buffed the tube. I don't think I am being unreasonable, thr pump is MAYBE 2 months old with probably less than 50 fills. I would say closer to 30 or 40.

That is totally unacceptable... outer tube should have been replaced NQA.
I'm now embarrassed to say I have one of those Benjamin pumps. Although mine is not pitted and it does still work (it now has about 12 fills  x 300 pump strokes each), I will buy a seal kit and re-seal it myself when needed.

[Rescue35]

They told me thee resealed it, lubed it, and buffed the tube. I don't think I am being unreasonable, thr pump is MAYBE 2 months old with probably less than 50 fills. I would say closer to 30 or 40.

Probably should have called Crosman first as it has there name on it. Probably would have gotten more traction with them.

[eddieirvine]

That is just not right! whatever it is they made that out of which looks like to me it is  build up of a material for maybe hardness! but what ever it is??? It is flaking off! send it back for a replacement! problem with that is, if they are still making them the same way it will do it again!

[Air Rifle Hunter]

 Definitely call Crosman and, or send Crosman the pictures. They need to make that right for you.

[bradyman1]

I think there is something in the outer tube galling the shiny rod that is damaged. I don't think it is flaking. It looks like something has gouged the metal out of it. I still am having good contact with sun optics. I am going to see what they offer. If they offer no good solution I will call Crosman. I thought they were sending their customers to sun optics though??

[MustangMike]

I would tell them I'm going to report them to bbb and will no longer suggest sun optics to future buyers looking for a hand pump.

[bradyman1]

I think I may contact Crosman. Does anyone have Kim's email address?

[bradyman1]

Below is the email string I have had with Sun Optics since I have got my repaired pump back. Duane is the engineer, Melissa is the customer service agent. I feel that she is trying and that she is kind of stuck in the middle. Am I being unreasonable? Am I failing to see how the metal flaking could have happened? From what I am reading they are offering to send me a center tube for me to install. The newest email is at the top, you kind of have to read it from the bottom up to get the email string in chronological order.  The email has only been modified to remove last names, phone numbers, and email addresses. All the rest is copy and pasted.



Duane,

I still fail to see how a basically new pump could have this happen. I received this pump around May 22nd or 23rd. I have filled my discovery I would estimate less than 50 times. Every time I have used the pump I have found an oily ring (the factory lubrication) around the base of the tube in question so I suspect that under lubrication is not an issue.

In reference to the gritty feeling at the top of the pump stroke and it's related corrosion, I just received the pump back from the repair department and I noticed this. I unpacked it and operated the pump by hand, I have not even remounted the handle or the foot plate yet. This was done straight out of the box from repair without it connected to a gun. The rod in question was buffed so I don't see how any corrosion could have been left in place if it were even there to begin with. My suspicions are some sort of burr or metal chunk floating around inside the pump causing the issue.

I understand how moisture could cause pitting, I understand how under-lubrication could cause pitting or wear marks of some sort. I fail to see how under-lubrication or moisture could cause the issues I am having especially since the moving metal parts are more or less protected from each other by O rings and the pump is virtually new.

At this point I am concerned that even if the tube in question is replaced that there has been additional damage inside the pump or that the new tube will be damaged as well.

Jason



----- Original Message -----
From: Melissa 
To: Jason
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2012 10:31 AM
Subject: Re: Benjamin High Pressure Hand Pump


Jason,
Please see our engineers response below. Maybe a new tube will fix you up....if this will work I will find one for ya today out of our parts here in the shop.

Kindest Regards,
Melissa

From: Duane
To: Melissa 
Sent: Thursday, June 7, 2012 3:21 PM
Subject: Re: Benjamin High Pressure Hand Pump



Part 14 is a tube not a rod.  the pits and chips are caused by moisture.  There is no metal part of any kind that slides on the tube just an O ring.  The tube is nickel plated to prevent rust but moisture over even a short time can cause pitting and flaking.  discoloration is caused by brass being in close proximity. Feeling gritty at the top of the stroke is where the moisture collects the worse and corrosion builds up. I have never seen where this has caused a pump failure.  I think we probably can find him a better tube but he will have to keep lubed and clean once in a while or it will happen again. 
ds





From: Melissa
To: Duane
Sent: Thu, June 7, 2012 3:03:54 PM
Subject: Fw: Benjamin High Pressure Hand Pump


Please see Jasons response below. What do you want to do?


Kindest Regards,
Melissa

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Jason
To: Melissa 
Sent: Thursday, June 7, 2012 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: Benjamin High Pressure Hand Pump




Melissa,

Item # 14 is the item with the pieces of metal missing. I do not know what is causing the galling of that part though. I suspect that it may be item 13 but that is just a guess. Item 13 appears to be brass and I wouldn't think it would harm steel but I am not sure. I can not tell from the pics but it appears that items # 24, 25,26, and 27 also ride along shaft 14. It may be one of them that has caused the damage. I really don't know. I have never had one of these pumps apart. Did Mike mention if he saw any items inside the pump that was causing the damage? It sounds a bit gritty at the top of the stroke. I really have no idea, I would just hate to have that rod replaced and then it to get damaged again.

Thank you
Jason 
----- Original Message -----
From: Melissa 
To: Jason 
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 12:47 PM
Subject: Re: Benjamin High Pressure Hand Pump


Jason I think we can do that for you. I have attached three pics of our handpump. Please give me the actual item # so we are sure we are on the same page and I will see if we have some in stock for ya.


Kindest Regards,
Melissa

From: Jason
To: Melissa 
Sent: Thursday, June 7, 2012 10:58 AM
Subject: Re: Benjamin High Pressure Hand Pump




Melissa,

I appreciate your quick response. I am really not trying to be difficult however I feel that there must be something defective in the pump. The pump is basically new and the center rod has multiple missing chips of metal. I have seen images of several of these pumps and I have never seen this before. I don't think there is any way I could have caused this damage by using the pump. I don't know if the missing metal will hamper the performance or longevity of the pump but it will definitely effect it's resale value if I decided to sell it. In my opinion the only way to rectify this is to install a new center rod and determine and fix what ever caused the metal chips to occur.

Thank You
Jason
----- Original Message -----
From: Melissa 
To: Jason 
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 8:46 AM
Subject: Re: Benjamin High Pressure Hand Pump


Hello again,
Jason I am not quite sure what I can do to help you out. What would you like to see happen and I will let you know if we are able to.

Kindest Regards,
Melissa



Melissa,

Thank you for the quick turn around. However the pump doesn't look much better than when I sent it in. There are still multiple deep gouges in the center rod. The pump also feels gritty at the top of the pump stroke. I don't see how the pump as is can be reliable and I know I couldn't resell it if I wanted too. I have attached pics for your review.

Jason

[Tom SC]

I would suggest take the new outer rod from them. It's easy to replace and he's right about the pitting on top of the rod moisture will collect there. Did on mine,. just cleaned it put silicone grease on . Just have sun optics replace parts that are defective . Truthfully your gonna need to learn how to disassemble and overhaul it at some point

[bradyman1]

Thanks for the advice Tom. My only issue is that I just got the pump back from repair. If there was corrosion on the tube causing the gritty feeling I would have thought that would have been taken care of when the tube was buffed.

[QVTom]

he tube is nickel plated to prevent rust but moisture over even a short time can cause pitting and flaking.  discoloration is caused by brass being in close proximity.

Jason, you are no being unreasonable.  The original nickel job was not prepped properly or the nickel solution was used past its usefulness.

I send a lot of parts out for nickel and have seen all type failures.  If one of my vendors had shipped that to me I would be shocked and speechless.  No amount of buffing is going to stop the degradation of that tube. The base metal is going to continue to react and corrode under the nickel.  This is not a moisture issue.  Moisture may leave stain marks but will not corrode the nickel to that extent.

They should just completely replace the pump.  They already had the opportunity to replace the tube and didn't.

[MustangMike]

I'm on tom's side, sun optics should have sent you a brand new pump and this type of customer service is uncalled for. You bought and paid for a brand new pump, if something is brand new or even under warranty and has a issue right of the box. It should be replaced. I would not give up and I would make it clear I want a brand new replacement pump. You could have bought a used pump for 125 is what benji pumps go for used

[bradyman1]

Mike, you wanna by mine for $125.00?? I contacted Crosman, we will see what they have to say.

[MustangMike]

I've already got a benji pump and a rebuild oring kit awaiting the rebuild when its needed.

If I buy another pump it will be a hill

[Rescue35]

he tube is nickel plated to prevent rust but moisture over even a short time can cause pitting and flaking.  discoloration is caused by brass being in close proximity.

Jason, you are no being unreasonable.  The original nickel job was not prepped properly or the nickel solution was used past its usefulness.

I send a lot of parts out for nickel and have seen all type failures.  If one of my vendors had shipped that to me I would be shocked and speechless.  No amount of buffing is going to stop the degradation of that tube. The base metal is going to continue to react and corrode under the nickel.  This is not a moisture issue.  Moisture may leave stain marks but will not corrode the nickel to that extent.

They should just completely replace the pump.  They already had the opportunity to replace the tube and didn't.

Exactly, this isn't a "moisture" issue it is a bad plating (ie manufacturing) issue.

At this point if they are offering to replace the tube I would tell them they had that chance when it was sent in. Now send me a new pump and a return mailing slip pre paid. When you get the new pump, put the old one in the box and return.

[bradyman1]

I sent the email above earlier today. About 4:30 tonight I got an email drop UPS telling me i have a package on the way from sun optics. The description is pump tube. I guess they are shipping me a tube. I don't know, I have not got a response since I sent that email. I am hoping crosman will come through for me.

[MustangMike]

well i guess worset case aslong as this new tube is in the proper condition it should be then rebuilding it ur self isnt such a bad thing if you have to rebuild it..

take the time and go to autozone and get a mixed pack of the wet or dry sand paper ranging from 1000 - 2500 grit. so when you take hte pump apart and see something metal that needs to get smoothed out a little you can wet sand it, clean it dry the water off it and then polish it up..

[bradyman1]

This morning I received an email from Kim at Crosman. It is the standard email they send out saying:

Thank you for contacting Crosman Corporation!  We are sorry to hear you are
having a problem with one of our products. 
Please send to:

Crosman Corporation
Attn:  Warranty
7629 Routes 5 & 20
Bloomfield,  NY  14469

Please include a brief description of the problem along with your Name, Address and Telephone Number.


Thank you for giving us the opportunity to resolve the situation!


I hate to be without the pump for a few weeks but I think I may just spend the money on postage and send it back to Crosman. I will probably be better off in the long run.

WHAT A PAIN IN THE ASK!!