Why you should routinely inspect your springers

[GatorGunner]

I bought a RWS 48 a while back and have put about 5000 pellets through it since I got it.  I recently made a spring compressor for a couple of cheap Crosman Storms I got at Wal-mart (five actually), so I decided it was time to open up the 48 and do an inspection and lube tune.  I was not surprised to find a rather dry interior with almost non existent lube on the spring and piston.  When I pulled the spring I immediately noticed a couple of kinks, one at each end.  On the end with the spring guide nearest the rifle butt was a crack in the spring.  Fortunately, the spring was not broken, but the crack is little over half way through the spring coil.  It probably would have broken within the next 100 shots.  I am lucky to have caught it before it could have done any damage to the interior.

From now on I am going to pay close attention to how many shots I have on my guns and do a routine breakdown when it reaches a number I feel is adequate for the particular gun I am shooting.  I'm sure many of you are already doing this, but it's still good to encourage new air gunners to build or buy a good spring compressor and take the time to inspect.

About the Storms, I gave one to my Brother-in-Law, one to my son, and one is for my youngest grandson when he is able to cock it and fire it responsibly.  The other two are yet to be given as gifts to unsuspecting air gun addicts.

Larry

[deanda]

Good info Gator! 

You have some lucky family members also.

[RedFeather]

Good tip for springer owners.  5,000 is a lot of pellets down the road for that spring, especially dry.  From what I've gathered, the point at which you discovered the crack is where many springs fail.  In Cardew's From Trigger To Target, he talks about how the rear of the spring actually looses contact with the back of the gun as it releases, then recompresses after the shot.  Probably why they experience so much fatigue right there.

So, will it be JM kit or Vortek?

[GatorGunner]

I'm leaning in the direction of the Vortek.  The concept of the "pro-guide" technology is interesting enough to warrant a purchase.  I already have had the traditional spring and guide in it, so why not give the Vortek a try?.    Hmmmmmm... seems I have answered both our questions.

As to the amount of shots before tearing down the gun, I am relatively new to the sport (the 48 was my first springer) and did not have a clue to how many shots should be fired before routine inspection.  I now think it should be somewhere between 2000 and 3000 shots. 

If you have any experience with the 48 and a Vortek kit, I would appreciate your comments.

Thanks, Larry

[deanda]

I have only used JM kits.....quality products and years of experience. There is a guy on the dianawerks that is in the process of comparing the oem, JM, and Vortek. He has posted side by side pics of all 3 , and he had the JM kit installed already. He is putting in a Vortek just as an experiment.....the JM kit ran fine and he was very happy with it..........so for an experiment he was trying a vortek. Not sure how it turned out, I haven't been there in awhile. You might go check it out. Good luck.

[Gary]

Let me start off by saying that you managed to get about twice as many shots from your mod.48 as I did with mine. I had springs fail at 2500,2000,and 1500 with a truck ride each way before I figured it was cheaper to buy the parts and do it myself. Faster to, an hour so compaired to two weeks minium. I have tried the kit J.M. provided a few years ago,with dissapointing results for me,lost over 100 fps and that didn't cut it. The gun shot smoother,and was very easy too cock but this was not what I was wanting with this rifle. I am now using a Vortek kit in mine with very good results so far. Mine is .177 cal and is averaging about  830 fps with Crosman premier heavys 10.5 gr. Only have about 500 rounds thru it so far, time will tell the tail.

Gary

[deanda]

Let me start off by saying that you managed to get about twice as many shots from your mod.48 as I did with mine. I had springs fail at 2500,2000,and 1500 with a truck ride each way before I figured it was cheaper to buy the parts and do it myself. Faster to, an hour so compaired to two weeks minium. I have tried the kit J.M. provided a few years ago,with dissapointing results for me,lost over 100 fps and that didn't cut it. The gun shot smoother,and was very easy too cock but this was not what I was wanting with this rifle. I am now using a Vortek kit in mine with very good results so far. Mine is .177 cal and is averaging about  830 fps with Crosman premier heavys 10.5 gr. Only have about 500 rounds thru it so far, time will tell the tail.

Gary

Gary what was the fps with the JM kit......about 730??

[Gary]

It has been a while but I seem to remember is was lower than that, more like 680 or so. Now I am not knocking J.M. parts, just wasn't for me with that rifle. I have used his springs and seals with very good results in a couple of 34"s.

Gary

[deanda]

It has been a while but I seem to remember is was lower than that, more like 680 or so. Now I am not knocking J.M. parts, just wasn't for me with that rifle. I have used his springs and seals with very good results in a couple of 34"s.

Gary

Jeeeez....680 on a rifle rated at 1100 fps is a huge difference!!!!! That's getting close to a 50% loss compared to factory rating!! Was there anything else wrong with it when you broke it down?

[RedFeather]

Never use the factory ratings.  Maybe 900's.  Those results were atypical of a JM kit. 

[deanda]

Never use the factory ratings.  Maybe 900's.  Those results were atypical of a JM kit. 

10-4..........thanks Red.

[Atchman2]

Good information Gator!  I hate your Avatar though! 

[GatorGunner]

That shirt you're wearing looks more orange than red.  I'll bet there's a big white "T" on it somewhere.  But, it's all good, GO SEC!!!

[RedFeather]

LOL, that's why I turned the avatar function off.  One of the new features here that drive me nutz.  I do miss some of the old ones, though, like Shadowshot's, etc.  But some of the animated avatars get a bit annoying.