Having been learning all I can from all of you, I decided to apply some of the information to the TWANG of my S1K. Having solved the breach lockup problem I felt like I had something I could work with again.
First step was the lube, I don't have any of the types I have read about, but I just so happened to have one with the same properties as heavy tar, at least from what I have read. Mystic JT-6 general purpose grease. Very tacky and slippery to the point that it is hard to handle some of the parts when they are covered.
Next step was break the gun down to the action and make a suitable spring compressor. I used a 2X4, a couple of parts from a bearing puller and other miscellaneous items to create a crude but effective compressor, worked great.
After removing the spring, piston and related parts, what little lube the facory used was cleaned away with alcohol. Upon inspection, my seal was in good shape, the piston bore had no issues that I could detect in the seal's work area. The piston however left much to be desired in the way of the fit. The rear of the piston, opposite the seal had nearly 1/8" slop in the bore of the reciever. I was inspired by Fix's repair by cutting a slot, braizing and sizing that area, but lacking the tools to accomplish his method I came up with another. 5 minute epoxy and some hand sizing reduced the piston's play to about 1/32".
Of some concern was that it fit snugly at the rear opening of the action, but had some play at it's working area. I think this is likely from wear in it's former fit.
I deburred all of the machined openings in the action, I don't know how the seal survived it's first trip in to the action! I very sparingly lubed the seal and surface with some of the factory moly lube recovered from in the piston, as I didn't know how the JT-6 would act on the seal material. The spring, guides and piston skirt were lubed with JT-6 and re-installed.
The trigger assembly, which sports a GT-III (great improvement!) got lubed with 30wt. I could'nt see anything that needed special attention, so I left well enough alone.
Reasembly went smoothly. It was much easier to install the cocking lever, now that the rear of the piston wasn't cocked against the bottom of the action. I cocked the gun, still slightly grainy as the little plastic bushing has dissapeared and the roller is worn. (Need to get the specs and have my Dad make them from some Delron. Another helpful tip gathered from Da Tuna.) Loaded a pellet and fired in to the newspaper recycling bin, THWACK nice crisp sound, no twang, dieseling or vibration, just a fair amount of recoil.
Back on with the scope and put a target at 10yds. First couple of shots were here and there, about the fifth one drilled the center of the bull, after that the groups were tighter than I ever had, most of the holes within a 1/4" shooting from a rest, leaning on my A/C 1/2 wall. After about 30 rounds it was still as good, but it was time to clean up and head in.
Hopefully the JT-6 will last for a while, my biggest concern is that it may not. However, now I know I can tear the gun down and reassemble, so it's worth ordering some of the right stuff if it doesn't work. Maybe next time we get a spring and new seal, hone the action too.
