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Is this normal?

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crowski

crowski

Member
Dec 14, 2020
4,053
6,137
On, Canada
Yesterday I disassembled a HW97. This rifle has had maybe 1500 rounds through it. The piston seal has cracks in it.
904454FB-16E2-42FB-B64B-6EEB744840F2.jpeg
I’m putting a Vortek spring kit in it. Unfortunately I don’t have a piston seal, but they’re on the way. When they arrive I’ll change it then.
Is this normal?
Crow
 
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You can see where the transfer port hole slammed its mark in it? Somthing like the seal was too loose a fit or breach seal or too lite loose pellets can caise that by not holding enugh back pressure to stop/ cushion the piston and it slams hard.. i dont see heat being that cause cause ot looks kinda clean on its face not bad discolored fro burning so to say ... Anyway thats just my observation opinion ..
Good luck
 
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Hateful McNasty said:
You can see where the transfer port hole slammed its mark in it? Somthing like the seal was too loose a fit or breach seal or too lite loose pellets can caise that by not holding enugh back pressure to stop/ cushion the piston and it slams hard.. i dont see heat being that cause cause ot looks kinda clean on its face not bad discolored fro burning so to say ... Anyway thats just my observation opinion ..
Good luck
Click to expand...
P.s...

My new factory hw seal just cracked out and no visual slaming marks .

At gta a few guys been seeing this with hw factory seals in there observations .

Mine in like 4 months of use + busted spring.. 4 months ..lol

r9 seal.jpg
 
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A heavier pellet isn't going to help here. Most of my .177s are sub 12ftlbs and shoot the JSB 8.44s exclusively and all of them still looked like that and quickly. I'm at the point now where when I get a new HW, I take a few shots to get a feel for it and then it immediately gets disassembled, cleaned up, and relubed. After that I'm worry free for 10k shots. I usually just like to do a clean and relube at that point.

Something in Weihrauchs assembly procedure is amiss. Whether its they had to hire new guys through Covid or that they're rushing them through assembly to keep up demand I have no idea. Either way, many are leaving the factory with entirely too much lube, and a lot of it is sitting between the piston face and transfer port by the time you get it. If I had to guess I would say they're lubing the compression tube walls heavily and then when they install the piston, the seal drags most of the lube forward.

Next time you buy one, immediately take it apart and shine a light down there. You'll see the issue before it even starts.
 
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ChuckHunter said:
I personally think there using crap material to begin with! HW used to use a thin lip parachute seal that never did that. They would dry up and get hard after a few years but didn't burn up like the newer style!
A well fitted ARH seal or a Vortek won't do that even with a little dieseling!
Click to expand...
New style Weihrauch factory seal.
Npg4lcLl.jpg
 
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crowski said:
Thanks everyone had no idea. Seamed a little premature to me. Not surprised though. companies will dive at a chance to save on production parts. Crow
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See I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt here. Every company has raised prices over the last few years. Weihrauch hasn't. Best bang for the buck, still #1 in my books. The only real competition was/is Feinwerkbau, Walther, and Air Arms and lets looks at what they cost... Dianas are similarly priced but they pale in comparison in my opinion. To each their own there though.

To be fair to Weihrauch, many people are tuning them regardless. if they're going to cut costs to stay profitable, I'd prefer they do it there than anywhere else. Honestly if they sold the guns without springs and seals (as an option) I'd be completely happy. Then I could just start fresh for less money.
 
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crowski said:
Yesterday I disassembled a HW97. This rifle has had maybe 1500 rounds through it. The piston seal has cracks in it.View attachment 335555I’m putting a Vortek spring kit in it. Unfortunately I don’t have a piston seal, but they’re on the way. When they arrive I’ll change it then.
Is this normal?
Crow
Click to expand...
Crow, -> It seems like you should have gotten more than 1,500 shots before the piston seal "looked" that bad.
However, yes ... this is what they look like after they have failed or are about to.

Have you noticed a significant change is velocity in the last couple of months as its likely been failing for some time now :unsure: ?
 
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Yeah completely normal…often referred to by UK tuners as the cheese seal …
Vortex seal better …clean out your compression tube to get rid of the crap grease (Said to be LM2 grease which doesnt have the highest flash point, if ok on cocking arms) used by HW OEM which probably caused most of the issue ….re-lube with hint of High flash point moly for reassembly …forget worrying about highest moly content …go with highest flash point….
 
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Mycapt65 said:
Very common on newer Weihrauchs It's caused by excessive dieseling from over lubrication and or damaged sealing surfaces.
Click to expand...

‘You’re probably right, when I opened it up I thought I was in Texas. Crow
Sqwirlfugger57 said:
See I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt here. Every company has raised prices over the last few years. Weihrauch hasn't. Best bang for the buck, still #1 in my books. The only real competition was/is Feinwerkbau, Walther, and Air Arms and lets looks at what they cost... Dianas are similarly priced but they pale in comparison in my opinion. To each their own there though.

To be fair to Weihrauch, many people are tuning them regardless. if they're going to cut costs to stay profitable, I'd prefer they do it there than anywhere else. Honestly if they sold the guns without springs and seals (as an option) I'd be completely happy. Then I could just start fresh for less money.
Click to expand...
You know I agree with you completely about Weihrauch being probably the last company to raise their prices. I took pictures of prices last couple years to compare.
I have no qualms with Weihrauch quality. The Diana’s are not the same quality as HW from what I’ve seen. Crow
SpiralGroove said:
Crow, -> It seems like you should have gotten more than 1,500 shots before the piston seal "looked" that bad.
However, yes ... this is what they look like after they have failed or are about to.

Have you noticed a significant change is velocity in the last couple of months as its likely been failing for some time now :unsure: ?
Click to expand...
I would have thought premature.
No change, it was shooting great. It’s just over year old. It just won the draw for next change. Crow
Steveoo said:
Yeah completely normal…often referred to by UK tuners as the cheese seal …
Vortex seal better …clean out your compression tube to get rid of the crap grease (Said to be LM2 grease which doesnt have the highest flash point, if ok on cocking arms) used by HW OEM which probably caused most of the issue ….re-lube with hint of High flash point moly for reassembly …forget worrying about highest moly content …go with highest flash point….
Click to expand...
Thanks for info on grease. Crow
 
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beerthief said:
YOU guys are just buying to many HW's !!! factory can't keep up so quality went down . probably a number cruncher guy found cheaper/ faster supply to keep up with demand .

Actually no idea 😜
Click to expand...
For the most part the individual parts quality is fine. It's the assembly and occasionally the machining where they've been dropping the ball. It's been going on since just prior to the covid era. Covid related shortages of quality labor has further hurt the end product. They're still worth buying because the quality of the components and designs can still meet you a beautiful shooting rifle
Steveoo said:
Yeah completely normal…often referred to by UK tuners as the cheese seal …
Vortex seal better …clean out your compression tube to get rid of the crap grease (Said to be LM2 grease which doesnt have the highest flash point, if ok on cocking arms) used by HW OEM which probably caused most of the issue ….re-lube with hint of High flash point moly for reassembly …forget worrying about highest moly content …go with highest flash point….
Click to expand...
Go with Krytox

20230225_153841.jpg
 
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beerthief said:
YOU guys are just buying to many HW's !!! factory can't keep up so quality went down . probably a number cruncher guy found cheaper/ faster supply to keep up with demand .

Actually no idea 😜
Click to expand...
For the most part the individual parts quality is fine. It's the assembly and occasionally the machining where they've been dropping the ball. It's been going on since just prior to the covid era. Covid related shortages of quality labor has further hurt the end product. They're still worth buying because the quality of the components and designs can still build you a beautiful shooting rifle
 
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