Sheridan Weird issue with old push button safety Sheridan blue streak, NEED HELP!

Thanks for this...it will be tomorrow when I try these things...bedtime in Nova Scotia now!

Thanks again...Yesterday, I put some light sewing machine oil, down the barrel and left it overnight (actually about 24 hours). Today, I noticed a wee bit of oil seeping from the breach and over the thumb safety. I did one test shot at just 2 pumps (still blocked). I wiped everything down and pumped to 4 and tried again (cleared fine this time). I then ran a makeshift 4X2 through the barrel (a lint-free cloth knotted to some waxed lined thread). That took out any excess oil and when I did the old-timey thumbnail-in-the-breech, look down the barrel trick, it all looked beautiful. I then did some more test shots (I still have a good supply of the older conical-shaped pellets) and all went well. I might have to reset the sight somewhat but I'll wait until I have a proper target from which to gauge how I'm doing. So far, so good!

Great to hear. Im glad you used a line and cloth to clean the barrel. never use a metal rod. The rifling is tender as it is brass or bronze. I use a heavy weed wacker line. I heat the end up and hit it a few times with the hammer to make a flattened end. Ten I melt thru with a needle 2 holes and using a razor knife make a slit joining th 2 holes. Now I can insert a clean patch folded into the slit. Alittle alcohol to clean the barrel . Keep your gun lubbed at the lnkage moving parts and just one drop onto the piston head .

I'm glad I was on the right track. When you say "lubed at the linkage moving parts" do you mean when I drop the pump handle, the workings inside there?
Now, when you say "one drop onto the piston head"...where does that drop go specifically...where do I put that one drop?
I so appreciate your help!

YEs the linkages after you open the pump handle open .. So one is at the muzzle where the linkage is held with the roll pins. Lube that. The next one is that rivet holding the pump linkage to the pump grip. very important there. And finally add a drop either onto the piston head which you will see the top part inside the tube as you open the pump all the way out. Every 500 shots lube it with either crosman pellgun loil or a good motor oil . You could get a sheridan manual somehwere. Best pellets right now for that gun is the jsb Exact 20 caliber 13.4gr pellets. Theres also a slightly heavier one around 15grains from JSB. years ago Crosman Premiers use to be the best. Dont pump it more than 8 times max. Im thinking if the power doesnt come up could be why the two pumps didnt fire out that pellet. 2 pumps shoots about 375fps. So if your seals are bad maybe theres no pressure at 2 pumps. A chonograph helps here. 3 pumps should fly a pellet thru a soup can both sides at close range.

Do you know what year your gun is? A date is stamped on the left side at the breech openign with the letter for the month and a year backwards. OR an actual serial number is stamped on the left side main tube.

Make sure you use only non detergent oil on the pump cup.

What kind of oil should I be using on those critical spots? Maybe lithium grease?
Not sure what age this gun is. I bought it from a friend back in 1965.
I've gone over it with a magnifying loupe and find only "Sheridan Products Inc." and below that "Racine, Wisconsin - Made in U.S.A." These are on the right side of the main tube below the breech. So, no date or serial. Also, the bolt handle is straight, not curved like later ones. And, as has been discussed, it has a hold-down thumb safety.

sounds like a late 50s model. IF it has straight bolt hold down safety (which can be by passed if you dont like how it works. ) Wonderful vintage. A good motor oil of say 30 wt or crosman pellgun oil, or MAC ones secret sauce. I dont think I would add moly grease .You dont want that sludge migrating toward the compression chamber. Oil you would.

This is all so brilliant...thank you SO MUCH! I'm going to go all in on this in the next couple of days...I'll pass on my experiences with the job.

Hey all...I did my oiling and everything seems fine, although I can't seem to be able to send a pellet unless I pump 4 times. Tried with 3, but nope! Had to repump to 4 to send it. On four, it lands hard, so don't know what to think. Otherwise things are looking good for the gun! Again, thanks for all the help!

ok, well without a chronograph to detect your velocities you dont know much. I do . And 2 pumps will make a pellet go 370fps easily. 3 pumps is 440fps. So if your not even expelling at 3 pumps your valve seals or pump cup is not doing its job. Work with it alittle more with the oiling to see if it improves. Otherwise its time to have the gun taken down and new seals and exhasut valve put in. Dont change out the valve springs. keep your originals. Thats my rec. anyway.

Thanks again...can you try and explain "exactly" where I should place oil to treat the pump cup? I may have misunderstood or, out of caution, not oiled enough the other day...I appreciate your help and advice!

ok, so when you open up the pump arm the piston comes all the way back towards the muzzle-right. But you can only see the metal back part of the piston head and not the front cup. So put 2 drops of oil on that metal piston head.It will work itself throughout the pump tube and the cup seal as well as work into the compression chamber too which is important. Again a few drops every 500 shots. Got it. and maybe the power will come up so that even 2 pumps will fire out the pellet. It should at 2 pumps . I grew up with sheridans since the mid 60s.

Awesome! I can picture this clearly so thank you again. I'll update as the days go on!