FWB 124 Question

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JoeWayneRhea

JoeWayneRhea

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Apr 5, 2015
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Ok before I ask , I'm not looking for the " company line " to ALWAYS USE A SPRING COMPRESSOR, safety glasses , turtleneck sweater , and steel toe shoes before touching a AirGun . I'm asking do I really Need a spring compressor to work on a 124?
I think I'm about to buy a used 124 and I wanna be able to tear it down ( it's what I do ) Any first hand experience would be a huge help . I've just never needed one before and opinions online seemed mixed .....Imagine that !!!
 
Not quite first hand experience, but I was researching around for what I would need to tear my own 124 down.
Bad news was you really really do need a SC.
Good news was that apparently it is quite cheap and easy to make your own.
Being a lazy sob, I never have got round to it. My 124 is on its original 1982 seals, so I hardly dare shoot it.

Here in england, we wouldn't dream of starting that sort of job unless wearing a cricket box.
(Do an image search, and you'll get the picture).
 
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Joe I am going to tune into this Question, I bought a 124 back in 80s maybe, Had it super tuned and , And took me a long time to learn the shooting curve on a springer.
Lots of money back then on a pellet rifle, I used to shot sparrows at 35 45 yards and never miss, It loved the sliver jet pellets, This was the air gun of air guns and no matter what I read , Nothing could out shoot the 124,
Anyway my spring broke about 16 years ago or so and I sent it back to Beeman , Its never really shot the same, Not sure it has anything to do with the super tune I ordered with the gun when new?
Mike
 
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 As you did clearly state ( for any & all new folks) one, should , always use a spring compressor , yes a person willing to do so could likely get away with very little.



Snatched that pic somewhere?

I used this home made from "junk" in the barn and it worked well on a number of magnum springers


That said "I" have never worked on a 124 but you are versed enough to figure out if you'll have great luck or not.

On that so called "super tune" indeed there was a bit to that "factory tune", more than just a "soft kit" as in JM's parts ( which are good) . Now this part is only my opinion as I do not know facts here, but, a so called "blue printing" ( as in auto engines ) and using Factory parts which are still available just might end up being an outstanding shooter indeed.
Darn sure worth fixing up no matter what. I have fired a few - one had "WAY more than 10,000 shots, one just rebuilt by David Slade and a few others. ALL were great shooters and only one that had been sitting a long time was a bit hard to hold right.

Lastly, those super high QC Silver Jet's ( no longer available, came in a box and if you can find some will still be bright and shinny) were THE pellet though JSB's do alright also.

Looking forward to your end result.

John

 
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Yeah guys I only have the on good eye to play around with. I'd hate to mess it up because my dumb ass used a bad tool . The guns I rebuild a small girl can compress the springs . I ask because I honestly haven't tried a gun that has this much power in a spring . I did a Beeman R7 but it is a very low power gun . Along with the FWB rifles I normally mess with .
PS John I know in my personal Mini I tried about 4 or 5 different spring setups . And the best was an original 2piece I bought off Neil Stepp . Absolutely zero vibration and set on bullseye like the gun never fired .I just put the same setup in a gun for Bryan Hall . Hopefully he will like it as much as I did
 
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Joe and iride just send me those two rifles and ill pay some small amount for them! Or maybe more? You guys are going to shoot your eyes out with that spring! Eye for you Joe!
Anyway I've made a few spring presses over the years and it seems I end up giving the fancy ones away to friends. But if you want cheap just go buy a large c-clamp at harbor freight or some place that is cheap. You want large so that if your doing a magnum springer you have enough screw travel to release the spring. This is a picture of a Benjamin Trail XL 1100 and I just removed the stock to stick it in the press for show and tell.(the scope rings would be removed if really working on it). Not many air rifles are longer and I put spacers at the barrel end if its a shorter rifle. Its about a 30 min job to build a rough one like this.

TBDeAZS.jpg
 
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Joe. Ive had my 124 apart more then I care to remember. Like you Im just not happy unless I can look inside. I would say a spring compressor is a necessity. You need something to hold the gun securely so your hands are free to take out the pin and catch all the little sub-orbital parts that want to take to the air. I've cleaned my entire shop more then once looking for the safety spring. Plus, lets face it. A 124 has a heavy spring. I used to use a 2x6 with a couple of blocks screwed on and a plain ol piece of all thread. Worked good. None of this high tec Harbor Freight stuff for me. I like to give it a sporting chance. Since I've gotten older I made a couple of wood blocks to hold it and put it in my lath and compress with the tail stock. It has 10 inches of travel and that is JUST enough. When you take one apart for the first time put a nylon zip tie around the safety. Saves the easter egg hunt. Let me know how you make out. If you decide against and the gun and it is available I might be interested in that. I think you will really enjoy the 124. 
 
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Yeah Kit I'm not intimidated by tearing into most anything ....But I can't find a good video that walks you thru it . I can tell there are evidently a few little trick to taking one apart . Besides just a strong spring . I love YouTube for this kinda stuff . But it's always easier o me when I have the gun actually in my hands to see how it all fits together
 
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Know what you mean Joe. If you zip tie the safety your not going to have any problem at all. I'm always apprehensive first time though. Only been shooting the PCP's for a little over a year and I want to tear one of those apart to learn the principles. Bought upper end guns and just can't bring myself to taking them apart. One of these days I'll buy a Disco or a Brocock. Something less $ and have a go at it. When you get started you can make the long sought after 124 video. 
 
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Joe --- in case you go forward on the 124, I dug up a few tutorials (see below). I've resealed two and these tutorials cover it pretty well. The hardest part is digging out the remains of a seal if it has deteriorated as so many old ones do. I didn't mess with the triggers on either but that trick of banding the trigger housing in the slideshow helped keep it simple. (teasing smile) I guess you could watch the slideshow on a tablet held in a clamp if you wanted to --- good luck.

On a side note, the last one I resealed was one of the most consistent and pellet friendly break barrel out of 15+ guns I have resealed.

Photobucket slideshow:

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Airsniper/slideshow/Feinwerkbau%20Sport%20Strip?sort=6


Another Airgun Blog:

Part 1:
http://anotherairgunblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/frank-bs-fwb-124-tear-down-and-rebuild.html
Part 2:
http://anotherairgunblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/frank-bs-fwb-124-tear-down-and-rebuild_30.html

 
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Joe. If your not going to buy this 124, PM me if it's for sale and a good deal I don't need another one and would only be interested in late 70's or early 80's. If it's something local to you I might buy it and you can play with it to get a feel for the 124. Not trying to get in the middle of your deal, so if I'm out of line just say so. Thanks. Sylvan
 
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Oh no man , not outta line at ALL !!! This guys. GREAT dude that has it . I'll holler at him over the weekend probably . Sylvan email me your contact info . [email protected] . But make me a deal , if you want stock refinish I want first crack at it :) I honestly just want to do some more stock work . And I'm having a good time getting better at Beech finishing.
 
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