FX FX Wildcat Mk1 Resurrection

[Argos69]

Hi,
I'd be very grateful for any ideas as to what is / has been wrong with my air rifle. I apologise for the long winded posting!

Its been a while, but life and a move to open a business in France has got in the way of my air gunning.
This posting is because I always want to know "why?" something either works or doesn't. My Dad was a far more contented person, because he generally accepted that some things didn't need explaining, so he enjoyed himself instead of wondering and posting on forums

I have (finally!) unpacked my FX Wildcat Mk1 (UK 12ft/lbs) from it's storage after several years, gathering dust.
It still held full pressure and was totally unmarked. I added some pellets to the mag and fired it - terrible! Inconsistent and weak. I could throw the pellets further!

So I bought one of those mini digital chronographs (looks a bit like a four poster bed!) and tested the gun. At best 9ft/lbs!
Air pellet supplies are as patchy as reliable deliveries out here in rural france, so I'm glad I already had some trusty .22 Accupells.

Anyway, I went to refill the gun from my diver's bottle and the O rings blew on the filling probe! The local gun shop had never seen one, so I travelled further afield and had to buy a complete unit - which worked fine!

Then the gun developed an air leak at the filling end of the cylinder! I had some O rings that I bought when I bought the gun and managed to replace it. Then the O ring leaked at the other end grrr! (due to the tapping at the other end maybe?) I replaced that as well. Finally it holds air again.

Same bad results on the Chronograph though.

Because of where I am, I'm limited to what I can buy online (and expect to ever arrive!), so I thought I'd adjust the hammer spring.
I tried a hot air gun on the tamper seal - no use, even at 280C! I then read a non-airgun article about a guy who uses brake cleaner to break Loctite bolts open. Tried it - bloomin' perfect. Unscrewed easily!

So after 2 full turns of the adjuster, I'm up to 13.9ft/lbs (the limit for non FAC in France is 14.75).
The gun now shoots 1/2" groups at 30m again.

So, what "is" the problem/fault? Should I leave it as it is, or investigate further?
All help and advice thoroughly welcome.
Thanks

 

[davit66]

Sounds like your Wildcat MKI could a complete o-ring service kit from any of the FX retailers in Europe. Here's the part number for the kit.

Take your time and good luck.

 

[MongooseV8]

I would tear the whole thing down and put in fresh orings and silicone grease where needed. You also should clean out the barrel, I bet either it is full of dust and grime or maybe even rusted if you left it sitting for years with no oil.

 

[Argos69]

Thanks guys. O rings I think it is!
The barrel is like a mirror. I've always been pedantic about oil & storing carefully. I shoved a furry barrel cleaner soaked in Browning Legia spray before it went into hibernation, so that bit has survived intact. I'll order those O rings and spend a sunday afternoon with Ernest Rowe's video and we'll see if I can sort it. Probably end up turning it back down on the hammer spring!
My Wife said "What the **** are you doing, messing with it, now you've got it how you want it?". Inescapable logic, but I know I'll carry on until I either get to the cause of whatever problem, or ruin the gun and put it back in the cupboard!