Tuning Need Help! Dangerous situation here!

[bdzjlz]

I took my Diana 56 TH down earlier today and replaced the seals and installed a new Vortek HO spring kit. I have had this rifle fully apart for the same two or three times before, with never an issue. 


It went together perfectly and I cocked it to let the spring set while I went off and did some chores. I came back a few hours later, mounted the scope and prepared to adjust the scope and pellet test it.


The safety would not release. I checked to be certain it was fully cocked and it appears to be. After trying everything else, I decided to reinstall the Air Venturi rail compressor and slip the breech and trigger group out, thinking I could release the spring. This is after I tried cocking the rifle and attempting to release the trigger but the trigger doesn’t appear to be engaged with the safety blocked or in a bind.


I was able to get the breech block out but as you can see below, it came out with the HO spring still fully compressed, not something I am really excited about. For safer purposes, I put this assembly into my home made compressor until I can figure out how to release it.


What do I need to do to release it?

Thanks 

I

 

[dizzums]

no idea, that setup is way more advanced than any springer ive messed with ... seems to me though you should be able to unload the sear with that compressor so you could disassemble the trigger group enough to figure out whats up ...

 

[willy]

O Man"try backing off the sear ajustment a couple turns? but keep it in the vice" Man if that thing lets loose it will go through a wall" 

 

[AirShot]

Should be able to release the safety and pull the trigger at the same time, that used to work with the old 3 ball trigger. Worse case scenerio is to push those two pins thru the housing and that should release everything. KEEP it clamped up at all times and release slowly!!!!!! Can only advise based on the older models, havent had one of these newer units apart. Good luck

 

[218bee]

Eye protection, eye protection, eye protection. Can't stress this enough. Good luck.. keep us posted.

 

[bdzjlz]

This rifle has had issues from the beginning. I had Motorhead work on it early on, and he indicated it has an oversized bore, which makes sense because the pellets fall out of it if you hold it vertically before closing.


I have repowered it three times and had the seals go bad twice now.


With a vault full of fantastic Weihrauch and Air Arms springers, I am about to build a wood box, seal the new compressed Vortek kit, trigger, and piston in it, and let if find its way to the bottom of the landfill, and sell the stock and barrel assembly as replacement used parts, instead of taking a chance on getting hurt. I have spent $100s trying to make this rifle perform as advertised and don’t see any more reason to invest any more.

No more Diana rifles for me.

 

[thumper]

Well that sucks. 

Here's my theory: 

The Vortek guide is too long, and won't allow the latch rod to go far enough into the trigger housing to "set" the trigger, but just far enough to jam it up. 

Try compressing the crap out of it there in your jig and see if it does anything. If not, keep it compressed and start pushing pins out of the trigger and removing pieces till you get results. Just be sure you have it contained good so you don't get your fingers grimaced. 

I had some funky issues with a T06 trigger that acted similar years ago, but cant remember what it was. So that W.A.G. is all I got lol. 

Good luck! 

 

[bdzjlz]

Update - thought about this situation much of the night. Decided to encase it hardwood and shim it tight - see photos. It is a good thing that I did. Once I was certain the piston was secure, I started pulling trigger pins. After pulling the last one, I reached in and touched what I assumed was the sear catch, and all hell broke lose. The breech block jumped the press block and flew about 10 yards down range and bounced off of my concrete vault wall. The trigger was damaged in the process. Going to sell the stock and remaining components on the classifieds. Someone can purchase a trigger and put in it , or use the stocks and parts on a 54 or 56. I am done with messing with it.

At least I don't have to worry about someone getting hurt with it at this point.

As always, I sure appreciate the way you all weighed in!

 

[thumper]

Well, at least you have it settled. Sounds like it will be a headache you will be glad to be rid of. Unfortunate for the money lost, but your sanity is worth something. Seems like it's been nothing but trouble from day 1. 

Glad you still got all your fingers. 

 

[tibor]

very good out come..terrific job being safe.

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

Man ! What a ordeal! That picture you took of the unrestrained piston/trigger assembly was scary looking. A with serious potential.

 

[thumper]

Man ! What a ordeal! That picture you took of the unrestrained piston/trigger assembly was scary looking. A

with serious potential.

It was giving me the heebiejeebies looking at it too! I had a FWB124 get loose once and carved my thumb up pretty good. Glad this ended much better. 

 

[AirShot]

Glad you got it resolved and still have all your digits, good lesson here for all that work on these spring guns !!!!