TX200 lube for best consistency- help needed

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M

Michigander

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Aug 13, 2017
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Michigan, United States
My TX200 is showing a 30 fps drop over 20 shots with JSB 8.44 pellets. I suspected too much lube to be part of the problem so I tore it down and sure enough there is heavy grease liberally appled everywhere. The good news is everything looks fine. It has been fitted with a Vortek SHO kit. I have three lubes available, the Vortek orange, Vortek moly, and a blend of the two. After I clean it up, how much of which lube do I put on:

Seal

Plastic bearings at each end of the piston

OD of the piston (I see only light contact in a couple places)

OD of the Vortek outer spring guide

OD of the compression tube

ID of the piston

ID of the compression tube

ID of the receiver? (main) tube

Thanks, I need some good advice from shooters who work on these guns frequently.
 
Of all the TX's I've tuned / serviced threw the years, the most consistent shooting where those guns with absolute minimal lubes used on actions where the piston rings where sized correctly to bore specs and a fitted spring guide was used in lieu of the factory steel one. Piston seal fit also semi-critical for low sticksion.

The best of the best have NO GREASE or Spring tars / moly etc anywhere !! being lubricated entirely by a thin film of oil only.



YES heavy spring lube, tars, moly etc good as they are at there assigned jobs ... cumulatively all create drag and will hurt ES figures to some degree.

As stated many times by many tuners or folks in the know .... LESS is More. Don't over lube !
 
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Thanks guys. I took Motorhead's advice and am seeing a big improvement. The TX is such an easy gun to work on. I wiped everything free of grease, then applied a very thin film of the orange Vortek grease to the areas I felt needed at least some lubrication. The only places that got moly were the cocking slot and the end of the latching rod. I only encountered one problem, the Vortek buffer washer was pretty distorted, so I just left it out. Now for both the JSB 8.44 and 7.87 extreme spread is down to 10 fps or less. I figure each 10 fps is good for about 1/8' vertical deviation at 50 yards, and I don't think I am good enough to see that. But I could sure see the effect of the 30 fps variation.



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1587854588_3654429075ea4bcfcef92a8.33999005.jpg


Now a follow up question: With this lightly lubed gun, how often should I relube? Every 5 tins, every 10 tins?? And thanks again for the help.
 
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The re-lube situation really has so much to do with what lube was used to begin with ? How dirty, salty etc the shooting is subject too ?

How tight the gun is and surface finish of the parts within etc etc etc .....

In the case of the TX being easy peezy to go in and wipe it down then apply a bit of lube ... 2-3 tins would IMO be pretty safe & easy.
 
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Thanks Motorhead. I knew an exact answer was not possible, but it helps to have an idea where to start. I'll begin by taking a look every couple tins and maybe think about extending intervals if it looks like I can get away with it. Very glad to have received the benefit of your experience, that's what the forums are supposed to be about. Have a good evening!
 
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Resurrecting a bit of an old thread, but it looks like a good reference on the topic so I thought it worth updating. I have a TX200 HC en route, my first high end spring-air rifle. The Vortek orange grease sounds like the preferred solution for piston lube from this and a couple of other threads. However, presently Vortek is not offering that lube for sale. I doubt Vortek actually makes that grease - has anyone figured out a different source? Or can offer a close equivalent?
 
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wazey said:
Resurrecting a bit of an old thread, but it looks like a good reference on the topic so I thought it worth updating. I have a TX200 HC en route, my first high end spring-air rifle. The Vortek orange grease sounds like the preferred solution for piston lube from this and a couple of other threads. However, presently Vortek is not offering that lube for sale. I doubt Vortek actually makes that grease - has anyone figured out a different source? Or can offer a close equivalent?
Click to expand...
I'll bet it's that "Red and Tacky" stuff you get at the automotive store. Huge cylinder for less than $10

1679432989282.png
 
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