What would cause this?

[crowski]

This piston seal has had 15 rounds through it at the most. It’s a Xisico XS225FB .22 Bamboo. It’s brand new. I bought to take apart (1st time) now I have to. Didn’t wanna start off with my Wiehrauchs.
What would cause this to happen in such a Short time?

 Crow 

 

[Moog]

It looks like it melted. Perhaps excessive dieseling caused by a petroleum based oil or grease.

When you fired it did it sound like it was dieseling?

 

[survivor45]

Who did you buy it from? 
I wonder if was a return but then sold to you as new. And perhaps the previous owner blew it up. 

 

[Long_Gun_Dallas]

Definitely looks burned/melted

 

[crowski]

I bought it from a air gun shop. I never put anything in it when firing it. Shot great 10 rounds put away. When I brought it out again it wouldn’t shoot 30 yds. Chinese 1 grade material? Crow 

It’s been a year since I last shot it. Didn’t notice any Dieseling.

 

[Glenroiland]

Contact Mike melok...he should be able to hook you up with parts..

 

[Guest]

Well if you did not notice any dieseling then that is an example of fine Chinese craftsmanship.

 

[KWK]

Perhaps someone tried to rinse out the chamber with a strong solvent. From what I've heard the seals in those are at least usable. A little tuning (new guides) and trigger modification (add a second screw to the trigger) makes a fairly nice accurate gun.

 

[crowski]

This gun was out of box. 15 rounds is exaggerating. I was going to crony it after a year of dust collecting, before I did a tuneup to see if any improvement. Wouldn’t shoot 30 yds. Glad it’s my only Chinese special. I bought this gun only to disassemble and get familiar with the internals of Airguns. I’ve ever done before. Ironically it needs to be done. 
I’ve had over 30 guns, all made in United Kingdom Germany and Turkey, 1 made in China. This is my first breakdown. Crow 

 

[dizzums]

holy crp lol ... ive seen damage to seals before new out of the box from people dry firing them likely with gunk from manufacturing in the chamber, but nothing like that .. that looks deteriorated from solvent or just sitting a long time with organic based lube on the seal ..theyre usually made of a urethane type material, and if somebody got stupid and 'protected' the gun by squirting say, wd40, down the barrel and into the chamber, yeah over time sitting the seal can just fall apart like that ...

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

Looks like it was featured in one of those YouTube videos titled "How to get more power out of your airgun ".

 

[Windmill01]

Crow looks like a bad infestation of springer mites. They have a soft spot for synthetic materials. Another thing we can blame on the Chinese.

Gary

 

[biohazardman]

I thought it might be sealworms but springer mites it is, ;^)

 

[Ezana4CE]

Damn man. That doesn't look so good. I'd certainly like to know what caused it as well.

 

[thumper]

The fact that it crumbled like that tells me that it deteriorated rather than burned. The low use supports this theory as well. Looks just like an old FWB seal that were famous for crumbling.

If it's urethane as most are, it can break down like that from moisture in the air, or high ozone levels. Actually most rubbers are very vulnerable to ozone. Ever seen an older pair of shoes in a closet with the midsoles crumbling?

Its a bad seal that's likely sat around and just degraded. Most materials that a seal could be made of are very resistant to petroleum lubes. And there likely wasn't much grease in there to begin with. No telling where all the gun was stored before you got it........it's a long ride from China and it probably changed hands several times between here and there.

 

[crowski]

Thanks thumper that makes sense. 
last couple years I bought several rifles a few of them were caked heavily in greece, don’t remember which ones I’m suspecting this one from China was one. When I got it I cleaned it and just put a few rounds through it. I thought perhaps the shipping greases attacked the seal, after I shot 10 rounds and moved the grease around perhaps. It sat a long time. 
I already put a new seal on the piston. The bionic man would’ve broke a fingernail doing that job.

‘Again thanks Crow 

 

[Pea-shooter O.G.]

That piston seal looks like it was attacked by a rabid squirrel!!!! Or pecked apart by an aggressive starling flock. I'd get busy pesting if I were you, before they go after your Weihrauch collection next!!!

 

[crowski]

Back together, ready for new 

 ownership. My 1st tear down. Had it together and apart 5-6 times. Crow