DIY Leather Piston Seals

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Ziabeam

Ziabeam

Member
Oct 21, 2016
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Read this years ago, and it came in handy recently when re-sealing my HW55T
Google "Leather Water Pump Cups"
Fortunately a local hardware store deals in obscure merchandise, and they have a wide assortment of leather pump seals. One of them worked perfect, and the HW55T is shooting like new.
 
"scrane"Nice find for a fine gun.
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I'd have never known this trick if someone else hadn't posted it elsewhere. (don't recall where I first saw/read it)

Was inherited from my uncle.
The seal's edges had fused to the outer/forward corners of the main tube, and sheared off when cocked after no telling how many years of sitting unfired.
The airgun looks brand new, and thanks to finding a seal shoots like it too.
 
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"John_in_Ma"Do you have any info on the exact pump seal you used? If so the information would be invaluable. Knowing the manufacturer of them could lead to finding the right size leather seals for other older piston guns.
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Wish I knew a part number or specific original application of the one I scrounged.
In my case was able to browse the store's parts bin inventory with a ruler to find one that would match diameter wise, and the height fell in line.


Seems to me they are fairly generic in height to diameter ratio, to the extent I'd dare say the vintage airguns were designed to use existing water pump seals. The similarities are uncanny, so much so that "coincidence" is doubtful in my mind.

Keep in mind if you order one that is VERY close to the right diameter, they are designed to swell or compress to optimal fit. Once they break in and "seat" there's nothing quite like the way a new leather piston feels.

Hope this helps.
 
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"Wadcutter"Ziabeam,
Out of curiosity, what is the velocity with the leather seal? I just rebuilt an old HW55 converted to a synthetic piston seal and Maccari spring from ARH . It is shooting
JSB exact express 7.87gr. at 584fps.
Post a pic or two of that HW55T. I would love to see it.
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The pictures will easy enough. Now if it will stop raining and get sunny out long enough for me to put the chronograph to work I'll reply properly.
 
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Beauty!

I have an older HW35, a HW55s, and a LG53, all with finger groove stocks. They are all a joy to look at, handle, and shoot. I especially like the HW55 and HW35 with their individual and precision engineered solution to a problem that probably doesn't exist: barrel lockup.But there is something magical about a breech that smoothly falls open without having to smack it. They all shoot in the mid 500's. 
For those looking for something new in an airgun, I would certainly consider something old. 

PS: there is a great deal on a HW35 on AAClassifieds at this very moment. And a HW55 on the yellow. Oh my!
 
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