Skif 3000 - improving mag reliability

[thechemist]

Apologies if someone has already thought of this, but the following may be useful to Skif 3000 owners!

The Skif 3000 would be a fantastic piece of kit had it not been dogged by quality and reliability issues. Most of the problems seem to be due to magazine jams, which it has been suggested is due to use of the wrong type of pellets, becoming loose and jamming when fired. This does happen and the magazines are pellet fussy. However, there is another issue with the magazine which seems not to have been picked up but is easily remedied. Look at the mag and you will see a crescent shape piece of plastic inside at the top, which is forced down by a spring onto the revolving pellet holders (also plastic). The idea is that these pellet holders move round (two prongs mechanically move these when the trigger is pulled, or slide action cocked). What I have found is that the pellet holders can jam against the crescent shaped plastic at the top. Now, had these all been coated in PTFE this would not be an issue. In my experience I find 99% of jams are due to this plastic on plastic jamming, not the actual pellet in use.

The Solution:

There are two types of magazines, an older less reliable type with a flimsy plastic slide over the pellet insertion port and a newer type without

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...gs_new-old.jpg


(newer type is on the left).

For the old style mag, dismantle and discard the slide over the pellet insertion port (in the picture you can see I have removed mine). Be careful when dissembling, the retainer spring can shoot out of the top! Next check to see where the retainer spring is positioned, move it to the middle hole if it is in any of the other two.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/STA60269.jpg


Now re-assemble. Next step applies to both old and new mags. Apply a thin layer of high melting point grease (NOT silicon based), to the pellet holders through the side as shown. Rotate the mag round and repeat until all pellet holders are lubricated.
Now flip over and apply film of grease on both top and bottom of pellet holders, through indexing ports on mag. Rotate again to ensure all are greased.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ease_here1.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ease_here2.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...rtion_port.jpg


Job done! Now you should find the mag will cycle effortlessly with no jams, and you should be able to rattle of shots just as fast as any other CO2 pistol. (If anyone wants to see this I’ll post it on youtube). Of course after 6 months or so it might be a good idea to dismantle and remove old grease with detergent, then re-apply.

Good luck!

[Snooper601]

Thanks for that, I'll give it a go.

Next problem, how to stop all the gas escaping when you put a new bulb in, on 1 of my 2

Cheers

John

[thechemist]

You can see the results:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JviKHP9hH4

26 shots in 11 seconds from 10 yards (ammo BB's).

Also will now empty a full mag of Bisley practice, and Prometheus PPP1.

Pellets the Skiff dislikes: Most Field Diablo's (except Wasp) - at least one will always jam; Crosman Match Pell - tight fit in mag, some will misfire and remain in mag.