Tuning a Longbow SE - Whats Needed?

[Mabs]

Hi there folks.
Still breaking the rifle in for a mate (and starting to like it some more).
I can now cock it without breaking it over my leg but it's still hard work.
The trigger isnt much better even after a fiddle o settings.

I took the action off last night and had a wee look.
Where the cocking arm slides across the underside there are lots of rough burs where its clearly rubbing on fresh metal.
I suspect a light sand may be in order here.

I have been trawling the forum for info on tuning this gun (and other springers) but I'm still unsure what I need and what to do.

I shall start gathering the parts for a spring compressor tomorrow.

Since I intend to keep the spring (essentially a vmach?) I wondering what else is needed?
I've read of top hats, spring guides etc but don't know what to get, where to get them and how to put them in.
I've spent the past hour and a bit googling etc but still none the wiser.

I see Vmach make piston seals an these are £22.


This got me thinking that it may be economical to buy the complete kit as it comes with oil etc plus another spring.?

An when it comes to polishing/smoothing the internals I'm still a little lost.
I shall keep looking online but any advice is greatly appreciated.
Once that's all done I'll no doubt try and work on the trigger.


Many thanks in advance

[jumbuck]

There is a bloke on another forum had his tuned and fettled up to the eye balls and now up for sale Maybe you should talk to him for details

[POK!]

You could try backing off the breech bolt a little. The Maccari kit is very good. If you have a tight tube stick with the factory seal, otherwise try a Maccari Pro4CE. Clean up the piston and cocking slot and watch out for the Longbow "click" if this develops (takes a while) I'll tell you how to fix it.

I don't know much about the more recent trigger units, only that the original is best. Quattro, Intermediate, Original

[Mabs]

Cheers for the replies.
Cousyou tell me POK what the 'click' is?

[POK!]

The cocking key has a button like profile, the edges can be quite sharp. During cocking the leading edge hangs on the piston slot and when the direction of force applied changes, approx halfway through the cocking stroke, it suddenly gives and clicks against the cylinder. Doesn't happen to all guns. Mine did it though and and I've heard similar reports from other owners on BBS.

[Bulsaye]

If the Longbow is FAC, it's oversprung. One way to minimise metal to metal wear and reduce the break open effort is to get some moly paste and apply it fully along the cocking slot (even into the slot) and on the barrel plunger wedge and lock up pin. I tuned mine as well and went with a Maccari Paladin spring (I forget what his order number is for this spring) which is slightly weaker than the Webley spring, and actually picked up a few FPS (be careful if your gun is sub 12 fpe!). Regards, Russ

[hwtyger]

Mine had that terrible hard unlocking of the barrel as well..A bit of grease did help a tad.
Further, I'd say customguides and a seal.
Trigger cán be adjusted to be quite nice but is it run-in already? 500-1000shots? If not, do that first before you tune/polish anything.
Mine didnt twang anyway..
Check the stockfit as well, mine was far TOO tight!
Cockinglink mustn't scrape the stock, can cause the stock to crack.

[ikarma70]

new piston seal
custom made spring guide
better spring perhaps
piston liner.

polish the cylinder internals and piston body.
polish the cocking slot after smoothing off/deburring with a modellers file.
polish all metal to metal contact area's on piston body if theres a cocking shoe.

a fair bit of work but it will make a springer shoot smoother.