Quote Originally Posted by Modski66 View Post
Having let some SAE30 soak onto the piston ring overnight, it still feels very stiff to cock compared to my Tempest, but not had chance to fire it yet.
I think the spring guide must be very dry, making the spring graunchy when it is being compressed.
When I strip it down, I am going to polish the spring guide and as much of the inside of the spring as possible. I am quite looking forward to seeing what it is like inside after 70 years, presuming no one else has had it apart!
It sounds like someone has possibly fitted an alien spring, or the spring is in two pieces.
If there is any lubrication in the spring guide, it will be via the spring.
It's always worth a light coating of lubricant on the spring when re-assembling the pistol.
The phosphor bronze piston ring gets it's lubrication from the few drops of SAE 30 sparingly applied through the cocking slot, as marked.
I don't think I've ever chrono'd a standard Webley pistol, as I can normally tell if something isn't right from the feel of it when cocked and fired.
I'm sure you'll get there in the end.