Relube of leather washer & Vintage Air rifle service

[Argonaut]

I have a Relum Super Tornado 0.22 under-lever loading.
Been very well looked after, still fires well, even though this year was probably first use in 20 years ..... Not bad for a rifle that cost me £21 new in 1973

The barrel always has a few drops of 3-in-one oil down it after use, but read now that mineral oils not considered the best for the leather washer. (though still working well after 45 years)

Thinking of giving it a service. (ready for its 5oth birthday !)

If I take washer out assume its pretty soaked with mineral oil .... what is best way to clean it before soaking in a silicon oil. (reading that this is better than Neatsfoot ?)

Thinking that I would take springs out - if they look undamaged, clean, re-grease with Molybdenum.
If damaged - getting conflicting advice - several posts talk about replacing with single Airsporter or Meteor spring .....but 2 of the companies that sell such springs advise I would be better to stick with original dual-concentric springs, putting in single spring only makes cocking more difficult, makes a noisier action but does not increase output.

[junglie]

Take no notice of the shops & stick a meteor spring in, airsporter spring is slightly too large outer diameter & will bind on cocking. Grease it with moly & make a pop bottle lube sleeve for in the piston, that'll quiten it down a lot. You'll be surprised how bucked the old twin springs are whe you pull it apart I''ll bet. I'd wipe the piston washer with alcohol ,dry, then soak in hempseed oil wrapped in cling film overnight, just pushed into the end of the cylinder to stop it swelling too much. That makes re-fitting much easier next day. I think there's a knack to getting the piston past the trigger too but can't remember it. No doubt someone will tell you on here I've only done one tornado for a freind & had to glue the barrel in on that as it was loose & rotating slightly so check the barrel joint too while you have it apart.Don't expect top power from it either . The most they'll make is 8-9ft/lbs tops.

[Argonaut]

Take no notice of the shops & stick a meteor spring in, airsporter spring is slightly too large outer diameter & will bind on cocking. Grease it with moly & make a pop bottle lube sleeve for in the piston, that'll quiten it down a lot. You'll be surprised how bucked the old twin springs are whe you pull it apart I''ll bet. I'd wipe the piston washer with alcohol ,dry, then soak in hempseed oil wrapped in cling film overnight, just pushed into the end of the cylinder to stop it swelling too much. That makes re-fitting much easier next day. I think there's a knack to getting the piston past the trigger too but can't remember it. No doubt someone will tell you on here I've only done one tornado for a freind & had to glue the barrel in on that as it was loose & rotating slightly so check the barrel joint too while you have it apart.Don't expect top power from it either . The most they'll make is 8-9ft/lbs tops.

Thanks for the comments.

Assume no need to replace washer if I clean & re-lube ....... so is hempseed oil better than silicon or neatsfoot ? (I don't have any of them so have to buy either way)

I also don't understand "make a pop bottle lube sleeve for in the piston" what is this, is it just for the re-lube or a permanent addition

[averageplinker]

There is an old mantra I like to live by.....if it ain't broke don't fix it! You say she is working well so I am guessing the power and accuracy is ok and it is not making any horrible noises on cocking and firing. If so, sit back relax.
Rich.

[Josie & John]

I'd advise a conversation with Vic at Protek Supplies. He has an extensive stock of original Relum parts including springs and is a font of knowledge on Relums.

Good luck,

John

[Argonaut]

I did contact Protek ... they advise putting in anew pair of concentric springs (not a single Meteor), and lube washer liberally with Neatsfoot oil.

[Argonaut]

There is an old mantra I like to live by.....if it ain't broke don't fix it! You say she is working well so I am guessing the power and accuracy is ok and it is not making any horrible noises on cocking and firing. If so, sit back relax.
Rich.

I do think after 45 yr a service is worthwhile - even if just to clean out old grease & relube

[junglie]

Thanks for the comments.

Assume no need to replace washer if I clean & re-lube ....... so is hempseed oil better than silicon or neatsfoot ? (I don't have any of them so have to buy either way)

I also don't understand "make a pop bottle lube sleeve for in the piston" what is this, is it just for the re-lube or a permanent addition

Do a search on here for making a lube sleeve. You can use a pop bottle or beer can for this depending on the clearance between the spring & piston. All springs outer diameter gets larger as they are compressed so you don't want them binding(catching on the inside of the sleeve when cocking)I wouldn't use silicon oil at all in springers & wouldn't recommend hempseed oil if I didn't belive it was the best for the job.It is very nice as a salad dressing too btw.....At the end of the day it's a relum tornado, a poorly made crude cheap rifle that is really only suited to shooting tin cans at garden range so I wouldn't expect miracles from it. The best you can do is get it shooting smoother & slightly more accurate. Sorry if that offends you but I wouldnt even bother putting a scope on it as it will just show it's limitations even more.

[andrewM]

I have found the comments here interesting. Since I joined the site - and improved my knowledge considerably - I have found that most people appear to favour neatsfoot compound. I soaked a washer in this in an eggcup overnight and then fired off the surplus oil (for my Webley Mk3) with some 30-50 shots.

It would be interesting, however, to read of the pros and cons for a silicon oil as opposed to a mineral oil.

Rgds
A

[Argonaut]

I have found the comments here interesting. Since I joined the site - and improved my knowledge considerably - I have found that most people appear to favour neatsfoot compound. I soaked a washer in this in an eggcup overnight and then fired off the surplus oil (for my Webley Mk3) with some 30-50 shots.

It would be interesting, however, to read of the pros and cons for a silicon oil as opposed to a mineral oil.

Rgds
A

Accept that Neatsfoot is the optimum product for leather washer ... and ordered some.
What ‘oil’ do people put in barrel after use.
For all of guns life (45 yrs old now) I have put a couple of drops of 3-in-1 down barrel .... and occasionally (
Once a year or so) put some in charging tap ... and fire off empty .... ensuring full mist of oil in barrel.

Would Neatsfoot be a better choice for overall lubrication ?