BSA Mercury

[Weasle]

After 50 odd years of being a confirmed air rifle nut...I have never taken a Mercury apart.
This one is from the early '70's and never been apart...I know the original owner who bought it new in 1972.
How much pre-load should I expect when unscrewing the trigger block....which is now....at last and with assistance free and revolving/unscrewing nicely.

BTW its sees to be suffering from a perished seal and buffer washer as it sticks quite horribly when trying to cock it.


Many thanks in advance from the learned members.

Cheers Steve

[look no hands]

There could be quite a lot, I normally sit on the floor put a pile of old shirts or something in between my legs, I then put the trigger block in the clothes and then with thick gloves on unscrew the cylinder so when the cylinder and trigger block separate the block and spring get contained in the clothes.

Hopefully that helps.

Pete

[Weasle]

There could be quite a lot, I normally sit on the floor put a pile of old shirts or something in between my legs, I then put the trigger block in the clothes and then with thick gloves on unscrew the cylinder so when the cylinder and trigger block separate the block and spring get contained in the clothes.

Hopefully that helps.

Pete

Hi Pete

Many thanks for that.....I'll be careful. 😎

Cheers Steve

[Phil Russell]

Have a look at the Idiots Guide in Collectables ... posts 37, 38 and 122 for the Mercury.
If you have a vice it can be useful to either clamp the trigger block in the padded vice and unscrew the action from the block or clamp the action and unscrew the block. I advise wearing a leather glove just in case and put a towel over the action as you unscrew.
When you come to reseal etc, a Meteor O ring BS210 can be better than the normal Mercury one (BS212). If you want to make a new buffer washer, a tap washer works or some thick leather.
Cheers, Phil

[STR8SHOOT3R]

I did one a few years back and there was a fair bit of preload. Per the above, I pressed the action down on a pile of rags and unscrewed the end block while wearing thick gloves.

Try to put as much bodyweight on it as possible while unscrewing the trigger block. Good luck!

[TonyL]

Easier if you remove the barrel, too, giving a shorter, sturdier "piece" to work with and no chance of the barrel "breaking" open.

[Weasle]

I did one a few years back and there was a fair bit of preload. Per the above, I pressed the action down on a pile of rags and unscrewed the end block while wearing thick gloves.

Try to put as much bodyweight on it as possible while unscrewing the trigger block. Good luck!

Many thanks.....I'll be careful...very careful

[Weasle]

Have a look at the Idiots Guide in Collectables ... posts 37, 38 and 122 for the Mercury.
If you have a vice it can be useful to either clamp the trigger block in the padded vice and unscrew the action from the block or clamp the action and unscrew the block. I advise wearing a leather glove just in case and put a towel over the action as you unscrew.
When you come to reseal etc, a Meteor O ring BS210 can be better than the normal Mercury one (BS212). If you want to make a new buffer washer, a tap washer works or some thick leather.
Cheers, Phil

Many thanks Phil