Well oiled!

[gtfreight]

4 weeks ago I soaked a leather piston in neatsfoot oil overnight. I forgot about it until today and when I put the gun back together it was smoking like a factory chimney.
Do I just shoot it and wait for it to clear up (it's not running hot) or do I dry the seal, and if so, how?

[Jerry Cornelius]

I guess if you put the seal between layers of absorbant material (does anyone remember blotting paper?) and left it with a weight on it would draw some of the oil out.

I don’t think you can try to draw it out with a solvent like rubbing alcohol without damaging the leather.

If it’s not kicking like a mule and possibly damaging the gun I’d probably put 100 pellets through it and hope it settles down, but I’m lazy !

[piggy589]

Four weeks?,new or used I leave them overnight in vegetable oil.
A quick rough up with production paper before soaking for used ones.
The gun can take a few shots to settle down.

[I. J.]

Personally, as its not running hot, I would just shoot it. Use up all those part tins of pellets we all accumulate over time. Another bit to the ozone layer wont do any harm.

ATB
Ian

[gtfreight]

I've pulled it apart this morning and wiped the piston seal with kitchen roll then given the cylinder a wipe too. Now it's back together it's shooting as it should.
It's a .22 with a 4mm tp and the power is about 9.5, is that about right or will it increase a little when it settles down?
Thanks all for the advice and Guy (ggggr) for the pm.

[gtfreight]

Sorry, I double posted.

[I. J.]

Has it got the leaking/pourous breech syndrome? I increased the power of mine by over 1.5 ft/lbs just by sealing the breech block leak. I didn't believe it possible until I did it.

ATB
Ian