Webley eclipse trigger sear not engaging

[nrees16]

Hi I have a webley eclipse and as title, the sear will not engage. I have stripped the trigger and rebuilt it and there is no worn parts. Its as if the stroke of the piston finishes 5mm short but the clocking lever is travelling all the way to the trigger housing. I can cock the trigger that extra travel needed manually with the stock off. Anyone got an idea. Thanks in advance, Nick

[Thegreg]

Did it work ok in the first place or did you acquire it broken? If you manually hold the trigger forward when you cock it will it engage then?

I had an Omega (same trigger mech) that did something similar to this. It turned out one of the legs on a torsion spring in the trigger assembly had broken off. I’m not suggesting it’s the same thing but maybe check all the parts against a diagram?

That trigger assembly is well known for being finicky, there was a good guide somewhere how to strip it and reassemble.

Cheers
Greg

[nrees16]

I acquired it broken. It is the same trigger as the omega. I have rebuilt it and checked all parts against the Chambers diagram everything looks in good order. If you recall there is a large sear with a dog that rides inside it which lifts as the piston rides over it. I can see its not lifting the sear high enough (maybe 2mm shy) to engage with the trigger sear. I'm at a loss. Nick

[Thegreg]

If you acquired it that way you don’t know what’s gone on in the past, it’s possible it’s not got the correct piston in it. The Eclipse piston was unique to the Eclipse so someone could have fitted one from a Vulcan or something in it.

If the cocking dog isn’t lifting properly it might suggest a spring issue. It’s been too long since I had one apart to remember the details but one or two of those springs needed preload during fitting. Have a google for Omega trigger assembly guide. I think it was actually done for a Theoben Sirocco But they pinched the Webley trigger so it’s the same thing.

Cheers
Greg

[ken69]

I have a copy of the guide in pdf format. If you pm me your email I will send it over

[nrees16]

Thanks for the help guys, I got it fixed today. I took fractions off of the sear which allowed it to engage properly. Anyone else gets stuck with this feel free to message me. Trigger rebuild is also straight forward once you know how. Cheers

[Sallyannsnow]

Sorry I know this is an old post but I have the exact same problem with my mk2 Eclipse. Trigger mech is all good and I followed the rebuild instructions exactly but the sear will not engage. What was the solution please.

[ashf9999]

Assuming the trigger was working fine and is definitely back together in the right order, have you changed the main spring? If it’s fractionally too long, that’ll prevent the piston travelling quite enough and will prevent the sear engaging, so will need a coil or 2 removing and the cut end collapsing/refinishing.

[Sallyannsnow]

I have a new spring, it is a genuine spare and I've checked the dimensions, it's spot on. To eliminate that issue, I cut a few coils of the old spring and refitted it. No joy.
When I got the rifle, before I stripped it, it had this problem. Externally it's in excellent condition, I got it very cheap because it wouldn't cock.
I have assemble it without the main spring and slid the piston back and the sear engages and sets the safety. Release the safety and pull the trigger, the piston slides down the cylinder gently. I've rebuilt many old springer over the years but this one has me stumped.

[ashf9999]

I have a new spring, it is a genuine spare and I've checked the dimensions, it's spot on. To eliminate that issue, I cut a few coils of the old spring and refitted it. No joy.
When I got the rifle, before I stripped it, it had this problem. Externally it's in excellent condition, I got it very cheap because it wouldn't cock.
I have assemble it without the main spring and slid the piston back and the sear engages and sets the safety. Release the safety and pull the trigger, the piston slides down the cylinder gently. I've rebuilt many old springer over the years but this one has me stumped.

You’ve covered the obvious then.
Is the trigger definitely correct. It’s the same as the Omega’s, and they can seemingly behave when not under load, but then not function with the spring in. https://www.scribd.com/document/6738...y-Omega-manual I scanned this manual a few years back and someone’s subsequently uploaded it.

[Sallyannsnow]

Thanks for that, I've a few manuals and even one just on the trigger. I'll have another plaÿ tomorrow. Some replied previously regarding trimming the sear, that's the information I am looking for.

[ashf9999]

Thanks for that, I've a few manuals and even one just on the trigger. I'll have another plaÿ tomorrow. Some replied previously regarding trimming the sear, that's the information I am looking for.

Hmmm. I’m really not sure about that. I’ve had probably 40 to 50 different Omegas and Eclipses apart historically, both mine and for others (Webley are my thing) and have never come across a need to do that. So I’m intrigued. The body end plug hole hasn’t stretched has it (from a previously over-powerful spring). This is the only other possible reason I can think of where the piston isn’t quite engaging when on full cocking stroke.

[Sallyannsnow]

The pin hole is fine, it honestly doesn't look like it's been abused. I'll plod on with it and post any updates. I only paid £50 for it so I can throw money at it if required.

[venoman]

Hi I have a webley eclipse and as title, the sear will not engage. I have stripped the trigger and rebuilt it and there is no worn parts. Its as if the stroke of the piston finishes 5mm short but the clocking lever is travelling all the way to the trigger housing. I can cock the trigger that extra travel needed manually with the stock off. Anyone got an idea. Thanks in advance, Nick

I am sure i had this problem year ago when Steve Pope was alive , i think its due to general wear in the trigger unit . I think that if put say a small punch in the cocking slot so that you are pushing the piston back more it might cock , if it do you file the end of the cocking slot so that the cocking leaver pushes the piston back more.

[airgunwerks]

Wear on the cocking lever linkage, or the hole the roll pin runs in, or the cocking link that hits the piston could be worn out make the piston not go far enough back to engage the sear.