BSA scorpion pistol

[beddie.man]

Hi recently got hold of a scorpion pistol think late 70 s 80s .it’s non working does anyone now any restores
Many thanks

[beddie.man]

Anybody?

[Antoni]

Sorry, can't suggest anyone, but it might be worth describing what the problem is.

[Shed tuner]

yeah a bunch of us fix them, but no-one would do it commercially, as even at minimum wage it'd cost far more than the gun's worth..

Please describe the problem... we can probably help.

as only two things ever really go wrong with them though, my crystal ball says it's either a stuck piston head, or a trigger not firing...

[beddie.man]

Hi sorry I am disabled so could not carry out the repair I think it’s the piston stuck so I believe.I’m in a position to pay and it needs parts! I had one at 10 years old! Please help lol

[Antoni]

What happens when you try to use it?

First you break the barrel and cock the spring action

The trigger mechanism takes over holding the spring force at the end of the movement.

Then you load, close it and pull the trigger.

It fires.

Where along that chain of events has the problem shown itself?

Whoever you approach to sort it will need to know this in advance...

[Mobiasstrip]

I refurbished one late last year. The piston o ring/washer had solidified, swollen and jammed in the cylinder. A common problem I understand if a pistol is left unused for a few years. I spent many hours soaking in acetone. Carefully twisting and tapping and manipulating it. Came out after a week of repeated soaking. My point is that if I’d been repairing it “for money” even at min wage it would cost far more than it’s worth. Tricky to economically repair so usually has to be a labour of love.
I also found re fitting the piston and new o ring without slicing a chunk of the o ring almost impossible. Scrapping three O rings in the process.
Good luck with getting it fixed but it may be tricky finding someone to do it.
Steve

[Shed tuner]

Piston stuck is a common fault with old ones... and not particularly hard to expensive to fix (strip, bash out the piston, fit a new head, assemble). You'd be best off finding someone local to fix it, as postage costs would dramatically increase the price.

Sorry, but Manchester is a bit too far out of my stomping grounds to offer any recomendations.

PS agree with Steve's post above. As I orginally stated, it'll never be economical to do commerically. You need to find a "shed tuner" mate

[Dornfelderliebe]

Hi sorry I am disabled so could not carry out the repair I think it’s the piston stuck so I believe.I’m in a position to pay and it needs parts! I had one at 10 years old! Please help lol

I bought one a while ago also seized up. These have nylon piston heads which appear to swell over time even without the buffer washer turning to cheese and making worse.
Once I got the piston out I very carefully turned it down with nothing more than a cordless drill and a thin file. First I did the outer part of the head until it slid down the cylinder on it's own then gently deepened the O ring groove until it worked with a piston seal in place.
These nylon piston heads have a metal shaft which fits in the chuck.

You must have been a strong lad to cock one of these aged 10.

[rapidresponse1]

i had one years ago i bought it on impulse loved the look of it i was a kid could hardly cock it

[wilkinss77]

yeah a bunch of us fix them, but no-one would do it commercially, as even at minimum wage it'd cost far more than the gun's worth..

Please describe the problem... we can probably help.

as only two things ever really go wrong with them though, my crystal ball says it's either a stuck piston head, or a trigger not firing...

3 things actually, the 3rd issue being a fairly common one- the safety lever randomly failing to engage, which kept happening to mine when I had one in the late 70s.

[Shed tuner]

3 things actually, the 3rd issue being a fairly common one- the safety lever randomly failing to engage, which kept happening to mine when I had one in the late 70s.

that's absolutely true, but I kinda lumped that in with the trigger fault... but I do agree.

[Dornfelderliebe]

I refurbished one late last year. The piston o ring/washer had solidified, swollen and jammed in the cylinder. A common problem I understand if a pistol is left unused for a few years. I spent many hours soaking in acetone. Carefully twisting and tapping and manipulating it. Came out after a week of repeated soaking. My point is that if I’d been repairing it “for money” even at min wage it would cost far more than it’s worth. Tricky to economically repair so usually has to be a labour of love.
I also found re fitting the piston and new o ring without slicing a chunk of the o ring almost impossible. Scrapping three O rings in the process.
Good luck with getting it fixed but it may be tricky finding someone to do it.
Steve

After doing that with a brand new Mercury seal I now deburr all edges of a cocking slot and chamfer the the front and rear ones until the seal passes easily.