This page preserves a discussion thread from the original AirgunOne.com community forum, active from 2008 until the site went offline. It's republished here for reference, in full, including the community banter. If you're a contributor to this thread and would like something removed or credited differently, contact info@airgunguide.com.
The Find
lampy wrote: "Just what I needed another old AG...... The last couple of weeks I have been stumbling across old AG's, First it's a Crosman M-1 and today an old Daisy 120. I dont know much about it ..... Made by Gamo in the mid 80's. I like the stock other than it needs refinished. The rear site is missing and the front site post is gone, no big deal I prefer a scope. The tasco 4x15 will be replaced if it turns out to be a good shooter. I ran some patches down the barrel then took a peek and everything looks good. Getting ready to take it out for a test run, I'll keep you posted."
"Good news, it shoots.... but seems pretty weak, I'm sure it needs to be lubed and probably a main spring. Anyone know where to find info on this AG? I did the google search but it led nowhere. I'll be tearing into it now that I know it shoots."
Community Discussion
usa43 wrote: "Leather seal??"
lampy wrote (quoting usa43's post above): "Yup, leather seal and a broken spring. The leather seal is dry and along with the broken main spring gave me the low power. I have 2 spare springs with the same coil count but the spring guide is a little too big to fit the spring so it may be a while before I get it shooting again. I'm thinking about making a new guide once I get set up in the new place. I may look for a replacment spring while I'm waiting. Also the barrel pivot bolt is fighting me, I'm going to give up on that til I'm in the new house and have all of my tools available. I was able to slide the piston back far enough to see that it is leather tho."
usa43 wrote: "I like leather seals. You may try to rub some none petroleum based oil on it and see what happens. Kneedsfoot oil or what i use is wifes cooking oil (works slick, peanut, corn olive, or soy bean oil) and a lot better than your high priced synthetic oils. as far as springs you may try Tech Force, they handle some springs for their Chinese guns and leather seals. Just a thought. let us know how it turns out."
"P.S. Barrel pivot bolt on my big cat is giving me the same problem. Might end up drilling it out at some later date, but everything else is a-ok. shoots very good"
Michael90T wrote: "I have used neatsfoot and silicone in a pinch for leather, honestly a old whipmakers trick ... ANY product thats going to be good for your skin WILL work on leather... not uncommon at all for whipmakers to pick up whatever lotion is laying around the house to mix in with some saddle soap for a plaiting grease..."
"And here comes the against common belief remark....(flame suit on) Really neatsfoot is NOT the best solution, it does a great job of making the leather swell up and softens the leather but it also makes leather very weak... you will not find a whipmaker or a good tack maker using neatsfoot oil on anything.... it swells the grain making it spongy and weakens it... your best bet to recondition a seal thats old and hard is to soak it in some neatsfoot for a day or so till it softens up a bit then work as much of the oil out of it as you can.... then make you a mix of some whatever hand lotion, some mink oil or other really decent natural leather conditioner, and maybe a touch of saddle soap (not much, it will plug up the pores), and maybe a dose of some silicone if you have it around.. Work the paste into the leather seal... that will keep it hydrated for much longer than thin neatsfoot and keep your seal from turning soft and spongy and ripping apart....."
headhunter wrote: "Where have you been finding these old guns?"
Michael90T wrote: "think he has been picking through pawn shops and the such lately"
lampy wrote (quoting headhunter's post above): "Just moved to S D a few weeks ago, I get bored sitting around waiting to close on the new house (one more week, WHOOO HOOO) So we go check out a town we haven't been to yet, Hit pawn shops, 2nd hand stores and antique stores. Almost every place I go into has at least one, usually they are crap, but every once in a while......."
shoot356 wrote: "That gun looks to have some promise for being a good shooter after you get the spring and other stuff fixed. As for the leather seal, my favored goop is mink oil. I've used it on all kinds of leather stuff for a long time and never had a bad result. It sure fixed the seal in my B-3."
"Keep us up on your gun's progress, and good luck in the new house."
headhunter wrote: "Nice finds, that Daisy looks like a lot of models made today, and I still can't believe an air rifle would be made to look like an M1!"
Tags
daisy 120 · leather piston seal · leather seal conditioning · vintage airgun restoration · mainspring