Crosman 1400 (aka Sears 126-19300)

[Grayrock]

This .22 cal pump pellet rifle has been working great for me for several years. Just the other day, I shot it and in the process of pumping it back up it discharged by itself. It recocks itself after a shot and has never fired spontaneously before. I tried again and after 1 or 2 pumps it discharged again. I tried it a 3rd time and it did the same thing. I put it away and am now trying to research what is going on. Has anyone experienced this before? Any suggestions? I'm trying hard to not shoot my eye out

 

[Big Bore 44]

Check the trigger/sear. These oldies weren't the best material, it's an early form of sintered steel and can easily chip at the sear/block edge. Another thought is to check the adjustment screws on the trigger.

 

[Grayrock]

Do you have a diagram or schematic?

 

[Big Bore 44]

You mean something like this. https://support.crosman.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/201590320/C1400-EVP.pdf

 

[Grayrock]

yes. helpful.

 

[Ascot500]

On the Crosman 1400, and others, the sear holds the pop-off valve in the forward position and a spring returns it after a shot is fired. If the tip of the sear breaks off or the mechanism is just gummed up, the pressure in the tube will overcome the spring and make it discharge - usually after two pumps.

 

[Grayrock]

Thanks, Ascot. So try to clean the sear engagement area first? If that doesn't work is a new sear available?

 

[Ascot500]

IIRC the trigger and sear housing is a die cast part held to the compression tube with two screws. You should be able to remove the housing and see if the tip of the sear rises high enough to catch the part that holds the valve closed. If the tip of the sear has broken off, it should be apparent. jgairguns.biz is a good parts source.

 

[Ascot500]

This picture of the 1400 trigger assembly may help.
Also, if you look up US patent 3463136 there is a cross section of the 760 mechanism - the 130 & 140 use the same kind of valve

 

[Grayrock]

FINALLY got the safety out so I could remove the stock (that was an adventure all its own). Took the trigger assembly off and cleaned / inspected it. I did not see any obvious damage. I reassembled everything with the safety in the SAFE position. Pumped up 3 times and it held. Moved safety to FIRE. Shot it once. Worked fine. Gave it 2 pumps and it discharged. 2 more pumps. Discharged again. Then put safety on SAFE. It held 3 pumps and I loaded it, moved safety to FIRE and it fired as it was supposed to. My workaround seems to be to place the safety on SAFE after each shot, then pump it.

 

[Ascot500]

When you engage the safety, it moves a plunger up against the tip of the trigger and locks it.
Normally a spring pushes on the back of the trigger to return it to the ready-to-fire position.
Have a look at the picture below.
It may be that the spring is missing or the screw that compresses the spring is missing or out of adjustment.
Note that the trigger is shown flipped from how it sits in the housing.

 

[Grayrock]

Mine looks just as pictured.

 

[Ascot500]

Is the little spring at the rear of the trigger guard present and does it stick out enough to make the front tip of the trigger rise as far as the safety does?

 

[wesmonster]

I had to rebuild a Sears 126.19300 recently, the check valve was stuck so it wasn’t cocking. Just needed a good cleaning and was a good opportunity to replace seals. But mine is missing the cross bolt safety and other than it can’t be set to safe, works just fine.
I had a Crosman 140 do what you were describing, on the 2nd or 3rd pump it would go off. Rather than tear the whole thing down, I just removed the action from the stock, knocked out the front cross pin to remove the pump action and front cap, then the barrel/receiver. Then removed the threaded bolt that holds the stock on. Got a 2’ section of pvc pipe and stuck a rubber furniture cap from a shop stool on the bottom. Slid the action in the pvc pipe and filled it with denatured alcohol and let it soak for a day. Then let it dry out. Reassembled and relubed, working fine now.

 

[Grayrock]

Is the little spring at the rear of the trigger guard present and does it stick out enough to make the front tip of the trigger rise as far as the safety does?

The spring is present and seems to be functioning as designed.

 

[Ascot500]

I am out of ideas. If I had a 1400, I would offer to try your housing in my rifle.
You may want to try posting this at Gateway to Airguns