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How do I Achieve Rekord Nirvana?

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straitflite
(@straitflite)
Ohio
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 764
Topic starter  

Since I am still waiting for my JM goodies for three Weihrauch rifles, ordered on Dec. 10th (USPS has been extremely FUBAR due to holidays, stupidity and our friend Covid of course), I got to thinking about cleaning and polishing the triggers, which is something I’ve not done before. At least not to this extent.

I polished in accordance with the file here in our library:

https://airgunwarriors.com/resources/library/Weihrauch_Rekord_Trigger_Tune_Graham-Doe.pdf

Cleaning & Polishing:

I dissembled and cleaned all parts completely with a small Tupperware container of 90% Isopropyl alcohol and a nylon gun cleaning brush, about the size of a small tooth brush.

For trigger component areas shown in the procedure file, I started with 1200 grit and decided to finish with 2000.

The rear sear is difficult to access so I had to use this on that part with my dremel running at about 12000 rpm I got the 2mm & 3mm both of which have found other uses as well.

https://www.amazon.com/Dedeco-Sunburst-Precision-Thermoplastic-Polishing/dp/B07N28ZTL8/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2RYN2B2VCQJI1&dchild=1&keywords=dedeco+polishing+kit&qid=1609443371&sprefix=deddeco%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-9

Trigger Parts polished

Extra setback trigger problem:

I already suspected that after removing the light machine marks away, that the “Extra” setback triggers may hit the weight adjustment screw, and they did. It only just cleared in the first place. The summation of polishing the small machine marks from all contact areas removed just enough to cause the problem:

Extra Setbak hitting

 I was able to allow the second stage to fire by screwing down the weight adjustment screw some but the pull weight was ridiculous. Ok, knew this was coming so now how do I resolve the issue? Hmmm. I could slightly bend the adjuster retainer rearward and/or snip adjuster spring and reclose their coils. Rather than going down that rabbit hole, I visited Rowan Engineering once again and bought the “Curved” setbacks. Rowan shows a nice dimensional, overlay silhouette of all the triggers. I knew the curved setback would work from the drawings. I even bought a “Straight” setback just to try -so more later on how that trigger blade feels:

Rowan
Rowan Straight

 

OK, lesson learned, money spent…again. I can never recommend the extra setbacks, even though they come with a very short adjuster screw compared to the curved setbacks.  Even if a trigger wears through natural means, you might encounter the same issue? I’m sure some will think (or say) “You could have stuck with the originals you idiot!” And they may be correct but I’m only passing through once. I like where the setbacks are located compared to the original. Will it make me a better shooter? I doubt it but I won’t know unless I try LOL

Lubing:

I have read countless posts on countless forums regarding lubing the Rekord. I can’t recall all the methods others used but it ranged from leaving it dry, sewing machine oil, lightweight gun oil, lithium grease, MP5, kerosene, lighter fluid –with or without compressed air, molly etc. From years past Russ Best once said molly is too slick for triggers. -I used bicycle synthetic grease I bought over 20 years ago. I used a very light coating on pins and contact surfaces. It has a lithium like odor. This grease is not supposed to be affected by extreme heat or cold. I’ve used it on small metal parts occasionally with good results:

Trigger lube1
Trigger lube2

Adjusting:

Out of the gun, triggers cock and fire extremely smooooth. Over the years I’ve read where a well-tuned Rekord will break like a small glass rod. Now I know what that feels like. I’ve also read a post or two that these triggers should not be sanded or stoned because the surfaces are hardened. If that’s true, I may be in for another expensive lesson…. I swear, I did not remove much LOL.

With new trigger blades installed I had to adjust the “no no” screw for second stage of course. The first stage travel from the factory is a mile long so I bent its metal tab down to remove much of it, but that of course also affects the amount of sear engagement. I may have to let some first stage back in. The sears do easily return to starting position when 1st stage is taken up, released and not fired. I’d like not to have much 2nd stage creep, as currently set. Pull weight is shown on the Lyman gage. I was careful not to overly squeeze the trigger cage in the vise, btw. I’m trying to get all 3 close to the same before installing (if other parts ever get here), but unsure if I have a tolerable amount of sear engagement or not -for safety reasoning. I know of the bump test. I just don’t want to remove trigger guard for 2nd stage adjustment any more than I have to. Speaking of safety I can only hope the new Oversize safeties I bought will engage properly:

Trigger pull gage1

Almost forgot, pull weight adjuster springs were rough as a cob!! Super gritty feeling when turning screw on an area I just polished! I polished both spring ends with very smooth results:

Pull weight spring1
Pull weight spring2

I’d like to achieve a pull weight of 1lb or slightly more as I think anything less would be unsafe. Not sure of what the minimum safe sear engagement should look like. So, what’s the best way to achieve Rekord nirvana between 1st & 2nd stage adjustment? Much of what I have read conflicts within the community. I don’t want to overthink it…just wanted to post.

Sear Catch

So what do you seasoned veteran’s think of this long winded post? Criticism is welcomed!


   
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sonnysan
(@sonnysan)
California
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 620
 

Congratulations.  It looks like you've taken the Rekord unit as far as it will go!  From what I remember lithium grease was used in a rekord rebuild; definitely not m2m.  This is from memory, as I have it in writing somewhere.

Do not adjust below 1lb!  I had a Laser MKIII show up with a 9oz. trigger.  It would go off when the gun was tilted up 75 degrees or greater.  Eventually, I set that gun's rekord to 1.5lbs.  Even that is very light - maybe too light.  

Of course you can bypass all of this and get a trigger as smooth as glass from FX, Daystate, or AA. 


   
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(@jim_bentley)
Indiana
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 436
 

I have cleaned and adjust probably 25 or more Record triggers. I do the complete disassembly like you did, but several years ago decided that benefits of removing material were not needed. The chance of an AD just isn't worth it. I use a light application of M2M paste on all the  parts (yes including the sear) an normally install a lighter weight spring for the pull weight. I adjust my triggers to suit me, not using a pull gage. With proper lube and adjustment they can rival all but the best high end 10m guns.


   
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airmojo
(@airmojo)
Ohio
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 626
 

Yikes !


   
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straitflite
(@straitflite)
Ohio
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 764
Topic starter  
Posted by: @sonnysan

Do not adjust below 1lb!  I had a Laser MKIII show up with a 9oz. trigger.  It would go off when the gun was tilted up 75 degrees or greater.  Eventually, I set that gun's rekord to 1.5lbs.  Even that is very light - maybe too light.  

Thanks!

 

 

 


   
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straitflite
(@straitflite)
Ohio
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 764
Topic starter  

@jim-bentley

Posted by: @jim-bentley

I have cleaned and adjust probably 25 or more Record triggers. I do the complete disassembly like you did, but several years ago decided that benefits of removing material were not needed. The chance of an AD just isn't worth it. I use a light application of M2M paste on all the  parts (yes including the sear) an normally install a lighter weight spring for the pull weight. I adjust my triggers to suit me, not using a pull gage. With proper lube and adjustment they can rival all but the best high end 10m guns.

Using molly and a lighter pull spring seems like it could lend itself to the accidental discharge you mentioned, but if you have done over 25 of 'em without incident I'm inclined to believe you buddy.

If I have an epic fail, I'll post it. The small amount of material removed is easily 'dialed' back in since I didn't alter any shaping...at least I hope. The before and after difference is night & day but I'll see when they are under full load of the mainspring. I left the piston sear untouched but will put a light amount of my grease on it. I totally agree with you on adjusting to personal liking. In my own thought process, the gage simply provides a baseline for what may or may not be safe; Also to get all 3 as close to same so that no matter which gun I pick up, I'll know when the pellet is going to launch. -just a thought. I'll put same amount of 1st stage travel & 2nd stage creep (minimum) in 'em. That leaves only the pull weight which is easily adjusted when assembled.

Borrowing a line from the movie that @airmojo posted above, I hope mine is not a case of "If that cat had nine lives it just used all of 'em" LOL

3 Triggers

   
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airmojo
(@airmojo)
Ohio
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 626
 

@straitflite Not sure I would ever attempt to delve that deep into the Rekord trigger... I can see why some do... hence my humorous "YIKES" comment.

But I did have the Rekord trigger on my R1 just "freeze" up after I installed a new full-power kit from JM years ago... cocked the rifle, released the safety, but it would not fire... I forget exactly what I did to it, but basically, I removed the trigger assembly, sprayed it (brake cleaner or maybe WD40), and cleaned it without disassembling it, and it has worked fine since then... old grease or lube got things stuck ?

If I had an extra Rekord trigger laying around, maybe I would experiment and learn more about it.

 


   
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Prairie_Farmer
(@prairie_farmer)
Illinois
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 303
 

I have used many of the Rowan triggers, and I like the straight best.  I prefer setting all my Record weight adjustment screws with threads both into the tab, and the housing.  This will give you two points of contact if you bind the tab.  I also use quick set clear nail polish thanks to the wifes cabinet inside, and I place a small drop on both the tab and the housing.  Never had an issue with backing out.  And with my extra setbacks, the blades would clear.

Prairie Farmer


   
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Prairie_Farmer
(@prairie_farmer)
Illinois
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 303
 
Posted by: @airmojo

@straitflite Not sure I would ever attempt to delve that deep into the Rekord trigger... I can see why some do... hence my humorous "YIKES" comment.

But I did have the Rekord trigger on my R1 just "freeze" up after I installed a new full-power kit from JM years ago... cocked the rifle, released the safety, but it would not fire... I forget exactly what I did to it, but basically, I removed the trigger assembly, sprayed it (brake cleaner or maybe WD40), and cleaned it without disassembling it, and it has worked fine since then... old grease or lube got things stuck ?

If I had an extra Rekord trigger laying around, maybe I would experiment and learn more about it.

 

Be careful with Wd-40.  I do use it to clean fealthy PB's, but be sure to flush all the trace amounts of it with something like Remoil aerosol.  Wd-40 will varnish up and cause more problems later.  It is a good solvent.  I even clean chainsaw chains then blast them with 110 psi air.  I clean my Rekords and drench them in Remoil spray, then blow them out with high compressed air.  I put a small dab of grease on the sear point and call it good.

Prairie Farmer


   
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straitflite
(@straitflite)
Ohio
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 764
Topic starter  

@airmojo

I wouldn’t have normally gone there either. If this actually works out USPS gets all the credit. They have left me with not much to do ? 

Once I figured the first one out the others were fairly easy. Hardest part is reassembling the 1st piece-the rear sear with its spring. I couldn’t get it following procedure pdf, so I removed the pin that the spring tails rest on, pinned sear & it’s spring in position then spun the springtail above  that pin’s location then simply pushed that pin back in. Much better way than pdf outlines IMO. Other than that, just watch which end is swaged on a few of the pins so as to drive them out in the correct direction. I paid no attention on which side of the trigger cage I reinstalled those pins. Don’t see why it would matter especially since my triggers aren’t even broke in. Should it matter in any case?? Anyway, from there it isn’t really isn’t that difficult.

Well thought out engineering has gone into these for their simplicity of operation.

Now just need postal worker with airgun parts....

PS. If it doesn’t work out, USPS still gets the credit LOL 


   
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straitflite
(@straitflite)
Ohio
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 764
Topic starter  

@prairie-farmer

Much appreciate the tips! Think I’ll try the quick set nail polish on the 2nd stage screw for starters, since I disturbed those. I removed them and put blue locktite on but it’s not as strong as what was on them & I don’t want to use red.

Yup, I’m definitely going through Rowan’s offerings. What I have been doing while playing with these (may sound silly), is to close my eyes while pulling triggers all the way through to enhance my sense of feel. Having said that, I believe I’m going to like the straight blade as well.

Edit: Got the tabs straightened out and screws threaded into housing. Thanks for spotting that Prairie Farmer.


   
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(@fpoole)
Florida
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 21
 

The trigger in the TX200 can be set at 2 oz. to 3.5 oz. and be dead safe. You have the first stage for more sear engagement. I've had fellow shooters say my gun wouldn't pass the bump test, but I banged the butt on the ground many times to show it was safe. I'm sure the Rekord would be safe at around 6 to 9 oz. as well. I couldn't even use the gun if it was set at 1 lb. ? 


   
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