I have a Webley Vulcan .177 caliber rifle I’m trying to fix for my parents that will not lock after cocking, if you simply just break the barrel open when it is not cocked and put it back in the position it locks fine. I replaced the plunger and the spring Thinking that was the problem and it has not changed, there is no adjustable trigger on this rifle. Has anyone else had this problem and how did you fix it? Also what type of grease or lubricant should be used inside of the piston that pumps out the air?
Try to open the action, cock the piston into the trigger latch WITHOUT the mainspring installed, and see where all the parts are.
It MAY be that the latched piston is not allowing the cocking link to go forward enough for the gun to close and lock. OR may be other parts are interfering.
Removing the mainspring, or using a VERY weak spring (my action proving springs are 1.3-1.5 mm wire, to give you an idea) will let you see what is happening without too much risk.
HTH, keep us posted!
HM
The cocking link looks bent, making it functionally shorter.
When the gun is cocked, the "foot" at the rear end of the link, is hitting the front of the piston slot before the breech latch can engage - just as Hector described. (When the gun is uncocked, the piston sits much farther forward so the cocking foot clears.)
Likely someone triggered-off a cocked action with the barrel open.
@kwk Thanks Karl, I really appreciate you getting back to me, the barrel just started not closing for my parents and they did not take it apart, I did but I didn’t have to take the trigger completely apart,(watched a youtube video on how to hold the other pieces in) just took out the trigger and compression spring. I found the trigger set screw on top, thanks I had no idea that was there, thinking it would be closer to the trigger. I did screw it down some and it made no difference, did you have the same problem on your stingray that the barrel wouldn’t close and what worked to fix it?
I needed to catch some rest. My fatigued brain wasn't getting everything right. After reading everything over again I think Mike is on to it. The cocking link might be bent and shortened. Now it gets caught by the latched piston Another thing to watch for in these guns is a broken plastic spring guide but you probably would have noticed that.
This Webley"Spring Tamer"guide is broken off at the flange so I made another. Just a fitted tube with a flange
@kwk Thank you for the info and advice! I’ll keep digging into it, my parents really like this rifle.
Webley Vulcan | Webley Air Rifles | Vintage Airguns Gallery Forum
Scroll to the bottom few pics. Good look as to the insides of the rifle.
I joined this forum in search of advice because my .22 Webley Vulcan had exactly the same problem.
In response to the suggestions made earlier in this thread, I inspected the cocking link: Lo and behold! It appeared to be slightly bent, just like yours.
I found it hard to believe that the tiny difference in the effective length could be the cause of the issue but, I had nothing to lose, so I decided to try to straighten it.
Having removed the stock, it was easy to drive out the roll pin and remove it; I straightened the link in a vice, reassembled everything and found that the problem was completely resolved.
Thanks, folks!
@mt_skull Couldn't help but look. Removed the barreled action from Vulcan stock and it is straight as an arrow.
