Hatsan Hatsan 95 Vortex Piston Installation

[Gault]

So, disassembled my 95 to learn how it goes together and all, but I am having trouble getting the piston installed.

All lined up but I cannot get it seated all the way to push in the pin. It is like it has a bit of preload which is hard to push in.

Does this require a press or something?

 

[Gault]

For those that may read this later, it did take a press. Went to the local tire shop and the owner helped me.

 

[Jay308]

A spring compressor is need for most springers, piston or real spring.

 

[DesertSilver]

As Jay said already a spring compressor is needed to disassemble and assemble a springer. Some use a pipe clamp. Some make 1 using a clamp.

 

[Gault]

Since I am setting up my shop, I suspect I'll just buy an inexpensive press so I can use it for more than just springers.

 

[Bedrock Bob]

Quick and easy compressor. A $50 bar clamp and some scrap pine lumber. It fits every rifle I own using the little hardwood adapter blocks...

 

[Gault]

That is a really nice-looking set up.

 

[Bedrock Bob]

That is a really nice-looking set up.

You can probably get it done with just a bar clamp. But it's hard to get it all lined up and held down right. I did it a couple times and decided a proper jig would be safer and would insure I didn't scratch up the gun.

I saw a dozen different ideas here and on YouTube. There are many ways to go about it and some are quite ingenious. I had several good bar clamps so I decided a simple push rod that fit against the comp tube would be the best. There are several similar ideas out there. I think this is the simplest and most versatile.

This is just a couple 2x2 boards glued to a 3/8" plywood backer. They are routed out up front to accommodate the front sights/moderators on the various rifles. At the other end there are notches to accept the hardwood "dogs" that hold each rifle in place. So all that's needed to adapt it to different rifles is a couple little maple blocks. It puts the pressure on the compression tube and not the pivot block. So there is no chance of the block pivoting under torque. It turns a sketchy operation into a safe and easy 2 minute job.

The only limitation is the depth of the clamp jaws. You need as deep a jaw as possible so the action centers along the line of force. A 1/2" pipe clamp isn't deep enough. A 3/4" pony clamp is barely deep enough. This is a Grolz sash clamp and it barely works. It would be best to get a couple steel jaw faces welded on to the jaws to make them a bit deeper. But so far it's worked perfectly on all of my airguns.

 

[Gault]

The part I liked the most was the wood stove heating your shop.

 

[Bedrock Bob]

Thanks. It's a beauty. Ive burned that stove for 20 years. It's become a dear old friend.

Shop = Evil lair

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

Easy to make a press. Make it with an extra long throw. Guns like the Hatsan 135 “spring model”

have a very long preload.

 

[Gsyme]

These are some nice diy presses. I once used a car scissor jack. And some sudden wooden guides to hold the rifle in place. Got the idea from an Indian guy on YouTube.