TX 200 cocking problem?

Hi guys,

Okay so my TX started to have a problem. When I cocked it then would release the bare trap safety while holding the cocking lever the lever still had pressure returning to the lock up under the barrel and now it is constantly doing it.

I tried doing my research and believed I had a cocking shoe problem according to the forums. So I called PA warranty and they sent me a new shoe no charge.

I very carefully disassembled the rifle and put in the new shoe and put it back together, same problem. So I tried one more time thinking maybe it was me? Same problem?

Now I know I can send it back to warranty, but before I do that I thought I would reach out to you guys and see if there is a fix before I send it away. I have this thing I hate paying shipping! I can buy a really expensive dinner for my friends and blow that off no problem, but return shipping just irritates the poop out of me.

Is there anything to be done here or I'm I gonna be pissed?

By the way I am an newbie and you guys have already been super helpful!! So thank you in advance for any help!!

Eamon
 
At this point, I would not pass go, I'd send it back. And I'd inquire of PA about emailing you a shipping label. I've never gone thru that process, but it's worth exploring. There are instructions in the Return Form that accompanied your rifle. You did not state how long you had your TX...I have the same rifle, very impressed, and there was one time where I fouled up on the cocking process and ended up with the cocking arm sticking out and I couldn't get things back into place, but I fiddled with it until all was well. That only happened one time, and I have no idea what I did to solve it, but I'm dern careful about my cocking technique these days!
 
Sounds like the trigger is out of adjustment. If one of the stage screws are turned in too far, the sear will not grab and display the symptoms you describe. Try backing off the screws, one at a time, about 1/2 turn and see if that cures your ills.

Here is a link as to how to adjust the trigger. Be sure there is a little tension on screw #4. That one is the pull weight screw and it has to be able to push the sear in place when the gun reaches the end of the cocking stroke.

http://www.airguns.net/general_tx200_trigger.php
 
Sounds like the trigger is out of adjustment. If one of the stage screws are turned in too far, the sear will not grab and display the symptoms you describe. Try backing off the screws, one at a time, about 1/2 turn and see if that cures your ills.

Here is a link as to how to adjust the trigger. Be sure there is a little tension on screw #4. That one is the pull weight screw and it has to be able to push the sear in place when the gun reaches the end of the cocking stroke.

http://www.airguns.net/general_tx200_trigger.php

Thank you! I will give that a whirl today. Well that is two of you who think trigger related.
 
I can almost guarantee that the problem you are experiencing is the same one that this article explains about:

http://www.johnshortell.com/air-arms/

This is the same issue I had and instead of doing what the guy in the article did I removed some material (using a dremel) on the points circled in red on the cocking lever in this photo (taken from the same site):

c4d0639f-988a-47eb-8d35-3770d35129b6
1550592812_15705836145c6c2b2ca6ba23.80202162_8B59BFEF-992A-4368-9DDD-DD11F337C28A.jpeg


The aluminum bracket (the gray U-shaped part in the above photo that secures the front of the stock) prevents the cocking lever from making its full travel in order to fully cock and engage the safety once some wear/breaking-in has occured and the linkages loosen; those two points circled in red come into contact with the bracket. I’m almost certain that if you inspect this section and where it contacts on the aluminum bracket you will see a dent or evidence of contact.
 
I can almost guarantee that the problem you are experiencing is due to the same one that this article explains about:

http://www.johnshortell.com/air-arms/

This is the same issue I had and instead of doing what the guy in the article did I removed some material (using a dremel) on the points circled in red on the cocking lever in this photo (taken from the same site):

c4d0639f-988a-47eb-8d35-3770d35129b6
1550592812_15705836145c6c2b2ca6ba23.80202162_8B59BFEF-992A-4368-9DDD-DD11F337C28A.jpeg


The aluminum bracket (the gray U-shaped part in the above photo that secures the front of the stock prevents the cocking lever from making its full travel in order to fully cock and engage the safety once some wear/breaking-in has occured and the linkages loosen; those two points circled in red come into contact with the bracket. I’m almost certain that if you inspect this section and where it contacts on the aluminum bracket you will see a dent or evidence of contact.

There are marks at the bottom as you said. they are small and do look like something you would see if something was to butt up.

I have been under the weather last couple days and did nothing. I will give that a whirl this morning and report back.

Thanks to all of you for your input! I would have never thought of these fixes on my own.

Eamon
 
Eamon, try this first before proceeding to work on the part(s) responsible for the problem since you’ll already be engaged in the process: remove the action from the stock and then remove the aluminum bracket (you’ll have to unhinge the cocking lever first). Next, secure the stock back to the action just by the two trigger guard screws and try cocking the gun (don’t worry, the gun doesn’t need the two front screws in place). If the rifle cocks really nice and smooth—and I bet it will—and “fully” engages both the safety and trigger, you now know for sure that the aluminum bracket/lever is indeed the problem.

When you are done with all the work getting your TX to cock smoothly again, get on your phone or computer and send an email to Air Arms to notify them that this is a common, dire issue even on new guns that they need to fix immediately.😜

Cheers!
 
Spinj, I forgot about this. I did have to do the bracket fix your talking about. Just have to shave the bolts off a little bit or use cupped washers as I did under the head of the screw.

The front stock screws are the part that hits the lever. The bracket is wide enough to have the cocking arm pass through. If this is the problem, back off the 2 screws a turn or two and try cocking. If it cocks, just Dremel off a little of the screw tips. A Dremel on the cocking arm itself may weaken it
 
Spinj, I forgot about this. I did have to do the bracket fix your talking about. Just have to shave the bolts off a little bit or use cupped washers as I did under the head of the screw.

The front stock screws are the part that hits the lever. The bracket is wide enough to have the cocking arm pass through. If this is the problem, back off the 2 screws a turn or two and try cocking. If it cocks, just Dremel off a little of the screw tips. A Dremel on the cocking arm itself may weaken it

The first problem I had was the two front stock screws, but as the linkages wore in the problem became the one I have referred to. Scrubbing off enough material with a dremel to provide some clearance will not weaken the cocking lever in any way. It’s hardened steel and is very robust.



It’s not that the cocking bracket is narrow; it’s that the two points on the lever bottom out on the base of the aluminum bracket, which prevent a full cocking stroke. 
 
Eamon, try this first before proceeding to work on the part(s) responsible for the problem since you’ll already be engaged in the process: remove the action from the stock and then remove the aluminum bracket (you’ll have to unhinge the cocking lever first). Next, secure the stock back to the action just by the two trigger guard screws and try cocking the gun (don’t worry, the gun doesn’t need the two front screws in place). If the rifle cocks really nice and smooth—and I bet it will—and “fully” engages both the safety and trigger, you now know for sure that the aluminum bracket/lever is indeed the problem.

When you are done with all the work getting your TX to cock smoothly again, get on your phone or computer and send an email to Air Arms to notify them that this is a common, dire issue even on new guns that they need to fix immediately.😜

Cheers!

Spinj,

Just wanted through out a huge thank you! Your response fixed my tx200! I would have never noticed the two small impact market you mentioned.

Grinding a little of the metal off was the magic key.

Thank you ever so much,

Eamon
 
You are welcome, Eamon. I’m glad your TX is up and running again. 

Many people assume the trigger is the problem and proceed to adjust it until the gun is able to cock and/or engage the safety again when the real issue is that which I mentioned about. The problem with messing with the trigger first is that it takes away its full adjustment range. Also, the tension on the sears is made greater.

What Air Arms should have done is increase the clearance between the base of the aluminum bracket and the U-shaped curved section of the cocking lever to account for the decreased gap when the gun is broken in and the linkages have smoothened out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bandg