Healthways Plainsman BB Pistol Disassembly, Part 3

Almost done…

 
The barrel end of the feed mechanism.


The BB hopper side of the feed mechanism.


The valve assembly is just pushed into the CO2 tube.
The cartridge is pierced and fills this chamber with gas. The o-ring was hard, it’s amazing that it was holding gas at all.


A snap ring holds the exhaust valve in the body.


Ok, a snap ring and a spring star washer holds the exhaust valve in the body.


I had to gently lever out the spring washer. The disk with the 4 holes allows the gas to flow.


Valve assembly.


For some reason the stem has a ground bevel on the end. Since there’s nothing to hold it in a particular orientation (unless it’s carefully aligned at the factory and then stays put?) I don’t see why.
I’m assuming that the rim of the seal holds the valve seal in?


I can’t tell if the stem is soldered, screwed or pressed in. No hint from the spring end. This is odd as the rest of the pistol is so repairable. But making a new valve stem would be easy I suppose. The pin diameter is the same as the Crosman guns from the era, but the seal is more like a Benjamin or Sheridan. I'll reuse it and if it leaks then I'll worry about making a replacement.
   

A standard sealing lip inside.


The cutouts in the valve body allow gas to flow around the end of the CO2 cartridge and into the valve.


The piercing assembly. Clip was levered out with a stout dental pick.


The piercing pin was pushed out from the other side (I opened the lever and wedged the pick up and into the hole.


An o-ring seals the pin.


It fits in this cup that looks to be staked in place. Yes, I put those two scratches at 12:00 on it. Oh well. It doesn’t matter.


I decided not to punch the lever pin out. those three notches means that it’s a press fit and has cut into the hole material. Better to leave it and not risk loosening the pin. The o-ring around the body (on the left) was hard as a rock.


A setscrew underneath the muzzle end of the frame.


Removed and a bushing for the barrel slips out.
So overall this was a unique design. I love design from this die cast era. Compared to the Roger or other die cast pistols, this has superior quality.

I’ll need to get some more 8 gram cartridges (I used up all I had with the Benjamin 30/30 debacle) to test after I get it back together.

Healthways Plainsman BB Pistol Disassembly, Part 2

On I go…


The power adjuster and spring that connects to the hammer.


The power adjuster has three discrete notches around the periphery.


Which mate with the molded pin sticking out of the channel.


The CO2 cartridge chamber and valve assembly.


Notice the flat face of the exhaust valve.


The flat face sits against the o-ring and gas travels through.


What the heck, let’s call this a sear.


Just a flat bar with a dogleg.


Notice the spring on the hammer passes above the pin in the BB feed mechanism in front and below in the back (relative to the orientation of the pin…)


When the trigger is pulled it move the feed mechanism up.


The trigger and spring.


The hammer. 


It has a steel insert.


A large nut for the piercing cap sits in the frame casting.


Right frame has three screws that are removed.


And the BB feed mechanism comes free.


Huh, a flat rubber gasket.


It was glued (probably with rubber cement of some sort) to the frame.


This is another first, the passage for the gas as it travels from the valve to the barrel is open on the side. The gasket seals it against the frame.

 
The barrel slides out. The barrel seems to be copper tubing but I suppose it could be bronze.
More to come…

Healthways Plainsman BB Pistol Disassembly, Part 1

I picked this up awhile back and forgot I had it! It’s an early Healthways Plainsman BB pistol. The CO2Airguns site has a great write-up about it with links to a few other articles on the pistol.


Sort of like a Colt Woodsman, somewhat like a Nambu… It’s not ugly, just oddly proportioned.


”Plainsman .175”, “PAT. PEND.”, “Healthways L.A. CALIF”.


The other side.


The rear sight doubles as the BB filling gate.


Well it’ll be hard to spill BBs, unlike other guns.


The lever actuated piercing cap. The screw head is for power adjustment.


Unscrewed.


The CO2 cartridge is inserted neck down and the lever actuates that piercing pin.


It uses 8g. CO2 cartridges. 


The left grip removed. 


Removing the right grip.


Right grip removed.


More valve elements down in the tube. 


Removing the left frame screws.


Five screws of two different lengths.


Nothing flew apart when I removed the left frame side although the loading gate spring did come out.


A fairly simple mechanism. Which is good. 


The spring should be under the post extending from the loading gate.


I find it interesting that they used a straight piece of spring wire both here and as shown below with the safety. I haven’t seen this type of spring in any other airgun.


The safety is captured by a piece of straight spring wire that passes through a hole in the post. Notice the semicircular slot.
More to come…