Daisy Model 26

I finally got the model 26 cocking and firing!! BUT, it has very little power, 85 FPS.  I had pulled the plunger and noticed that the piston seal had two small indentations on the leading edge of seal. Looking at the outer diameter of barrel I saw two punch marks in barrel. I'd say they were put in barrel to hold the inner works from coming out of barrel. These two punch marks lined up perfectly with indentation of leading  edge of piston seal. Once gun was shot, the piston seal rested at this point in barrel and after years or months the seal took a set at it leading edge from these punch marks.  Firing the gun these indentations allowed most of the air being compressed to just leak past piston seal. I don't plan on using the gun but I'm very happy that at least now its working one.

Mark, I believe the barrel is also tapered on these two guns, the feed block is very similar to the 1894 and the barrel looks close to the design from the block forward.  They both suffer from abutment seals sticking to the plunger seal and also taking a set on the seal from sitting at the bottom of the taper.  These two guns the model 26 and the model 572 I owned but sold years ago on eBay as a set because they were in very good condition and mechanically sound and shot good, one shot stronger than the other.  I figured if someone was looking for one or both this would be a good set that would cover both models.  The model 26 was from 1964 to 1966 and the model 572 was from 1967 to 1971.  I had read that Daisy tried to beef it up with a change in material or something to correct the failure of the cocking mechanism, but I believe it also didn't hold up.  The elevators for the rear sights are similar but not sure if they are the correct ones for these models.  I thought they were a good concept of the style pump, but it didn't work out.  A few people said don't shoot them too much, just look at them because no parts are available.

Rick, my friend seems to have sorted his problems out, so please hold off on sending your dear wife down to get it. You have always been a monumental help to me and this community as a whole, and I just hope you're back in top shape very soon!!

Thank you, Rick. I'll pass that along and in the meantime, you take care of yourself!

A friend has a model 26 that has stopped shooting. He wants to get inside of it, but wasn't sure about removing the forearm assembly. Rick, can you or Ken (or someone who has done this) remember anything about disassembling the gear train or even "just" removing the forearm assembly that might help him?