Smith 1000 auto owners help

[stevesmith7]

I recently acquired an older Smith 1000 auto. When I took it apart to clean it I found something missing compared to the exploded parts diagram I downloaded from Numrich. The diagram shows that behind the gas piston there is a spring, soft washer, and steel washer. I know it is common for the soft washer to be destroyed by age and solvents, and in fact mine was disolved into a black goo. My gun however is missing the spring shown on the diagram. Does your gun have this part? What does it look like?

Thanks for the help.
Steve

 

[Wags]

I own a S&W Mod 1000M, and it does not have this spring you are refering too? Only the two washers and "O" ring. Not looking at the schematic, it's possible the short spring your looking at is actually the magazine spring in a shorter printable version to fit the print schematic?

The black goop is not from the dissolved "O" ring, it's from S&W itself..... Mine had the same goop. I called the factory and they put this in to absorb the shock of the gas piston I was told since the "O" ring gets beat up and breaks easily. That little "O" ring will not leave that amount of goop.

Numrich Arms: www.e-gunparts.com does sell this item plus other parts for the S&W Mod 1000 & 1000M.

I currently have a automotive rubber "O" ring in their now (goop gone of course), and it functions just fine with the right shotshell selection. Just find the right diameter, and thinnest one. My most finicky shotgun I own, very nice looking and light, but would never buy another one!

 

[stevesmith7]

Wags,
Thanks for the reply. I think I'm more confused now. If you look at the parts diagram:

http://www.e-gunparts.com/productschem.asp?chrMasterModel=1980z1000

Part 44 is listed as a connecting ring spring. Next to it is part 38, piston shock absorber. This is the part I thought broke down. Below that is part 37, a steel washer that I have.
Is it possible Smith did away with the shock absorber and spring in favor of the black goo?
The parts diagram doesn't show the piston O ring which seems odd.

If I read you right your gun has the steel washer 37 and the O ring on the piston, but no goo or other parts and works more or less ok?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Wags]

Steve: Unfortunately I'm at work and cannot access e-gunparts thanks to the company nanny. When I go home this evening I'll look at this, plus pull out my S&W Owners Manual with it's parts schematic. Or even better yet take mine out of the safe and look it over.

To the best of my memory, a ridged shaped flat washer holds the magazine spring in place. On top of it, a flat washer, then the rubber "O" ring which just rests/lays on the flat washer. It's diameter is the same of the magazine tube inside diameter. Thickness is not even 1/8". It absorbs the shock of the piston when hitting the washers. Thats why the goop was there.

Then you have the piston which has a metal (connecting ring?) ring like an engine piston ring around it's center. This ring holds the piston pin in place to limit the travel of the piston. The piston pin itself has like a flat head screwdriver gap on both ends the ring (1ea) to keep it from falling out. The ring just loops arounds the entire piston being held in place by this pin. (I hope I'm making since on my description)

When I took this shotgun apart for the first time all the goop was under the piston. Of course I cleaned it out thourghly, then checked my owners manual which showed the "O" ring which mine didn't have. I called S&W and they said "they" put in the goop and went away from the "O" ring, and they didn't sell them anymore (Gun dis-continued mid 80's). They reccomended I cut apiece of heater hose or something to make a new one, about 1/4" thick and same diameter of inside magazine tube. Tried that, gun would fire, but not eject shells.

Seems to me too thick of an "O" ring limited the piston travel of the gases. Then I tried a rubber automotive "O" ring that is about 3/32" thick. Pretty much took care of the cycling problems. But, the shotgun will only cycle certain loads...... It prefers Winchester shotshells? Remington and Federal don't seem to produce the pressures needed. I'm talking 2 3/4 & 3" shells. She'll gobble up 2 3/4" slugs all day long with the factory slug barrel I have.

Also, I notice only 1 gas hole in my 2, 28" barrels and 2 holes in the slug barrel. This shotgun came with 3 factory barrels: 1 rifle sighted slug barrel, and 2 28" full and modified barrles. It's a beautiful and well taken care of shotgun, but it's given me plenty of headaches trying to get her to operate reliably.

When I get home this evening I'm sure I have an extra "O" ring I'd be more than willing to send you. Could of swore I bought it from e-gunparts? It looks thicker than my automotive "O" ring.

I don't think our shotguns are that much different on internal parts since mine is the 1000M (magnum 3").

 

[stevesmith7]

I got it!

The thing that confused me was the "piston ring" around the gas piston. I thought it was a rubber o ring since mine was black and still had some of the goop on it. Upon closer inspection I see it's steel, which must be part 44. I already made a rubber bumper washer 38 out of a hose washer so I think I'm good to go. We'll see how well it cycles and adjust.

I've only got a 30" full barrel and it has two gas holes. I'd love to find a 26-28" in IC or Mod as my barrel has a fair amount of rust pitting. It's going to be a GunKote project soon.

Thanks for the help, THR always comes through.


Steve

 

[secluded]

The S&W Model 1000M in 20 gauge was my first ever gun. I got it as a gift from my uncle when I was 16. Not a bad gun at first... I have only ever shot 2 3/4" field loads (upland game hunting mostly) and I've gone through two piston pins, they keep breaking. I ordered new ones from Numrich twice. The last time it sheared in half I didn't realize it until it was too late. The two halves of the piston pin being slammed back and forth in the piston caused the edges of the piston pin holes to become oblong. This in turn caused the piston itself to get wedged in the tube. I got disgusted with always fixing it, it's still broke sitting in the back of the gunsafe. Maybe one of these days I'll try to fix it again. Wonder if it's just my gun or if any others have had that problem?

 

[Wags]

Steve: Glad I could help! Sorry for blabbing, but I wanted to make sure we were on the same page of music.

By the way, I think my barrels are 30", not 28"...... Have not had it out of the safe in quite awhile.

Good luck.

Wags

 

[stevesmith7]

Wags,
While we're at it, I can't seem to figure out how to get the bolt handle off so I can remove the bolt from the receiver. I have the owner's manual but it just says you have to align it to a slot but so far no luck.

Steve

 

[Wags]

Steve: The bolt slide handle will come directly out. Just get a good grip on it (no tools!), and jiggle it around and pull it directly out towards you. It's not that tricky once you do it a couple times. Don't be afraid to pull it with some force. It goes back in a lot easier. You'll be fine.....

Wags

 

[stevesmith7]

Got it.

Had a friend come by this afternoon with his 20ga 1000.
Took it apart and it has the rubber bumper for the piston to hit, no goo.
The bumper was a soft black substance, but appeared to be nothing special.

Steve

 

[Wags]

Steve: It's always nice to have another extra model handy to go by and compare when working on a shotgun. Glad to hear you took out the bolt handle ok. The rest of the shotgun is pretty easy I found. Good luck!

Secluded: I've heard stories of this problem before. I'm guessing the connector ring came out of the piston pin grooves which caused this problem of yours. Did it also bugger up the inside of magazine tube also? My ring is a little "stretched" from me taking it apart a few years ago so many times trying to figure out why it didn't function reliably so often. Got those bugs worked out after a few grey hairs and many hours of swearing.

It's a beautiful and very lightweight auto-shotgun the Smith&Wesson Mod 1000. Too bad the gas system is very touchy, and parts are not always availiable. I'll probably just keep mine in back of the safe and sell it some day when the price goes to the moon (if that ever happens).

Wags

 

[secluded]

Did it also bugger up the inside of magazine tube also?

From what I remeber it just kinda "flared" the edges of the magazine tube outwards. It's enough that I can't slide the ring past that point.

I have debated many times ordering a new mag tube and parts from Numrich (when they have them) but I never do it. I have several other shotguns that I can use so the issue isn't pressing.

I'd sell it myself but mine has sentimental value, my first gun and a gift from my uncle. Maybe when the kids get old enough to shoot I'll get it fixed up, who knows

 

[lev83]

I am a little confused, purchased the above referenced shotgun (S&W 1000)which had only been slightly used, last week. Went to shoot and discovered that I have a very nice looking but heavy single shot. After reviewing this article I see that the "O" ring (the part that forms the black tar-like goo can be ordered from Numrich. Is this part # 37 on the schematic aka part # 366570B called a shock absorber washer? If not which part is it that I need to order?