How Many Benelli Kite Owners Out There?

[Gwhite]

I am slowly putting together repair info for the Kites used by the college team I help coach. I've collected a fairly complete list of all the seals they use, including the Parker part numbers for the more exotic ones. I don't know the hardness of some of the regular Nitrile O-rings, but I'm working on it.

Once I got some of the critical parts, I've repaired about a half dozen Kites in the last couple weeks. I have been taking pictures & writing up notes on how to go about it for the benefit of future team armorers.

There are a couple of seals in the regulator system that tend to let go. I think it starts in the regulator valve assembly when the Nitrile O-ring seal fossilizes, which operates at cylinder pressure. When that seal lets go, it blows out the low pressure seal (which has also fossilized) between the valve housing and the frame. You get air hissing out around the brass cylinder mounting piece (which is actually the front end of the regulator valve housing).

We also have some pistols that have a leak in the firing valve area. The symptom is that you get a puff of air blowing across the top of your trigger finger through the dry fire lever slot. First priority is to get them firing at all, and I haven't tackled the firing valve issue yet. I also need to order some additional O-rings for that section.

In any event, I will publish my "repair manual" once it's more complete. I have NO idea how many Kites are out there that might benefit from this info, and if it would be worth it to talk to some place about putting together a seal kit for them.

So, how many Kites are still out in the wild? Any of them still working? How many people would like to resurrect them?

Thanks!

[motorcycle_dan]

+ 1. Serial number 01917RW C.N.120

[Gwhite]

That's actually a newer one. That's good, 'cause they fixed a few things by then.

[motorcycle_dan]

I bought it at Camp Perry when Larry first brought them down. He must have shared with the coaches in the North East first. The OSU coach Sweeny was up at Larry's booth at the same time and bought a bunch which convinced me to buy one

[Atypik]

Got one two !
Bought it new 3 month ago.
Serial 02408RS C.N .120.
Will be interested once you finished your repair manual !

[Gwhite]

The college team I help coach is in the thick of trying to qualify for the National Championships. I just got home from an 11 hour day running 3 air pistol relays and dealing with alibis in Sport pistol from students who can't be bothered to clean their pistols...

I hope to get back to repairing Kites and the manual in a week or two... Now that I've been through the process of rebuilding the firing valve system a couple times, I need to make some better tools/fixtures. I then have at least 3 candidates for that process, and I will use that to clean up my notes.

[Brian James]

I know of 3-4 being used in Ottawa area, including one youth models.

They appear to be such well made pistols.

Looking forward to any tips or tricks you can share

Brian