Soak in hot water, the cylinder not your hand. Surprising what dunking from boiling hot to iced cold water can free off. Especially after a good soak with "Plus Gas" or Diesel. Don`t be tempted with WD 39 & 2 1/2`s or petrol. Keep the pipe attached so you can apply a SMALL amount of oomph. Too much and you could end up eating the piston rod and seals. Before you try all this though make sure the open end of the cylinder is clean from muck, bullets and corrosion. I would drink to help you with this but the flipping bottle must have emptied itself.

Sorry HG, didn't mean to raise your hackles. Anyway let's not get political or we will be in trouble. Midweek day on the morrow so if we live long enough another weekend coming up.

HG shame on you! It`s the opportunity to have a drop early in the week. I bet Rick S has a drop less to put in the gravy. The great Keith Floyd would have found a few glasses of something I`m sure. You never know, the little fellow might follow in the tradition of his great Grandfather.

Long live the King! Actually he`s got one huge wait though. Lizzie!s still going strong then it`s Chucks turn followed by Will unless we have an abdication or two. Gotta be worth another drinky poos.

Hang on in there Stuey, time was when I would ride Land`s end to John O`Groats for fun. Can`t even ride to work now and it`s only 10 miles. keep taking the medicine though.

I agree with John on the shutter noise but the AF speed of the K30 is much improved but as he says the "Entry" level K5 from SRS is a cracking deal.

2nd that. the K30 and I guess now the K50 is a serious contender, probably has the edge over the K5 in the AF stakes. I wouldn`t part with my K5 though, not until Pentax come up with a very serious improvement.

Time for drinky poos! set `em up bartender.celebrate Chris Froome`s Tour win. As for Ritchie Port woohoo! domestique par excellence.

Where would the rest of this planet be without this country? What ever did we give the rest of the world apart from central heating, government, running water....... oh no that was the Romans.

Welcome to the forum Nigel, I`m sure you will have a grand experience or two. Join in, post pix and enjoy.