Post subject: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

Hey all, I'm new to the forum world and needing a bit of help. I just purchased a Franchi 912 Variomax from a guy and when he sold it to me, the gun was quite dirty. I took it apart and cleaned it really well, lubed it up and put it back together. The action on this gun is sticking a bit, like it's catching on something and the bolt kind of hangs up at the back end of the cycle. Furthermore, it won't load the shell from the lifter into the pipe. I read a post from a guy back in September that was having the same problem, but he said it fixed itself with a bit more lube and a few repetative cycles. I've tried this to no avail. It catches with all sizes of shells and sometime even without a shell.
Any suggestions? I guess I should have checked it out better before I bought it.

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

Welcome to SGW. Are you having these issues when cycling the action by hand or when shooting the gun?
Here's a link for cleaning this model.
viewtopic.php?f=78&t=205163

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

Both. It seems to be catching just as the bolt starts forward. When shooting, it catches about 50% of the time and even more (like 85%) when manually loading a shell. I can get to load the shell if I manually pull and release the bolt when it catches but it sometimes takes 2 or 3 tries. (not exactly ideal for shooting passing geese). Even with no shell it catches slightly about 20% of the time. Could it be weak or worn piston spring or lifter?

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

BTW the link for cleaning is great!! I had already used it from the previous forum while I looking for an answer. THANKS again.

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

Update for the very few who may still be interested in this thread: I've done a slow methodical trouble shoot on the problem and have determined it to be the shell lifter.
There is a bit more wear on the right side of the lifter where it contacts the bolt release bar. I temporarily removed the bolt release bar and manually cycled the action and it performed flawless. Re-installed and the lifter again catches on the bar and somewhat jams the action. I contacted FranchiUSA (Benelli USA) and was advised to send them the gun for repair. I did ask about ordering a replacement trigger assembly and the tech said they could, but strongly recommended against it. They want their technician to look at it.
My question now is; Has anyone dealt with Benelli for their Franchi shotgun for repair work and if so, what should I expect for turn around time and am I going to be hit with a repair bill bigger than the gun is worth? And, what is the average shipping cost to send them the gun?
BTW, the cost of a replacement trigger assembly is around $110.

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

Hand cycling the action and shooting the gun work the action in different ways on this model as well as most other Beretta Holding models.
Explain in a little more detail what the gun does when shooting it. Also what kind of shells are you having issues with and what are their specs (velocity/oz)?
I think you took out the carrier latch (bolt release bar). Doing so should allow the bolt to go back and forth with out having to hit the bolt release button. The carrier (shell lifter) should have a little more wear on the right side where it contacts the bolt latch. You could very well have a carrier dog issue. This is a little lever in the trigger group that controls the rise and fall of the carrier as it rides against the bottom of the bolt.
Try hand cycling the action by hand with the trigger group out of the gun. See if it's a smooth back and forth stroke.
Franchi customer service is handled by the Benelli service center. I've been told by more than one dealer that they were better when they were an independent company before Beretta Holdings bought them.
A used clean 912 in camo should be worth close to $600.00. I doubt your repair would be that much should you need to send it in.

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

It catches using all types of shells from 1-1/8 oz.,2-3/4 inch federal up to 2 oz.,3-1/2 inch heavy shot. It catches the same way when shooting. And yes, it was the carrier latch that I took out. It seems to me like the shell lifter is contacting this latch and not allowing the assembly to cycle as it should, I removed the trigger assembly and cycled the bolt like you suggested and it too moves flawlessly.
I checked shipping and it's over $100 with insurance so I called Benelli USA back and asked about just ordering a part. They were reluctant, but gave me the number to order parts from. (strangely enough it's the guys at Carlson's choke tubes that order/supply the parts for Franchi). The guy there is checking on prices and availability for me and since I didn't have a part number (no owner's manual) he said he would call me back with the info. We'll see if he comes through.

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

The gap between the carrier and bolt latch is very tight on my 612 (little brother to the 912). It's a whopping .002'/.051mm when the carrier is held down.
Pull the bolt back and let it go foward on an empty chamber. Flip the gun over and check your gap. Also, when you press the cartridge release button (back of the carrier) the bolt latch should pop out of it position and lock the carrier. Holding the bolt release button and pressing the carrier down will reset the bolt latch and unlock the carrier. Do this a few times to see if it's working correctly.
Your bolt latch should be flat with a small lip on the end that points towards the back of the gun.

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

Thanks for the advice and help on this. I ran through your suggested tests and found that indeed the carrier is just slightly overlapping the bolt latch instead of the micro gap. The carrier seems to be a bit sloppy side to side. I'm still leaning toward ordering a replacement trigger group. I'm not sure I can handle the delicates job of re-building this one with a new carrier and not sure the existing parts will hold a new one better than the existing. I'm thinking I'll try to snug this one up somehow and see if it will function at least until I find out about a new trigger group.

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

The carrier should only have a slight amout of side to side play when on the trigger group. Make sure the carrier dog spring (right side of group) is in good working order. The carrier is pretty straight foward to remove if done right. Remove the carrier dog spring first. Then remove the retainer clip that looks like D on the right side of the group. With a pin punch that just fits in the tube, press out the tube out from the right to left. Leave the punch in the group the keep every thing lined up. Drop on side of the carrier off the pin and push another punch over the top of the hole and puch the first punch out so the other half of the carrie is off. Then you can squeeze the carrier in a vice slightly to tighten up the play. You may also want to put the middle part of the carrier where it's catching on the bolt latch to try to square it up a little.
It could be the carrier was snagged on something by the previous owner and tweaked it out of shape slightly.

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

I spent a little bit of time trying to work through the process you described last Saturday morning. ( about 2 hours and most of that was contemplative about the process ahead). After a few feeble attempts and not going past the point of no return, my better judgment kicked in (my wife) and shut down the DIYer in me, and I've resorted to sending the gun in to Benelli. I talked to the tech extensively this morning and was assured that this would be the best way to get the gun functioning properly at the least amount of cost. So, a trip to the Post Office and $85 shipping, and hopefully in 5 weeks I'll know if my 'great deal on a used gun' is actually a decent deal now. I guess as long as when it comes back it functions properly I can still say 'beware ye waterfowl of the west' otherwise it's back to the old reliable 870 pump and sore shoulder!

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

Too bad you did not fix it your self, I would have liked to seen you get it figured out. Let us know what the Benelli service center finds out.

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

Yeah, it's a pretty big hit to my pride, but I'd rather be squeezing the trigger 3 times than one and then having to chuck the whole gun at finishing geese. As soon as I hear from Benelli I'll post again. Hopefully tomorrow or Monday.

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

Update from last post: I'm happy to report that Benelli has sent my gun back in fully functioning, ready for geese, condition! Despite Benelli's 'silence' in their customer service department (they don't communicate too well), I give them 5 stars and 2 thumbs up for for standing behind ALL of their products. The paper that was attached to gun upon return said they worked the trigger group over and replaced the bolt carrier assembly, fired both Winchester and Kent shells through with no problems.
I've since put a box of 7/8 oz Federals and several 3 inch 1-1/8 and even a few 3-1/2 inch 2 oz loads through and had zero failures!
THANK YOU BENELLI! You've won me over as a customer and fan if for no other reason than great customer support.

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 Variomax not completing loading cycle

wiley, you have no idea as to how much fun you are going to have with this gun. i got all my guns stolen back in 2000 and said i would not get anymore for it killed my soul to have to go through them getting stolen. then, i went duck hunting and had to buy another gun. i started with a remington 11-87. took it hunting and when shot the rod running through the stock went all to hell and tore the whole thing basically apart. i took it back where i bought it and they tried to fix it. in the process, saw my ex-girlfriends dad who worked there and he called her to tell me i came by. went out on a date with her and married her two months later. now back to the good part . they fixed the gun only for it to screw up again one hunt later. then i took it back and they gave me a new one. it would not cycle any shell. took it back and they gave me the franchi 912. since that day, i have not had one problem with that gun. i take that back, when it was new........i did not turn the piston around and shot some light loads and it did not cycle. cleaned it, flipped the piston around and all those moving parts that were not moving but were after cleaning it...........shot flawlessly. you are going to love that gun. all i ask you to do is to go out and pattern it. you will find that the italian made guns will shoot lower. in other words, if you put the bead on it, you will actually see what you hit. you do not have to black out the target. italians like to see what they hit. i have also heard that some shoot to the left. i think that may be in part that if you are right handed and pull the trigger and flinch that you are more inclined to pull the barrel that way. but oh well. enjoy that gun and post every now and then on your triumphs and your overall love for it. i love to see the great posts from people who own one. there are actually people who would not trade it for a benelli sbe II. i am one of them. if our gun is worth half of the sbe II. then someone send me two 912's. they are all that and a bag of chips, the cookie and the diet coke. Now back to taking care of my wife. the love of my life has skin cancer removed tomorrow and then i get to go to the skeet range to get ready for duck season using this 912 best of both world's. the wife, not the surgery.

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:47 pm

hey folks. just picked up a NIB 912 for a steal and it will serve as my backup gun to my SX2 this season including a trip to canada. my problem is the owners manual is terrible, and thats probably being too nice.
i have done some digging around and i havent seen a clear answer about which way the 'arrows' are supposed to go on the piston (light/heavy)? i 'assume' if the light arrows are pointing towards the end of the barrel that would be the light setting?
next question, what chokes do they use? is it benelli chokes or are franchi proprietary? ill probably just get some briley extended chokes and assume they sell franchi specific?
next, i assume i need to pick up some spare O rings? can i just get some that are similar in size at an auto parts store or home depot?
any other tricks i should know about this gun?? it sure does fit me well, i cant wait to burn some powder in it.

Post subject: Re: Franchi 912 V

You may find the SX2 being the back up after you use the 912 some. Both are very good models an I like them both.
The arrow for each setting will point towards the front of the gun. The short end of the piston towards the front of the gun would be the light setting with the long end being the heavy. Start the gun in the heavy setting and if the guns cycles leave it there, if not go to the light.
The chokes are the Beretta Mobil system. They were also used on the pre Crio Benelli's and are still used on Franchi's and the Stoeger 2000. Before you buy aftermarket tubes, pattern your intended loads with the factory tubes to see what kind of patterns are produced.
Here's a link on how to break down and clean the 912. The 912 is much easier to clean than the SX2.
viewtopic.php?f=78&t=205163
Here's a link to clean the Gold which is the same as the SX2 except for the bolt handle removal.
viewtopic.php?t=78152
Any O ring of the same size will be fine. Most of the time the O ring is not needed even with lighter loads. Some guns need them and others don't.
The 912 has shims to adjust the stock. It has an automatic magazine cutoff and a cartridge release button at the back of the carrier. If you push and hold down the carrier and press the bolt release button, the rounds will come out of the magazine tube. Don't press it with the bolt closed and the carrier down with more than one round in the magazine. It will cause a jam as two shells will be released pass the cartridge stop.
In case you did not know, you can cutoff the rounds in the magazine on your SX2. By pressing up slightly on the carrier while pulling back on the bolt will eject the chambered round, block the rounds in the magazine, and lock the bolt back.

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:51 am

thanks worc.
the sx2 has 4+ seasons on it and has run flawless for me. it will never be replaced until it dies. 'AMY' has treated me better than any gun i have ever owned.
glad to hear it uses beretta mobil choke system...i have a safe full of berettas and more than enough chokes...
thanks for the insight on the piston. ill probably keep it heavy since i wont ever need to use it for light loads.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 9:41 pm

Let us know how you like the 912 once you start shooting it and if 'AMY' gets replaced by 'Fran' or if they share equal time in the blind.
The Gold 3 1/2' is my waterfowl model of choice but I could be happy with either the SX2 or 912.

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:33 pm

swing, that is too funny. I bought my Max4 912 in 2005, as a backup to my sx2. It still sits in the box, but I plan on using it this year, as I sold my sx2. I hope it works well. I really like the way the 912 balances and swings for me. I also seem to vastly prefer a higher ribbed gun.