Not all guns that are broken
can be fixed, you have to remember that. But having your No. 1 Blaster
down out of commission is the worst feeling in the world, and the worst
situation to be in.
Before attempting to fix
your gun, Just remember one thing above all..
"You
have nothing else to lose."
If you break the gun beyond
repair in the process of fixing it, don't blame yourself for breaking it,
the gun was already Toast before you did that. But if your gun IS broken
bad enough that it can't be used on the field, you can only GAIN by opening
the gun to fix it.
(PLEASE NOTE: If the gun is less than a month old when it breaks, it can be returned to the store and exchanged for a new one. Please keep the Receipts from all your guns after you buy them. You cannot return a gun for refund/exchange without the Receipt)
Without further delay, lets get down to business.
|
|
|
-SSW- |
|
-SSW- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
PROBLEM: Pump has
broken off. (XP and CPS Plunger Style Pumps only)
CAUSE: Weak pumps
+ High forces. It's only a Plastic Stick. :P
SOLUTION: Dependant
upon how clean the break is, or where on the shaft the break is, find a
long, sturdy and narrow object that will fit cleanly into the hollow pump
shaft.(Like a Pen) Stick the pen in the shaft and secure it tightly with
a strong Epoxy Glue - be careful to follow the directions on the glue for
mixing properly. When the glue is dry, the two halves should not wiggle
independantly. (This Fix has been Tested - Works!)
(Credit for this goes out
to Framling on Aquatica
Yahoo Club)
-However, if the break isn't
as clean (the shaft bent first before breaking, leaving mangled edges),
trim up the edges or at least straghten them up with plyers before attemting
the fix above.
-If the break is too close
to the Handle or to the end tip of the pump inside, the above fix is not
possible. If the break is close to the handle, then unscrew the handle
off the broken part of the shaft, and drill new holes in the remainder
of the shaft big enough for the screws for the handle to fit. Pumping strides
will be shorter, but at least it'll work. If it is too close to the end
tip to be repaired with the Pen method, nothing can be done. But sometimes
there will be sufficient space inside the shaft at the end left behind
for the fix to work. If the end of the pump shaft is lodged too deeply
within the shaft of the gun, it may not be retrieveable.
PROBLEM: Does not
hold pressure, leaks from inside the gun. (Not from out of the Nozzle)
CAUSE: Pressure Tank's
Rubber Bladder Broken, Broken tubing or Cracked pump cylinder(the cylinder
that the Pump strides in and out of).
SOLUTION: Assess
the problem. Open the gun and examine the pressure tank. In Piston-Cylinder
type blasters, you can see inside the pressure tank without opening the
casing. See if there is a large rip in the pressure bladder (Meaning, does
it look like a burst water balloon). If it does, it is too far gone.
-If that is not the problem,
put a bit of water in the gun, pump, and identify where the leak is. Three
places to check are the pump cylinder, the pressure tank, and the tubing
between the internal structure. If it is the Pump Cylinder, pull the pump
out all the way, tightly seal the crack with rubber cement(holding the
crack with your fingers or vise-grips while it drys can help), and wrap
it in Duct Tape or some other type of sealant tape. If it's the tubing,
or any joints between gun and tubing, that is leaking, follow the same
method of cement and tape as on the pump cylinder, but don't use as much
glue. Remember when using tape to tightly wrap it and not leave any uneccesary
wrinkles in the tape, or leaks could occur. Also, when using tape on spots
that are sized to fit into their place in the gun, use as little tape as
possible.
-If it's the Pressure tank,
you will have to open the Pressure thank to investigate.
(In the case of Spheriod
CPS tanks, you will have to open the Plastic Ball casing by removing the
screws around the edges of the tank. Piston-Cylinder types -I think- will
just slide out of their protective plastc guard.) Check the pressure tank,
if it's condition is like a shredded water balloon, there is nothing you
can do. If there is a pinhole leak, patch it with a Bicycle Innertube patch
kit. Use ample amounts of rubber cement. If the problem is still unidentifiable,
pump a little bit of water through the system to observe the leakage.
More to Come!