Cricket Tune Issues
Bone stock Cricket, regulator at factory setting, valve stem set exactly at ½ turn CW after spring contact. I fill to 230bar and shoot to 90 bar firing only 64 shots. Speeds are 834 FPS at 230bar and 834 at 100 bar. I tried changing the HST as described by Ernest. I understand what it is supposed to do but find that all the way in or all the way out gives me little to no change. (Maybe 4 to 6 fps total) Ernest says ideally should adjust to 880 / 870 FPS. No way, 64 shot string drops below 833FPS at shot #59.
Lo 831.7
HI 838.7
AV 834.8
ES 6.98
SD 2.0
140 bar air used for 32 shots = 4.375 per shot. I could live with the numbers but would like more shots and the HST does almost nothing. Not getting anywhere near 880 to 910 FPS
Where would you start to get more efficient use of air.
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Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
added note: your reg ?
Maybe moisture related problem causing slight rust and or corrosion on the spring washers. Do take measurement with a digital caliper before you decide to disassemble it to check.
How are you filling up with, moisture trap if any ?
How old is your gun and how many shot fired so far ?
Getting old is one thing, but being young and not experiencing IT yet is another. We’re all in IT together being IT the main thing we all share.
~ GKU
Working on it, I will update. Getting OLD sucks!!
dman1114 has a great info.
Trial and error is a key, in this case use a delrine rod 3/4″ OD cut to fill 3/4 of the air tube. With it in the tube will fill quicker to 150b and take under 10 shots till off the reg just enough to find out your max speed. I do provide a jam nut for the valve spring retainer if interested.
Key note; valve opening in relation to speed—we are talking about pressure and air volume—- you need more air volume to maintain a rising speed at the muzzle—-you may have the pressure but do you have the volume—> that’s when the valve spring come in to play.
Also, when measuring the efficiency don’t shoot down below the factory reg setting ~ 120-125 bar.
In doing so you are shooting unregulated air (wasting air) the value will be releasing (dumping 2x) more air at this point and below before closing up, stop @ 130 bar. Fill to 210 bar should give you 56 shots ending @ 130 bar, 230 bar 70 shots ending @ 130 bar.
Without making changes to the factory settings the HST should be about flush with the receiver body, in achieve the above with JSB 18 gr @ 880fps with a 1.43 bar pre shot efficiency.
Yes, 1/2 turn is not enough. I’ve heard that this can loosen in time on some guns from resonance vibrations from firing.
~ GKU
Lo 831.7
HI 838.7
AV 834.8
ES 6.98
SD 2.0
140 bar air used for 32 shots = 4.375 per shot. I could live with the numbers but would like more shots and the HST does almost nothing. Not getting anywhere near 880 to 910 FPS
Where would you start to get more efficient use of air.
2 full turns is a good starting point and probably works great for 90% of people….. 1/2 turn is not enough… what is happening is your waisting a ton of air cause the valve is staying open longer.
also sounds like your reg is not high enough. pull your regulator out and bring the pressure up. probably take about a 1/4 turn should be around the 130 bar…..
no need for fancy testers. they just give yah a number. you still need to shoot it to see how its gonna react.
after u change the reg setting just fill the gun up to like 140 bar or so. then leave it tethered to your fill tank (shut off the valve but don’t bleed) that way you can monitor it on the tank gauge and see what pressure the reg drops off at.
by going to 140 bar you won’t burn up so much air or pellets….
now when you fill it up and start with your HST backed out some so that you have raise the velocity….. take a shot.. turn in the hst about 1/4 to 1/2 a turn… and repeat till you
find that the velocity sorta Plateau’s and it won’t go any higher. thats about where you want the HST to be for that given REG pressure.. right at the peak of the velocity
now if you find that u need more FPS
turn the reg up a touch more and then adjust the HST accordingly…
remember once the numbers peak out turning in the HST your just waisting air…
That should give the close to the most efficient string…….
Let us know how you make out.
Thanks for the reply Donnie. I just watched (again) Ernest video on adjusting the plug body firing valve. I understood ½ turn after spring contact, his video says 2 full turns after spring contact.I will make that change tomorrow and see what happens. I know what your saying about the ability to set regulator while out of the gun BUT that is a little expensive for no more often than I will be doing it. The thread you referenced at the yellow is what I was trying to do. Turning the HST gave me very little to no change. I think it’s because I have the hammer firing valve set so wrong. Will see in the morning and report back but I’m betting that is it.
Dunk, I am by no means a tuner like Ernest but he’ll chime in when he gets a chance. From what you’re describing, you may need to increase the settings on your regulator. I’ve been messing around with my Cricket a lot lately and Ernest’s regulator setter/tester is a life saver. A must have if you like to get in and adjust the power.
Check out this thread from GKU who references Ernest suggestions:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/message/1400131829/Let+it+break+in+first
Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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Getting old is one thing, but being young and not experiencing IT yet is another. We’re all in IT together being IT the main thing we all share.
Nicely put … It’s what makes this a good forum ..
Atb