need some Cricket adjustment guidance please
I’ve been trouble shooting my Cricket this week and now I’m stuck and looking for guidance.
The issue revolves around low fps. When new, my gun shot at an average of 930 fps with JSB 16-18gr… Can’t recall which. After swapping out my plastic valve stem with the aluminum one, my velocities plumited to the 750 fps range with the JSB 18 grains (which I discovered 4 months later so I’m not even certain this is the culprit). This is where I got cattywampus, and so began my trouble shooting.
I have warched all of Earnest’s videos (thank you)!, and have worked through everything I know to check. Where I am in the process:
1) all of the seals are visually without damage and are coated in molycote.
2) the valve is set as described in Earnest’s videos… 2 rotations in after spring contact
3) the regulator was originally at 52.90mm (OEM)
4) now, in search of velocity, it is at 53.75mm, which completely opens up the two regulator air inlets.
Velocity at 150 bar remains is at 750 fps with the JSB 18 grains.
Any ideas guys?
Thanks,
Steve
All Replies
Trying what you said now… Reg 1/4 turn in and hst locked down…
… I put the above washer inside the HST and screwed in in until it seated. I also opened up the regulator by 1/4 turn. Velocity is back but the consistency stinks.
the regulator not the HST
Run that by me again… If I have the HST bottomed out, how can I turn it another turn clockwise?
P.S. I am grateful for your assistance.
tune 1/4 CW to start. if you get frustrated or out of air. I can reseal and set it at 130B for you just pay shipping.
I sold 5 reg tester on the TAG and maybe one of them can help you set it for you, even the edgun tester can set the cricket reg.
Ernest
Yes HST is bottomed out… How should it be set? Thanks Ernest.
man you need one of these tester: it will tell you the output pressure of the reg and tell you if the orings have failed.
when you increase reg pressure your fps will drop if you didn’t tighten down you HST, is your HST bottom out???
if its bottom out your reg pressure is to high for the hammer spring to open the valve to your selected speed
… Opened up the regulator 1/3 turn CCW or from 52.90mm to 53.25mm and got the above. I’m guessing I should try clockwise from 52.90mm now? 🙄
From 180 bar… JSB 18gr
Ok, guys what do you make of this? I still have low velocity.
1) HST screwed tight.
2) Valve disk tightened 1/2 turn after contact with spring.
3) Regulator at OEM 52.90mm… Partially obstructing inlet holes.
And what’s with the10 fps drop if I cock the rifle and wait a few seconds before firing? The weep holes aren’t leaking. Where’s it going?
Thanks,
Steve
Thank you Ernest.
I measured my regulator before I adjusted and, it was at 52.90mm as it came from Kalibrgun. I’m guessing that I should return it to that setting now that I have corrected the valve spring over tightening? What’s the theory behind the inlet holes in the reg… Is it ok for them to be partially obstructed at the OEM setting of 52.9mm?
Best,
Steve
Thank you all for jumping in with your ideas. Since reading through them, I have a hunch what happened…
When I replaced the plastic valve with the steel one 4 months back, I rotated the perforated disk until it seated lightly at the bottom of the threads (clearly way to tight with my new understanding). So with any luck, that will turn out to be the main culpret, albeit I am 2 turns in now. Hopefully lightly seated on the spring will cure all.
As for the regulator, would you guys recommend I return it to the OEM 52.90mm? Even if this partially obstructs the two air inlet holes? If I am tracking with you guys, I belive you’re suggesting I should.
Thanks again for all the help.
In my videos the setting are reference only, because there are so many adjustments you can make to fine tune it the way you want it, in your case, without adjusting the HST and reg pressure then you FPS drop to 750—> you over tighten the valve stem spring–this spring is reverse of the hammer spring—> CC to lower speed CCW to increases speed. also oem reg of 52.90mm is only a reference because no two reg are the same—a reg that has 17 disk that has the same measurement as with a 16 disk will make a different bar reading, a 17 disk will have a higher bar reading.
reg pressure, valve stem spring and hammer spring has to be synchronize to achieve your goal. Note not all springs has the same rating even though they are the same size or know rating.
—Like when I setup a 75FPE .25 cal 1. reg pressure 155B, 2. valve stem spring–change to a weaker spring with vary little tension. 3. change hammer spring to a stronger one with a greater distance between the coil. 4. a metal HST adjuster with a 5/8″ spring guide.
btango05 has is vary correct: if I tune 5 crickets with the same adjustment and crony them they all have different speed setting–at most 50-75fps difference.
Ernest
Good idea, thank you. Before I reassemble and test again, could someone comment on the regulator question for me? Thanks!
2 turns on the steam valve might be too much for the stock spring in the HST. An easy way to test it is to get a stronger HST spring or shims the HST spring with some washers will solve your problems of low fps.
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Tuned on line via Ernest. :6:
… You have my deepest gratitude Sir.
Steve