R3 .30 caliber problem and fix
The Problem:
I first noticed after about 2K rounds my velocity dropped off. That can be common, sometimes the HST needs to be readjusted. So I screwed in the HST 1/4 turn and I was back at the 890 fps I was before. I was fine for about another 150 rounds until the real problem started. The gun started behaving erratic when trying to find zero on my target. I put the Matador on the chrony and I found a strange phenomenon. When the gun was full (220 BAR) no manner where the HST was set the most I could get out of the gun was 750 fps. As the pressure in the reservoir dropped the speed conversely would rise until below 150 bar the speed was at 912. I concluded that the valve must be stuck and the reason for the change in speed is that the valve gets more resistance from the air in the reservoir the higher the pressure. The valve must be allowed to move freely in the regulator. The belleville washers are clean, the O rings are perfect and the regulator is assembled correctly. What I found was the valve stem was slightly bent. I know this problem developed over time because the gun was super consistent when I was new. . The valve stem was not too long as it was in Ed’s factory specs. I straightened the valve stem reassembled the gun and I still had the same problem.
The fix:
what I found was the valve stem was slightly oversized and a little rough. Because the stem is steel and the valve stem housing is brass the valve was getting caught/sticking and in my opinion the valve couldn’t open enough. When the gun fell below the 150 pressure setting the valve didn’t have to work as hard to move forward when the hammer hit the stem. I polished the valve stem with 220/20/400/600/800/1200/2000 grit paper on a lathe until I could see my reflection in the valve stem. The valve moved like it was on ball bearings inside the housing. The regulator gave me 24 shots with the average at 880 and the ES at 2.6 fps.
I welcome any criticism you may have about my fix. It’s is possible that I just got lucky. Hell, it’s better to be lucky than good anyway.
All Replies
Hey Brian…
I thought that John haggen was gonna make a stronger stem???
that valve housing doesn’t appear to be that hard for someone with a lathe to make…. then insert a larger brass insert.
I would think that the stock size with a stronger material would do the trick…
Great job Soze. EDgun Wall Art $2000.00. Hang it up and stare at it as the Yotes run your back property T()()L in hand. Time for Ed to step it up too much crap happening with his guns and products. TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE and CASH!
The problems continue. I have been contacted by several other R3 .30 owners that have had the same problem. I made this video to explain and show the problem. I have a 2k piece of non-functional art right now. I hope there is a permeant fix
Yeah, I had seen that somewhere else. I hit about 830fps when the fill was right around 120bar. Take it back to 150bar and the speed drops back into the low 700 range and climbs as the pressure drops.
Wondering if a lighter VS will give the same result as a heavier hammer? Will PM Ed as you suggest and see what he can do. Is the hammer easy to install?
Thanks
DT
I believe the gen 2
30 cal have a heavier hammer that’s why your speed went up as the pressure went down all the hst won’t help the current hammer in the new 30 weighs over 500 grams did u receive a new hammer along with the new valve ? I assume not or u would have known I suggest u pm Ed
He is good about sending parts straight from Russia to your door u could remove the old one and weld added weight till u get to 512 grams or so. The. Grind it back flat
Pm Ed first
OK, tried that out and velocity dropped back below 700. Fill is around 140 bar now and HST back to original tension its shooting at 785fps. I’m 100 off of where I would like to be so getting close! Those 44gr pellets are destroying my rubber filled back stop! 😯
DT
I would work with th HST first. Given what you described, I think loosening it is going to increase your fps. Find the setting of the HST that maxes the fps before you make other changes. If it’s not where you want it to be, then you can adjust the regulator or try a different valve spring.
Thanks. Will give it a try.
Also, my velocity is now going up (680fps) as the fill pressure goes down (150bar). Wonder if I am getting some valve lock? New valve has more mass for sure with the same spring. Thinking a lighter valve spring and some HST adjustments may do the trick.
Thoughts on this?
DT
Try loosening the HST and see what the effect is. If you get on the “back side” of the regulator, too much HST will actually make the fps go down.
New .30 Matador is in the house. :8: Thanks Zeeafus!
Really nice (bad ass actually) and better shape than expected considering all the issues previous owner had. Stock had some prior damage but very hard to tell as a good repair was performed by Zeeafus. Gun was born on Nov 10, 2013. She is sick so going to try to nurse her back to health. Hope you guys can help.
Anyway I like to wrench so I dug into it and installed the new valve (very easy by the way) after watching all the vids from Ed and Ernest. Set pin height to around 3.25mm and put her back together. Filled to 200bar and let her sit overnight. No leaks this morning so put her on the crony. Only seeing 598-600fps…uh oh!! 😯
Not sure what the issue is? Maybe the reg or the mass of the new valve and valve spring are not allowing the required venting? HST is right on edge of not being able to engage sear so I know its close to max.
Going to play with it a bit and wait on the fix or send her in to the BP Tuner.
Any suggestions till then?
Regards,
DT
Keyser you are very helpful. Thanx
KS,
Will this new valve work with the factory spring or will a new spring be involved in the retrofit? Curious if V1 and V2 springs are the same or do you know/does it matter?
DT
I can’t speak for Ed but I would just shoot the gun. There is no guarantee your valve will have problems so there is no sense in worrying about it until the problem arises (if it ever does). The EDgun is very simple, it’s so fast to breakdown you could impress a drill sergeant with how fast it breaks down and can be put back together. Order an extra valve and Ernest is just waiting for me to measure my valve spring and we’ll have new valves in no time.
I will make a video about installing Ernest’s new valve, so it will be easy for anyone to do it…
What is eds thought on all this. I have the 2nd generation .30 cal and im a bit worried as im not confident at all working or taking apart a new gun ?????
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Does John hagan know about this?