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
Wow and that was the upgraded 2015 brass valve what the fuck these are 2000 dollar Guns
I bought the gun because I thought the valve issues were resolved
I hope Edward can come up with a fix and send parts to tony
I’m working on it. Hope to have a solution soon.
My Dad just picked up a 2015 R3 .30 from a guy on the yellow forum. The previous owner reported no problems with the gun 🙄 . The gun was shooting very inconsistently on the chrono and I pulled it apart today expecting to find a problem with the valve stem. The steel seems way too soft, I can easily bend it with my fingers. I hand sanded the mushroomed end off of the valve stem and then put it in a drill and used some 1000 grit sandpaper to smooth it out. I couldn’t get the bend out of the valve stem but it seemed to move freely back and forth. After putting the gun back together it was shooting with a standard deviation of 5fps. I hope someone is working on a permanent fix to this.
If this was the latest version I would be all over this…
Can some outline the exact differences between Gen 1 and Gen 2 .30 cal?
Any idea on the accuracy of this one zee? When these first 10 first came to the states … the accuracy wasn’t what the mk2s are getting… maybe I’m wrong????
Wonder if the mk2 used the same barrels or did ed change the specs??
Anyone reading this post or who has a friend can buy my .30 long with a new brass valve for $1300.00 Shipped CONUS and prove the theory? email zoe@zoefultzinspection.com with your phone number and we can discuss. $1300.00 is firm. I paid $2000.00 for it.
The new valve stem in .30 was introduced for a reason. However, it looks like it still needs more adjustments.
I did reach out to Tony, He sent me a new valve just in case. The rumors of Ed not supplying spare parts seem to be a thing of the past. Tony has provided me excellent customer care long before I ever made my stupid amateur videos. (I only bring the videos up in case you think I am getting special treatment). I have owned all kinds of bullpups yet you have never seen me put one up for sale. To me the EDgun is still my favorite. There are other new bullpups with electronics or interchangeable barrels but the EDgun Matador reminds me of an old Volkswagen Beetle. It always works and when it doesn’t any kid with a simple set of tools can rebuild the machine. Not to mention Ed sent me a sweet t-shirt that I wear around in public in order to find other psychopath airgunners.
I’m not sure but the nice thing is the EDgun is so simple even a fool with some household tools can fix the gun. (Me). A lot of guns I own from different makers would be with Ernest right now if the same issue happened.
Keyser you whats funny…. i have never touched my edgun much more than removing the stock and gazing LOL its a tack driver and I’m afraid to mess it up …. every other gun I’ve owned i done tore apart.
I would say a case hardened steel valve stem would be the ticket especially if you could get it chrome nitrided to the right OD. Could cause some impingement wear on the hammer and reg ID though? Hammer and stem should be similar in hardness unless stem is designed to wear in and be replaced as part of regular maintenance/high shot count?? Thats a lot of shooting!
DT
Dan you do bring up valid points…. There is a reason ed went with what he did for materials …. He did design these rifles after all… so if you do go with a hard material what will that do to the hammer??
May have to find that balance….
Cricket seems to break em too….. so guess its not just edgun.
Glad you got it fixed and thanks for sharing. Very informative post. Has anyone reached out to Ed or Tony for feedback on this issue or replacement parts?
I would say a case hardened steel valve stem would be the ticket especially if you could get it chrome nitrided to the right OD. Could cause some impingement wear on the hammer and reg ID though? Hammer and stem should be similar in hardness unless stem is designed to wear in and be replaced as part of regular maintenance/high shot count?? Thats a lot of shooting!
DT
I’m not sure but the nice thing is the EDgun is so simple even a fool with some household tools can fix the gun. (Me). A lot of guns I own from different makers would be with Ernest right now if the same issue happened.
My valve got stuck too in the open position and all the air leaked out
My hunting trip was cut short couple wks ago. I had to take it apart and I also polished the valve stem
Using just a buffing wheel on a grinder and a dremmal tool using buffing compound used to sharpen straight razors I then greased it put it back together I was around 1500 rounds for sure I count tins and was on tenth tin
It works fine now but like Jaime said I think it’s just a band aid
Tony is sending me new valve I think I will polish first so it don’t get bound and bend in the first place
I know that once steel gets bent it will never be the same ever!! Always weaker in that place
Titanium sounds like an overkill. I think that proper steel after heat treatment should do the job equally well.
Is this likely to happen with all .30 edgun ??
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Thanks! Keep me posted.