Top hat blowback

I was shooting on a cold damp day recently and I noticed a puff of vapor coming from the top hat/ bolt area when I fired. It did not happen with every shot. Does that indicate a leaky O-ring?

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Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

wildfire

Participant

January 26, 2015 at 3:53 am

I modified my frame after I took the pictures that are posted on the forum. I’ll snap some new ones tomorrow and send them to you via private message.
Basically, I stripped down the gun and used a dremmel to notch the frame lower on the side that I usually lock to. Then I just cleaned it up with small jewelers files and touched it up with, believe it or not, a black sharpie!
Wildfire (Mike) :5:

davet

Participant

January 26, 2015 at 2:59 am

Wildfire,

Thanks for the excellent input. I have my top hat set to .095 and I lube the bolt o-ring by putting a small amount of silicone grease on the tophat. I am getting some wear on the notch where the bolt lever locks in. How did you modify yours? Do you have a photo?

wildfire

Participant

January 25, 2015 at 4:41 pm

That’s exactly what Stealth is talking about. You want to make sure that the breech know is pushed all the way over to one side. You should also make a habit of locking it to the same side every time.
If you AR locking it every time, there are other things you should take a look at.
1. Is your top hat set properly? If the top hat is pushed too far into the valve, you may not be getting a proper seal when the breech is locked into the fire position.
2. Are your breech o rings in good condition and properly lubed?
3. If you have had the breech knob off of the breech, did you remember to re-install the little bushing that goes over the threaded part of the breech knob?
What is the condition of the actual frame where the breech locks? The aluminum frame will wear in this area over time due to the steel bushing on the breech knob riding against it. This was the case with my Talon-Dor and I had to modify the frame so the breech locks further over to the side!
I hope this info is of some help to you!
Wildfire :5:

davet

Participant

January 25, 2015 at 4:05 pm

Thanks for the info. To clarify, when you say lock up the breach, is there something more that I need to do than sliding the bolt handle to one side?

stealth-78

Participant

January 23, 2015 at 8:22 pm

it happens when you do not lock the breech. when the knob is aligned with the cocking slot, the breech is pushed forward by the recoil of tophat. to prevent that kind of leak you must lock up the breech.

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