So who has done any calculations on force in the valve balancer on the shot cycle? I have and still its not good, 450fpe gun on balanced form and after two years of using.Material is 42crmo4 as you know it 4140 I think.So the valve blows open and is hammering the cage with pretty substantial force. More so than the static force of pressure, as the cage should have hold that. There is a buffer inside the cylinder but it seems like its a wear item the cage. Marko
Your balance chamber height, MUST exceed the necessary lift to operate your valve, which is easy as pie to calculate. Alternatively you could round that number to about 50% of your throat diameter...60% if you want a little extra room....As Bob mentioned, approaching or exceeding 50% of your throat ID in lift is likely just wasting air.Also, as Bob mentioned, your valve stem should not protrude in any amount that exceeds the above...All that doesn't matter if your valve is so unevenly balanced, that is BLOWS open due to pressure differential as opposed to hammer force.That would make for a design flaw...