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All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => PCP/CO2/HPA Air Gun Gates "The Darkside" => Topic started by: Steel1 on June 28, 2020, 12:20:16 AM

Title: Airforce Condor SS and Hill MK4 pump (brand new) issues; won't fill Condor tank
Post by: Steel1 on June 28, 2020, 12:20:16 AM
Hello everyone!  Its been a long time (retired now, home hunting, etc.).  Have a Condor SS .22 (phenomenal setup), including the original Airforce quick disconnect tank.  Deadly accurate and quiet; can't wait to start using it again after being in storage for 3 years...  Tried to pump it up with the Airforce pump, and could barely get any air to flow (handle would not stay down, and pops and stays up).  Decided to throw in the towel for an upgrade to a brand new Hill MK4 pump, with DryPac kit, and AV-00043-1 AV Foster Female QD w/1/8" BSPP male (tiny brass screw).  Received it yesterday, and tried to pump up my Condor's quick disconnect tank.  Only after a very few pumps, the pressure gauge on the Hill JUMPED to 3000 psi almost instantly; unfortunately my Condor's pressure gauge remained at it's storage pressure of 2000 psi...  Apprehensive of further pumping attempts to avoid damage/injury.  Tried screwing the 1/8" thing all the way into the connector, in between, and without; assuming zero air was getting into the Condor tank.  I ended up reverting to my "frozen" Airforce pump and somehow managed after huge effort to squeeze an additional 500 psi (2500 psi total), with lots of sweat!!!  The $300 brand new Hill has become an expensive static display for the time being...  Being its the weekend, neither Airforce airguns or businesses selling the MK4 are open.  Could anyone offer any suggestions as to the trouble?  Really looking forward to using the new pump, as I'm retired military, and partially disabled.  Thank you everyone in advance very much!!!
Title: Re: Airforce Condor SS and Hill MK4 pump (brand new) issues; won't fill Condor tank
Post by: JohnnyPDX on June 28, 2020, 12:51:32 AM
I'm not sure what's going on, totally.

AirForce guages are known to be inaccurate, a LOT.

Can you shoot it?

A lot of shots?

Similar to the number of shots you got before?

Title: Re: Airforce Condor SS and Hill MK4 pump (brand new) issues; won't fill Condor tank
Post by: PikeP on June 28, 2020, 01:22:20 AM
Is there any obstruction on your new hill mk4 pump? If you pump it while disconnected and its bleed closed, does it build pressure or dump out of the fill end?

If it dumps out of the fill end, then maybe your check valve on the air force was frozen and needed a little attention?

Beyond that I don't know, wish I could offer more solutions. Good luck.
Title: Re: Airforce Condor SS and Hill MK4 pump (brand new) issues; won't fill Condor tank
Post by: Tucobenedicto on June 28, 2020, 02:25:19 AM
Is there any obstruction on your new hill mk4 pump? If you pump it while disconnected and its bleed closed, does it build pressure or dump out of the fill end?

If it dumps out of the fill end, then maybe your check valve on the air force was frozen and needed a little attention?

Beyond that I don't know, wish I could offer more solutions. Good luck.
I agree,test the pump itself,you must hear the air hissing out from the foster female.
Seems to me the fill nipple is stuck closed for some reason or the rifle pressure is different despite from the gauge tell to you.
I own a MK4,and it works perfectly and the pump gauge is quite accurate.
Title: Re: Airforce Condor SS and Hill MK4 pump (brand new) issues; won't fill Condor tank
Post by: Back_Roads on June 28, 2020, 10:14:40 AM
 Some pump fittings have small plastic crush seals, they can be over tightened to the point no air can flow past them. One other thing is if the guns foster fill seal is dry and sticking, a drop of silicone oil in the air hole before hooking up the foster to fill, this may free up a sticky fill fittings valve.
Title: Re: Airforce Condor SS and Hill MK4 pump (brand new) issues; won't fill Condor tank
Post by: sb327 on June 28, 2020, 10:25:59 AM
So, two pumps, same problem.

3000 psi on hill gauge, air will not enter tank.

Sounds like check valve on tank not opening or tank gauge is wrong.

Like mentioned drop or two of silicone oil in fill port. I would shoot it down to a manageable level first though, that will make it easier for a stuck fill check to open.

My .02

Dave
Title: Re: Airforce Condor SS and Hill MK4 pump (brand new) issues; won't fill Condor tank
Post by: kbstingwing on June 28, 2020, 11:57:24 AM
So, two pumps, same problem.

3000 psi on hill gauge, air will not enter tank.

Sounds like check valve on tank not opening or tank gauge is wrong.

Like mentioned drop or two of silicone oil in fill port. I would shoot it down to a manageable level first though, that will make it easier for a stuck fill check to open.

My .02

Dave

+1

 Dave's right, sounds like a stuck valve, if the Silicone oil doesn't do it, De-pressurize the tank and remove the fosters fill valve, Clean and lube it with silicone oil or grease.
Title: Re: Airforce Condor SS and Hill MK4 pump (brand new) issues; won't fill Condor tank
Post by: Steel1 on June 28, 2020, 01:08:23 PM
I will shoot it today for starters; I did, however, take a shot with the Condor prior receiving the new pump, and it seemed to have the same power at it's current setting.  I did notice that the QD that came with the Hill did not crisply "snap" onto the tank like the Airforce pump's QD, though it felt secure when I pulled to ensure it was connected, since I did not hear a definitive "snap-on" like the Airforce pump.   
Title: Re: Airforce Condor SS and Hill MK4 pump (brand new) issues; won't fill Condor tank
Post by: Steel1 on June 28, 2020, 01:43:55 PM
Just got done shooting it; lucky for the woodchuck, it showed up after I put the Condor away.  Still super-powerful, dead-on accurate, my Airforce quick disconnect tank pressure gauge went down appropriately with the number of shots fired (tank acting perfectly normal as I remember 3 years prior; at least when I release air, as in a shot; not sure if trying to pump air in could be the issue with whatever component (I don't know tank internals) has a problem???
Title: Re: Airforce Condor SS and Hill MK4 pump (brand new) issues; won't fill Condor tank
Post by: Steel1 on June 28, 2020, 02:03:56 PM
Thank you everyone!!!  I will have to wait until Airforce airguns & Pyramid Air opens on Monday I guess (pray someone in either place is knowledgeable enough to help, since I am not familiar enough (been 3 years anyway since messing with the constantly moving tophat...) with air tanks yet to do it without guidance.  No wonder (maybe) the Airforce pump (though it has a problem too; probably just needs rebuilt; may keep it, and send the Hill back (depends how complicated either party drags this thing out) took a while to throw in the 500 psi.  All I know is that the Hill gauge went crazy, while the Airforce gauge acted perfectly normal.  Again, thank you very much; my wife has become totally disabled in the last 3 years, and we have been navigating uncharted waters, on a daily basis...