GTA

All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => PCP/CO2/HPA Air Gun Gates "The Darkside" => Topic started by: 454 Big Block Chevy on April 15, 2015, 07:40:54 PM

Title: AF condor issues.
Post by: 454 Big Block Chevy on April 15, 2015, 07:40:54 PM
well not really issues as much as... dang... i broke it.

I was changing barrels back and forth from 18" to 24" so often, i ended up stripping out two of the barrel screw holes.  So i drilled it out and tapped it larger to 12-24 set screw.  that is holding beautifully, as strong as stock.  well, over the year of me shooting this gun i have gotten a few scuffs and stuff on it, and well... i just wanted the "blue" condor SS, which when i bought mine, was not in stock.  So, talking to Rachel Gonzales at AirForce, she set me up with a blue frame for my condor SS.  AF sells there frames, fully loaded, minus barrel and tank.  all screws, baffles, etc all included.   I will continue to use this thread as a "Build thread" and post all my updates through here.  First thing first.  When the new frame gets here, I am fully dis asembling it.  The inside will get fully polished to a "like mirror" finish and i will polish all parts i can.  the hammer rides on plastic bushings so i will NOT polish that.  The factory Top hat is dull, so i will polish that.  I might even pull the valve apart and polish its insides as well.  the Barrel where the sliding breech and the hammer and spring rides, will all get polished mirror smooth.  i will lubricate everything lightly but thoroughly with Silicone oil and grease, and put it all back together.  the barrel will get Lapped by hand, and crown and breech checked.  Hopefully i get this all done by the GTA fun shoot.


I will post pictures, and details to come.

Edward
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: 454 Big Block Chevy on April 15, 2015, 07:41:49 PM
my black frame, i have determined... will get an RL .257 barrel and RL Extreme valve.  thats another project for another day.

Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: oakey on April 15, 2015, 09:29:38 PM
I never used any R&L mods but you might consider a  Talon Tunes one piece Top Hat. It comes with (2) inserts so you can  them into the top hat to control the air flow. It's nifty it kind of works like a regulator giving you more shots when you are just punchin paper you can shoot lighter lead too. Have fun.   
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: Jobobo on April 15, 2015, 10:03:14 PM
You can use a TT top hat with the R&L barrel & Valve.  In fact I would recommend it as a way to easily control all that power. The inserts limit how much air come through the valve.

I would suggest you call R&L though. I have an R&L gun and I love it. But the rumor is that R&L will be machining Dyotat valves which have even more power.  So you might want to wait on that.

BTW I have a cousin who is a chiropractor in Beaver Falls. My Wife's family is from New Castle.

Best wishes with the new builds.
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: 454 Big Block Chevy on April 15, 2015, 10:06:35 PM
i have the TT top hat and the TT heavy hammer.  i like tony's stuff but went back stock as it was nearer to what i wanted.  the TT top hat with no insert was too much power and the largest insert was not enough.

Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: 454 Big Block Chevy on April 16, 2015, 10:56:59 PM
BLUE FRAME shipped today!!  my barrel is polished, and so is my top hat.  time to wait...
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: 454 Big Block Chevy on April 21, 2015, 10:02:28 PM
Big Brown truck shows delivery of my Frame and other parts i ordered tomorrow.  by Tomorrow night i should be back up and running. 
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: oakey on April 21, 2015, 10:59:18 PM
EXCELLENT
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: 454 Big Block Chevy on April 22, 2015, 03:06:48 PM
guess what showed up today!!!
(http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad180/gamikatsu/20150422_130303_zpsusnm6nps.jpg) (http://s933.photobucket.com/user/gamikatsu/media/20150422_130303_zpsusnm6nps.jpg.html)
 shot 2 20 shot strings accross chrony turned down.  50-51 fpe for 20 shots.  very consistant.  about 20 fps gentle bell curve up and down.
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: Sfttailrdr46 on April 22, 2015, 04:11:20 PM
 ;) ;D The bottle is not blue so it is not a matched set  8) 8)
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: oakey on April 22, 2015, 07:55:03 PM
;) ;D The bottle is not blue so it is not a matched set  8) 8)

He got scammed  ;D ;D
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: 454 Big Block Chevy on April 22, 2015, 08:04:04 PM
;) ;D The bottle is not blue so it is not a matched set  8) 8)

He got scammed  ;D ;D


HAHAHAH!!!
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: oakey on April 22, 2015, 10:32:02 PM
;) ;D The bottle is not blue so it is not a matched set  8) 8)

He got scammed  ;D ;D


HAHAHAH!!!

It looks real nice! Have fun
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: 454 Big Block Chevy on April 23, 2015, 09:33:50 AM
Thanks oakey!  I really love the blue.  I should have bought blue to start with!  now to figure out what to do with my original frame...  Big bore?

Edward
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: YEMX on April 23, 2015, 09:49:23 AM
Sure, why not?  ;D
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: only1harry on April 23, 2015, 12:24:43 PM
The new frame looks great Ed!  You got a new .25 barrel with the blue frame as well?

Was your shot string more consistent after you polished the valve?  Did you polish the valve stem only, or did you take the valve apart?

The same thing happened to me btw with my .22 Condor which I still have.  The previous owner had drilled and tapped bigger holes in the frame and the barrel bushings because he stripped them.  But over the years I started stripping those too from taking the barrel out to clean the frame so I ended up getting a new frame (no barrel).  Immediately after I put the barrel in and took a few shots I realized the gun was not as accurate as it used to be.  I used the old tank, so that meant the larger screws and bushings were helping before on the old frame to eliminate movement and most likely vibrations too. 
I wish Air Force would make the bushings bigger with a better fit and bigger screws.  That is the weak point of the gun IMO which can be partially remedied with a better & longer stock, but I think it can be completely resolved with a better/bigger barrel bushing design or a combination of both.

Harry     
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: 454 Big Block Chevy on April 23, 2015, 03:10:22 PM
I used the same barrel and tank/valve as before.  i only polished the tophat/valve stem.  As of right now i still have the TT tophat in, which is polished mirror smooth.  the factory tophat wasn't wanting to take a polish real well.  i am using an insert to drop fps down.  I ordered new barrel bushings with the new frame, and its a very tight fit.  the o ring centers very well, very tight.  the screws snugged up real tight and i'm very happy with the setup.  I don't plan on taking it apart unless it give me some kind of problem.  i don't want to strip it out again.  but if i do, i know what to do to fix it.  My SCBA tank was low, and i just got it filled up again, so more testing will follow.  i'm pretty happy with 50 fpe, and my inital plan is to leave it there for now, to conserve air.
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: Sfttailrdr46 on April 23, 2015, 08:54:57 PM
 ;D All kidding aside I like your Condor . I am thinking about maybe selling the Edge and replacing it with a nice red Condor SS in .25
Title: Re: AF condor issues.
Post by: oakey on April 23, 2015, 11:44:47 PM
;D All kidding aside I like your Condor . I am thinking about maybe selling the Edge and replacing it with a nice red Condor SS in .25

Yeah that is a nice gun. I love my Condor. I switch back and forth between LW 18" .22 cal barrel and a LW 24" .25 cal Barrel. I don't really worry about stripping it I am very careful with removal and instillations. Have fun!

And Don just remember this, the more air guns you own the more potential you have for a truly HaPpY life but you have to shot them a lot   :P