Is FX Airguns really that bad?

[Anomaly]

I'm still rather ignorant of pcp airguns, but my .30 FX Indy has been flawless for years. I probably don't shoot near as much as others, but in the last couple of years I've owned it I've put 7-8 tins of pellets through mine and haven't done any maintenance or mods to it. It's the oddball FX as it's s pcp with an integrated pump which I heard would have issues with moisture, but so far it's been flawless.

[Talldog]

hmmm ... it makes a guy wonder ..... for the $$$$ I would hope , and expect the gun to be sorted out before sent ,and then there is this video 

By the logic in this video the Royale is also more adjustable than the impact.  As it has tp adjustment, reg adjustable (not external) and HST adjustment.  A couple things i think he's missing is the fact that hes using the valve control minimally.  Also the HST wheel has about 70% of the hammer adjustment available.  You can set it on the low end for the bottom 70% set it up a bit to get the middle 70, or higher to get the top 70%.  That combined with his "set and forget" usage of the valve adjuster limits its capability.

There is much more adjustment available on the impact than the crown.   That is a fact, also more power potential. 

Crown doesn't have a set screw to adjust the HST slider, and doesn't have valve damping adjustment but its "more adjustable" ok. 

My .25 Crown has an adjustment screw on the HST slider. But the Impact with the power plenum is the most adjustable of all the FX guns. Several parts were changed internally to make the power plenum power versatile. Such as hammer weight, TP size, valve spring, etc. If I can get mine to stop leaking I'll be happy. So far I have been unable to locate the leak. Left the bottle off for a few hours .. came back and reg had leaked down to zero. Dont think it should do that. Maybe it is a problem with the internal valve rod orings.

[RDB]

What have you checked so far? Have you used any leak detector? Not a fan of soap and water. Unless you do a proper cleaning afterwards. 

Quite possible the reg just isn't broken in yet and is leaking by the seat. But I would start there with some form of leak detector.  Hit the reg under the trigger and the plenum and reg gage.  Would also try a balloon over the barrel.  I would try those first before pulling the valve rod. Try a shot behind the power wheel.  Heard they can leak there also.

[Talldog]

What have you checked so far? Have you used any leak detector? Not a fan of soap and water. Unless you do a proper cleaning afterwards. 

Quite possible the reg just isn't broken in yet and is leaking by the seat. But I would start there with some form of leak detector.  Hit the reg under the trigger and the plenum and reg gage.  Would also try a balloon over the barrel.  I would try those first before pulling the valve rod. Try a shot behind the power wheel.  Heard they can leak there also.

I've done the balloon test on barrel and fill gauge, all fine. Gauges check out fine. Bottle and fill valve check out fine. Used leak detection fluid on fill valve, bottle, gauges. I have not checked power plenum contact points but have checked the reg adjustment screw .. it was good. I have also not checked the valve adjuster because I am leery of putting leak detector all over the frickin place. All that stuff is water based, even CRC spray. I can see replacing half the orings in the frickin gun just to cover all bases .. ridiculous in my opinion.

[Glem Chally]

What have you checked so far? Have you used any leak detector? Not a fan of soap and water. Unless you do a proper cleaning afterwards. 

Quite possible the reg just isn't broken in yet and is leaking by the seat. But I would start there with some form of leak detector.  Hit the reg under the trigger and the plenum and reg gage.  Would also try a balloon over the barrel.  I would try those first before pulling the valve rod. Try a shot behind the power wheel.  Heard they can leak there also.

I've done the balloon test on barrel and fill gauge, all fine. Gauges check out fine. Bottle and fill valve check out fine. Used leak detection fluid on fill valve, bottle, gauges. I have not checked power plenum contact points but have checked the reg adjustment screw .. it was good. I have also not checked the valve adjuster because I am leery of putting leak detector all over the frickin place. All that stuff is water based, even CRC spray. I can see replacing half the orings in the frickin gun just to cover all bases .. ridiculous in my opinion.

Theres maybe 10 orings that are under pressure.  Try underneath the hammer spring adjuster wheel in the area of the slider there.  Also above the back of the pistol grip where that gap is and the screw.  Nothing under pressure near the valve adjuster.

My guess is either the PURO oring that seals the plenum to the valve rod, or one of the 2 orings that seal the plenum to the action.  Either a 20 min fix.

[Talldog]

What have you checked so far? Have you used any leak detector? Not a fan of soap and water. Unless you do a proper cleaning afterwards. 

Quite possible the reg just isn't broken in yet and is leaking by the seat. But I would start there with some form of leak detector.  Hit the reg under the trigger and the plenum and reg gage.  Would also try a balloon over the barrel.  I would try those first before pulling the valve rod. Try a shot behind the power wheel.  Heard they can leak there also.

I've done the balloon test on barrel and fill gauge, all fine. Gauges check out fine. Bottle and fill valve check out fine. Used leak detection fluid on fill valve, bottle, gauges. I have not checked power plenum contact points but have checked the reg adjustment screw .. it was good. I have also not checked the valve adjuster because I am leery of putting leak detector all over the frickin place. All that stuff is water based, even CRC spray. I can see replacing half the orings in the frickin gun just to cover all bases .. ridiculous in my opinion.

Theres maybe 10 orings that are under pressure.  Try underneath the hammer spring adjuster wheel in the area of the slider there.  Also above the back of the pistol grip where that gap is and the screw.  Nothing under pressure near the valve adjuster.

Yeah, I did not figure the valve adjuster screw would be front and centre. I did nip up the bolt on the front of plenum but I'm sure that does not do anything. Have not checked the gap behind the pistol grip as I am waiting on delivery of CRC foam. Guess I could use shaving foam :-) but I am growing weary of this. Methinks FX should have hired a couple of German engineers. Would end up with the same functional gun but much simpler and robust.

[Glem Chally]

What have you checked so far? Have you used any leak detector? Not a fan of soap and water. Unless you do a proper cleaning afterwards. 

Quite possible the reg just isn't broken in yet and is leaking by the seat. But I would start there with some form of leak detector.  Hit the reg under the trigger and the plenum and reg gage.  Would also try a balloon over the barrel.  I would try those first before pulling the valve rod. Try a shot behind the power wheel.  Heard they can leak there also.

I've done the balloon test on barrel and fill gauge, all fine. Gauges check out fine. Bottle and fill valve check out fine. Used leak detection fluid on fill valve, bottle, gauges. I have not checked power plenum contact points but have checked the reg adjustment screw .. it was good. I have also not checked the valve adjuster because I am leery of putting leak detector all over the frickin place. All that stuff is water based, even CRC spray. I can see replacing half the orings in the frickin gun just to cover all bases .. ridiculous in my opinion.

Theres maybe 10 orings that are under pressure.  Try underneath the hammer spring adjuster wheel in the area of the slider there.  Also above the back of the pistol grip where that gap is and the screw.  Nothing under pressure near the valve adjuster.

Yeah, I did not figure the valve adjuster screw would be front and centre. I did nip up the bolt on the front of plenum but I'm sure that does not do anything. Have not checked the gap behind the pistol grip as I am waiting on delivery of CRC foam. Guess I could use shaving foam :-) but I am growing weary of this. Methinks FX should have hired a couple of German engineers. Would end up with the same functional gun but much simpler and robust.

Nah they're fine how they are.  I started a thread on another forum as to how many own impacts and if theyre happy.  Over 100 and 2 weren't happy/regretted buying.   You've had a bad experience i get it.  Shaving foam would work fine just blow it out after.

[Talldog]

What have you checked so far? Have you used any leak detector? Not a fan of soap and water. Unless you do a proper cleaning afterwards. 

Quite possible the reg just isn't broken in yet and is leaking by the seat. But I would start there with some form of leak detector.  Hit the reg under the trigger and the plenum and reg gage.  Would also try a balloon over the barrel.  I would try those first before pulling the valve rod. Try a shot behind the power wheel.  Heard they can leak there also.

I've done the balloon test on barrel and fill gauge, all fine. Gauges check out fine. Bottle and fill valve check out fine. Used leak detection fluid on fill valve, bottle, gauges. I have not checked power plenum contact points but have checked the reg adjustment screw .. it was good. I have also not checked the valve adjuster because I am leery of putting leak detector all over the frickin place. All that stuff is water based, even CRC spray. I can see replacing half the orings in the frickin gun just to cover all bases .. ridiculous in my opinion.

Theres maybe 10 orings that are under pressure.  Try underneath the hammer spring adjuster wheel in the area of the slider there.  Also above the back of the pistol grip where that gap is and the screw.  Nothing under pressure near the valve adjuster.

Yeah, I did not figure the valve adjuster screw would be front and centre. I did nip up the bolt on the front of plenum but I'm sure that does not do anything. Have not checked the gap behind the pistol grip as I am waiting on delivery of CRC foam. Guess I could use shaving foam :-) but I am growing weary of this. Methinks FX should have hired a couple of German engineers. Would end up with the same functional gun but much simpler and robust.

Nah they're fine how they are.  I started a thread on another forum as to how many own impacts and if theyre happy.  Over 100 and 2 weren't happy/regretted buying.   You've had a bad experience i get it.  Shaving foam would work fine just blow it out after.

Really appreciate your help, awesome. I like the gun, just want it work .. considering the cost and so on. Do you have instructions or a link on removing the plenum and replacing the power wheel orings. At first glance the power plenum model seems way more complicated than the previous MKii.

[Glem Chally]

What have you checked so far? Have you used any leak detector? Not a fan of soap and water. Unless you do a proper cleaning afterwards. 

Quite possible the reg just isn't broken in yet and is leaking by the seat. But I would start there with some form of leak detector.  Hit the reg under the trigger and the plenum and reg gage.  Would also try a balloon over the barrel.  I would try those first before pulling the valve rod. Try a shot behind the power wheel.  Heard they can leak there also.

I've done the balloon test on barrel and fill gauge, all fine. Gauges check out fine. Bottle and fill valve check out fine. Used leak detection fluid on fill valve, bottle, gauges. I have not checked power plenum contact points but have checked the reg adjustment screw .. it was good. I have also not checked the valve adjuster because I am leery of putting leak detector all over the frickin place. All that stuff is water based, even CRC spray. I can see replacing half the orings in the frickin gun just to cover all bases .. ridiculous in my opinion.

Theres maybe 10 orings that are under pressure.  Try underneath the hammer spring adjuster wheel in the area of the slider there.  Also above the back of the pistol grip where that gap is and the screw.  Nothing under pressure near the valve adjuster.

Yeah, I did not figure the valve adjuster screw would be front and centre. I did nip up the bolt on the front of plenum but I'm sure that does not do anything. Have not checked the gap behind the pistol grip as I am waiting on delivery of CRC foam. Guess I could use shaving foam :-) but I am growing weary of this. Methinks FX should have hired a couple of German engineers. Would end up with the same functional gun but much simpler and robust.

Nah they're fine how they are.  I started a thread on another forum as to how many own impacts and if theyre happy.  Over 100 and 2 weren't happy/regretted buying.   You've had a bad experience i get it.  Shaving foam would work fine just blow it out after.

Really appreciate your help, awesome. I like the gun, just want it work .. considering the cost and so on. Do you have instructions or a link on removing the plenum and replacing the power wheel orings. At first glance the power plenum model seems way more complicated than the previous MKii.

No its not anymore complicated IMO.  This is a good guide, i would personally rather unscrew the reg guage slowly until it starts to hiss and let it bleed the air off once the bottle is removed rather than dryfire like in the video.  Remember you'll have a spring when you remove the valve adjuster unlike the video since hes upgrading an pre-power plenum model.

I would stop at the 6 min mark, loosen that screw above the grip (4mm i think) and slide the rear block, plenum back away from the action.  The valve rod will come with.  This is all if you get bubbles under the power wheel (indicates the little puro oring under the nut at the skinny end of the plenum has failed) alternatively if you get bubbles above the grip at the back in that gap would be the 2 on the outside (skinny end of plenum).  You can sometimes hear a leak by topping off and putting a piece of hose to your ear and probing around.   If you find the leak we can go from there.  Id most likely have a couple orings for you if its either of these areas.

[triggertreat]

I received my used 1-year old FX Impact II on June 1st equipped with a .30 cal 700mm barrel kit.  I am very pleased with it so far.  It doesn't leak a drop of air that I can tell.  The AMP regulator is solid and the gun is very consistent and accurate.  It is extremely easy to cock, and I love the 23 and 28 shot capacity magazines in .30 and .25 cal.  I have been removing the bottle, degassing (super easy) and changing out barrel calibers and retuning in this time frame and the gun just keeps on ticking.  The tuning is super easy and having the ability to change the velocities up and down on the fly externally is great.  A very solid performer if you asked me. 

I am really happy I did not listen to any naysayers.  You can find negativity on just about anything if you look for it.  It's just an awesome designed gun in my view.  I do have an O-ring kit on standby for it being it's a HP PCP.  Just like I do have with my Marauders and my .357 Slayer.  No difference there being O-rings are destine to fail eventually.  Having torn down the Marauders and the Slayer, and parts of this Impact just checking stuff,  I'd put this one a few cuts above those in its design overall.  It's not as robust as the Marauders, kinda like comparing it to a Ford verses a Ferrari would be close.  So yes, some delicate parts to work its magic are involved, but still tough enough for the sensible shooters.

[Talldog]

What have you checked so far? Have you used any leak detector? Not a fan of soap and water. Unless you do a proper cleaning afterwards. 

Quite possible the reg just isn't broken in yet and is leaking by the seat. But I would start there with some form of leak detector.  Hit the reg under the trigger and the plenum and reg gage.  Would also try a balloon over the barrel.  I would try those first before pulling the valve rod. Try a shot behind the power wheel.  Heard they can leak there also.

I've done the balloon test on barrel and fill gauge, all fine. Gauges check out fine. Bottle and fill valve check out fine. Used leak detection fluid on fill valve, bottle, gauges. I have not checked power plenum contact points but have checked the reg adjustment screw .. it was good. I have also not checked the valve adjuster because I am leery of putting leak detector all over the frickin place. All that stuff is water based, even CRC spray. I can see replacing half the orings in the frickin gun just to cover all bases .. ridiculous in my opinion.

Theres maybe 10 orings that are under pressure.  Try underneath the hammer spring adjuster wheel in the area of the slider there.  Also above the back of the pistol grip where that gap is and the screw.  Nothing under pressure near the valve adjuster.

Yeah, I did not figure the valve adjuster screw would be front and centre. I did nip up the bolt on the front of plenum but I'm sure that does not do anything. Have not checked the gap behind the pistol grip as I am waiting on delivery of CRC foam. Guess I could use shaving foam :-) but I am growing weary of this. Methinks FX should have hired a couple of German engineers. Would end up with the same functional gun but much simpler and robust.

Nah they're fine how they are.  I started a thread on another forum as to how many own impacts and if theyre happy.  Over 100 and 2 weren't happy/regretted buying.   You've had a bad experience i get it.  Shaving foam would work fine just blow it out after.

Really appreciate your help, awesome. I like the gun, just want it work .. considering the cost and so on. Do you have instructions or a link on removing the plenum and replacing the power wheel orings. At first glance the power plenum model seems way more complicated than the previous MKii.

No its not anymore complicated IMO.  This is a good guide, i would personally rather unscrew the reg guage slowly until it starts to hiss and let it bleed the air off once the bottle is removed rather than dryfire like in the video.  Remember you'll have a spring when you remove the valve adjuster unlike the video since hes upgrading an pre-power plenum model.

I would stop at the 6 min mark, loosen that screw above the grip (4mm i think) and slide the rear block, plenum back away from the action.  The valve rod will come with.  This is all if you get bubbles under the power wheel (indicates the little puro oring under the nut at the skinny end of the plenum has failed) alternatively if you get bubbles above the grip at the back in that gap would be the 2 on the outside (skinny end of plenum).  You can sometimes hear a leak by topping off and putting a piece of hose to your ear and probing around.   If you find the leak we can go from there.  Id most likely have a couple orings for you if its either of these areas.

That is not what I would call uncomplicated. Actually looks like a  FUBAR .. lol. I can rebuild an HW100 or any other PCP in 10 minutes with about 6 orings without even paying attention that much. I am going to set it aside and decide what to do .. it is a new $2,700 gun .. don't need this, or deserve it,  to say the least. FWIW, I have three other FX guns .. two Royales and a Crown. No problems with any of them. As far as o-rings go, I have enough coming to rebuild it about 50 times over .. might need them at this rate.  FX needs to hire a German engineer to make it logical and simple, lol.

[Talldog]

What have you checked so far? Have you used any leak detector? Not a fan of soap and water. Unless you do a proper cleaning afterwards. 

Quite possible the reg just isn't broken in yet and is leaking by the seat. But I would start there with some form of leak detector.  Hit the reg under the trigger and the plenum and reg gage.  Would also try a balloon over the barrel.  I would try those first before pulling the valve rod. Try a shot behind the power wheel.  Heard they can leak there also.

I've done the balloon test on barrel and fill gauge, all fine. Gauges check out fine. Bottle and fill valve check out fine. Used leak detection fluid on fill valve, bottle, gauges. I have not checked power plenum contact points but have checked the reg adjustment screw .. it was good. I have also not checked the valve adjuster because I am leery of putting leak detector all over the frickin place. All that stuff is water based, even CRC spray. I can see replacing half the orings in the frickin gun just to cover all bases .. ridiculous in my opinion.

Theres maybe 10 orings that are under pressure.  Try underneath the hammer spring adjuster wheel in the area of the slider there.  Also above the back of the pistol grip where that gap is and the screw.  Nothing under pressure near the valve adjuster.

Yeah, I did not figure the valve adjuster screw would be front and centre. I did nip up the bolt on the front of plenum but I'm sure that does not do anything. Have not checked the gap behind the pistol grip as I am waiting on delivery of CRC foam. Guess I could use shaving foam :-) but I am growing weary of this. Methinks FX should have hired a couple of German engineers. Would end up with the same functional gun but much simpler and robust.

Nah they're fine how they are.  I started a thread on another forum as to how many own impacts and if theyre happy.  Over 100 and 2 weren't happy/regretted buying.   You've had a bad experience i get it.  Shaving foam would work fine just blow it out after.

Well .. maybe they should fly an engineer to my location to fix it. They fly Dubber back and forth all the time and he is just another consumer like the rest of us .. 

[Backyard Shootr]

Just send it back for a refund if your that unhappy with it. If you keep messing with it you could void your 3yr warranty.

[Glem Chally]

Ok im done here.

[KnifeMaker]

"IS" Uh, Are FX AirGuns Really that bad? Not by a LONG SHOT!!! Unless of course you hate dead nuts accurate and have the no mechanical skills to maintain a PCP!


Knife

[ezman604]

AMEN to that.
My Crown is so dang reliable and accurate I do NOT want to tinker with it. Leave perfection alone. I have several caliber kits as well as the arrow kit but don't want to even change this....for now.
LOL

[triggertreat]

AMEN to that.
My Crown is so dang reliable and accurate I do NOT want to tinker with it. Leave perfection alone. I have several caliber kits as well as the arrow kit but don't want to even change this....for now.
LOL

LOL, go ahead and tinker...It'll still shoot straight in my findings so far.  The barrel kits are keyed.  Just mark your liner at the tip before removing to keep the same timing/POI when reinserting.  Truly some forwarding thinking guns, IMHO.

[KnifeMaker]

One Day!


Mike

[Backyard Shootr]

I have a Crown also in .25 and .30 and wouldn't sell it unless my life did depend on it. 

[anti-squirrel]

Good reading in this thread.  Some of us don't really like them.  Some love them.  Some think these are overengineered and some think they are just too expensive while others would be willing to pay even more if needed.

I consider them fine pieces of equipment...

But I still prefer my EdGuns.  They were designed from the ground up to be used, not pampered.