Avenger regulator teardown

[nervoustrigger]

The creeping behavior would definitely be attributed to the seat.   If it were an O-ring leaking, it would simply lose pressure to the outside world.

[avator]

I don’t have an Avenger but usually there is a through hole to the seat so you can punch it out from behind. 

BTW supposedly the manual says to evacuate the reservoir before adjusting the regulator.  Generally it’s okay to increase a regulator’s setpoint while under pressure because you are backing the seat away from the piston and allowing it to bring up the plenum pressure in a normal manner.  However, attempting to lower the setpoint while pressurized drives the seat into the piston and may damage it, causing inconsistent regulation and creep.  I just wanted to mention it as a reminder to those referencing this thread.

Thanks Jason... This is my first experience with a regulator and you confirmed my understanding of this procedure. At this point I am leaving my .25 at factory settings. I did back the HS out 1/2 turn to get a full 4 mags on the reg and 3900 fill pressure. It was dropping off the reg on shot 30 or 31ish before.

[Tpatner412]

Jason,

Just to confirm, there is a hole that should allow the seat to be pushed out from behind....I did not have anything quite small enough to fit into it though when I was doing the replacement. 

[n4spd]

Update:

I got a replacement delrin seal (small white seal at end of regulator shaft) from Air Venturi today.

It's smooth on both sides, unlike mine which had concentric rings like it was parted but not polished.

Haven't installed it yet (ps. don't remember seeing an opening on back side to push delrin seal out but will look next time).

So, if your regulator creeps ~500psi overnight, then you might have an unpolished delrin seal like mine.

Ask Air Venturi to send you a replacement.  (It took about 2-3 weeks emailing back and forth for this $0.50 piece but they at least know about it now).

Robert

[FuzzyGrub]

When you install it, can you get the id/od of the brass that seals against it?  I'd like to compare it to the Liberty.  Thx.

[Motorhead]

MAKE SURE the seats mating surface is smooth and not having sharp edges from the machining process.   Some 600 or finer wet/dry burnished against the seats nipple/hole will make sure no edges exist.  This will INCREASE the life of the sealing disk many times over !!!

[DMR214]

Ran into this thread now that I'm having problems with my reg creep. So to get this straight basically remove the front stock so I can take of the pin on the regulator adjuster to pull it all the way out. Then I can stick a piece of a bike inner tube to see if it stops the creep. Meanwhile order a derlin seal to replace a possible unpolished seal.?

[my87csx481]

Sorry for the thread revival.

n4spd:  Thanks for posting this thread, with images.  Very helpful.  Were you able to open/separate the regulator without using heat?  I can't get the "nut" loose that holds the washer stack and stem in the body.  I found a schematic that says to put 222 threadlocker on the threads (which is for small fasteners, and supposed to be easy to loosen).  Mine won't budge.  Thinking about heating it to break it loose.  Not sure if I should hit it quick with a torch, or use a heat gun over a longer period.

DMR214:  the inner tube rubber  was to help seal the degassing screw, not the regulator.

[faelzimxds2]

Can anyone tell me what the thread on the Avenger gauges is if it is m8 or m10.

I have the impression that the gauges on my .22 do not mark correctly, I am thinking of replacing them.

[my87csx481]

Just to fill in some answers to some of the questions I had before going into this (and other details)....

I confirmed with the OP, his unscrewed easily.

We both used snap ring pliers as a spanner wrench, along with a screw driver, to unscrew the two sides/halves of the reg.  Someone else suggested two nails in a board (spaced and sized appropriately), with a clearance hole for the reg piston/stem, as a substitute for the spanner wrench.

I did have to apply some quick heat to break the 222 threadlocker on mine, and then it unscrewed very easily.  Really quick heat.  No need for oxy acetylene, just a plumbing/propane torch really quick was enough.  The brass heats up fast.  I may have cooked mine a little too much.

There is a through hole to pop out the delrin.  But the hole at the delrin end is quite a bit smaller than the hole at the other end.  I tried to use a paper clip but, it was getting hung up on the smaller hole.  I was able to use compressed air to push the delrin out.  CAREFUL with the air.  Mine could have shot across the shop, and gotten lost forever.  I did not block the vent hole.  And I put a finger over the delrin.  Just a tiny bit on the air gun/nozzle, and the delrin moved out of the bore a little bit.....I stopped right there, and pulled it out easily from there (with my fingers).  The extra heat I applied may have contributed to getting the delrin out easily.

Anyone know where I can get a replacement seal?  I contacted the dealer I purchased the gun from, they pointed me to Air Venturi.  AV says they don't have parts, and can't sell me parts.  hey!?  Hind sight, I should have waited, and spent more money on something else.  Something better, with available parts.

[nervoustrigger]

You will probably need to find someone with a lathe who can cut you a new one, or you may be able to make one yourself if you have a drill press, a steady hand, attention to detail, and time to fiddle with it.  In either case, I would suggest something like PEEK or PAI for better longevity. 
 
If you don’t find an acceptable solution, feel free to PM me.

[my87csx481]

I plan for the gun to regulate the 4300 psi fill pressure down to 1800 psi most of the time.  And possibly as low as 12-1400ish psi occasionally.  And slightly more occasional use at 2800 psi.  At some point soon, I plan to only fill to 250 to 280 bar, just to reduce some stress....but I'm stress testing it now so, and trying to find the magic pressure and hammer spring for accuracy with a specific pellet at a specific distance, so 4300 fill is it for now.

Is PEEK good for the lower pressures?  Or am I expecting too much?  Do I need to pick one or the other (hi vs. low), and use appropriate material for the application (PEEK vs. Delrin)?

Also, should the seal be a press fit into the piston?  Or just a slight interference?  I guess I'm really asking if I shrank the seal by using heat?  Because it will slide in easily now, with some friction fit.  Is that how it should be?

[CableStop]

I plan for the gun to regulate the 4300 psi fill pressure down to 1800 psi most of the time.  And possibly as low as 12-1400ish psi occasionally.  And slightly more occasional use at 2800 psi.  At some point soon, I plan to only fill to 250 to 280 bar, just to reduce some stress....but I'm stress testing it now so, and trying to find the magic pressure and hammer spring for accuracy with a specific pellet at a specific distance, so 4300 fill is it for now.

Is PEEK good for the lower pressures?  Or am I expecting too much?  Do I need to pick one or the other (hi vs. low), and use appropriate material for the application (PEEK vs. Delrin)?

Also, should the seal be a press fit into the piston?  Or just a slight interference?  I guess I'm really asking if I shrank the seal by using heat?  Because it will slide in easily now, with some friction fit.  Is that how it should be?

PEEK will work at lower pressures but it needs to be finished perfectly flat and smooth.  Even tiny surface imperfections will prevent it from sealing. 

Delrin shouldn't shrink from heat, it you overheat it then it melts. It can actually expand when hot but it shrinks back down as it cools.

[my87csx481]

Thanks Tom.

I was able to handle the regulator after heating it....but only for a quick fraction of a second.  The delrin (if that's what it is) did not show any signs of melting....so we'll see.  It's all back together now.  Thanks all, and thanks again to the OP for creating the thread.

[Ponz]

Old thread- I know!

Opening images are gone. 

How do you take apart the Avenger regulator.  I've tried tweezers in the tiny holes.

Ponz

[GARY T]

Old thread- I know!

Opening images are gone. 

How do you take apart the Avenger regulator.  I've tried tweezers in the tiny holes.

Ponz

Would like to know as well