Put a Vortek 12 fpe kit in the TX.

[Dockey 454]

Update.

Just got off the phone with Tom G.
What an absolute gentleman!! Truly.
He offered to pay shipping both ways for all 3 guns and check each of them out!
Can't ask for much more than that!
Don't want all those beauties gone at once so I'll just send the TX to him.
Will let you guys know what he finds.

   Send them all Joe. You can shoot my blowup gun all day Saturday.   
         Tom

[palonej]

Who you kidding Thomas???
That inflatable has to be pried out of your hands!!!!
 

[David 2Tired]

For what it's worth, in mid August I ordered a <12 Vortek and received PG2-TX200Pb730113-30-p300.  I measured the wire at .113 with a 9 7/16" length.  Installed this in the HC.

Liked it so well that in early September I ordered another <12 Vortek for the Mark III and received a PG2-TX200ppb730113-29-p300 (caps and lower case as appeared on packages).  This spring also measured .113 but was only 9 1/4" long. 

Both of these springs were fully seated in the guides so I feel this to be a correct measurement but the odd thing was the shorter spring also "felt" stiffer when putting these back together.

Chrono or FPE aren't apples to apples because I've been experimenting with different seals and playing with spacers but both kits started at low 12 FPE with no washers shooting FTTs.

Bottom line, two orders roughly 2 or 3 weeks apart for the same kit got me two different length springs with two different part numbers.  It's all good tho, I can do more mix and match now.

[Nikoman]

Thanks for the update, Joe. Looking forward to what he says since I have two of those kits in my rifles. I'm stepping out to Chrono them right now since I'm so curious. Will report back with numbers soon.

Update:
Here are the numbers. Kit is fully broken in (almost done with the 3rd tin).

        Pro Sport                               
JSB 8.44      JSB 7.87           
   871               901                                   
   870               901                                     
   864               903                                     
   864               899                                   
   864               903                                     
   876               906                                     
   865               898                                     
   863               897                                     
   866               908                                     
   872               907                                     
                       

[Nikoman]

Here are the numbers for the TX200HC.
I couldn't fit it on the above post, the margins were killing me so my O.C.D. kicked in to line it up properly.
BTW, this kit is not broken in yet (less than a tin through it) and the numbers have already dropped from 915fps to the numbers below. Ambient temperature for the Pro Sport readings above were 69° @ sea level. The temp was 71° for the TX tests.


JSB 7.87
   893
   894
   894
   894
   893
   891
   893
   894
   894
   892

[palonej]

Hey Niko!!
Those numbers are excellent......but a touch lower than they should be.
If shot cycle and accuracy are good I'd be happy with them......as I am with my 98. With the previous HO kit in it I was getting 945 - 960 FPS with CPLs. SHO kit is getting 915 after ~ 3,000 rounds. I'll probably leave it alone because she's a tack hammer.
My Pro Sport is getting 830 with 8.4s after ~ 4,000 rounds. Not terrible but not great in windy conditions.
TX has an HO kit with around 4,000 thru and she's getting a tic over 11 fpe.....I stopped shooting it.
After a half hour conversation with Tom Gore he wants all 3 rifles because he doesn't like those numbers.
All the numbers on all 3 rifles are VERY consistent and shot cycles are beautiful, but more times than not, I am shooting in the wind and at around 740ish with FTTs the results aren't good!!
I've also noticed every kit has lost power after a couple tins.
My 97 still has the HO kit Scott installed well over a year ago. She has close to 45,000 rounds thru and is slinging FTTs at 860.

[Calmark]

Here are some numbers from my rifle to add to the data.  My Prosport has the Vortek FT kit from around a year ago.  It came out prior to the HO kit and I believe the HO replaced it in name only.  I'm getting about 830fps with JSB 8.4 pellets for a little less than 13fpe.  That's the range I was hoping for since I don't want to tear my arm off cocking a Prosport that's totally maxed out.     

I also installed a SHO in my HW97k a month back and its putting out 870fps with JSB 8.4.  I added 4 of 5 washers included with the kit, so it could gain a bit more fps still.  So far, after over a tin, no loss in velocity and very tight chrony numbers. 

[palonej]

Just hung up with Tom Gore.
Sent my Pro Sport and TX to him. He got them yesterday and tore into the Pro Sport right away.
He found the spring that came in the SHO kit was the wrong spring. He explained why...dimensions and some stuff that my pea brain couldn't follow.
Long story short....he put a new SHO kit in her and she's now shooting 8.4s at 900 - 905.
He's going to open up the TX tomorrow and I'll update then.
Very very happy with the service and communication. Great guy and great products!!
Totally satisfied!!

[Nikoman]

I wonder if some of us got the wrong springs too?
My power dropped about 25fps in the Pro Sport since it was new. Keep us posted on the rest, Joe.
Sometimes different batches of the same pellet will produce significant velocity differences.

[Pappy]

Just hung up with Tom Gore.
Sent my Pro Sport and TX to him. He got them yesterday and tore into the Pro Sport right away.
He found the spring that came in the SHO kit was the wrong spring. He explained why...dimensions and some stuff that my pea brain couldn't follow.
Long story short....he put a new SHO kit in her and she's now shooting 8.4s at 900 - 905.
He's going to open up the TX tomorrow and I'll update then.
Very very happy with the service and communication. Great guy and great products!!
Totally satisfied!!

Hey Joe .... please let us know how the kit changed anything .... cycle, smoothness, "turret test", etc.  Very interested, since I want Motorhead to tune my TX this winter ..... and I want to make sure I get the correct kit put in it.
Thanks;

Allan

[palonej]

Hey Allan!!
Go with either the HO or SHO kit. They are ridiculously smooth, quiet, powerful and they last forever
The HO kit in my 97 has over 45,000 rounds down the chute.....she passes the turret test with ease!
Still slinging FTTs at 870 with no buzz, twang or bounce whatsoever!
If Scott is installing for you.....you'll fall in love with her all over again!!
Which kit depends on what type of shooting. I like the higher power kits because I found they fight the wind much better.

[ptpalpha]

Was this an isolated example of someone packing the wrong spring with Joe's kit or are there more out there?
Seems like it would be a good idea for Tom to post the correct spring specs either here or on his site so guys could check their spring if they're wondering about a drop in velocity.
Either way, there's no denying that the Michigan boys have top-notch customer service and product support...it's obvious Tom really cares about his customers and his reputation. 
Dang it...I guess I'll have to figure out another way to slow down Joe's guns...

[Pappy]

Hey Allan!!
Go with either the HO or SHO kit. They are ridiculously smooth, quiet, powerful and they last forever
The HO kit in my 97 has over 45,000 rounds down the chute.....she passes the turret test with ease!
Still slinging FTTs at 870 with no buzz, twang or bounce whatsoever!
If Scott is installing for you.....you'll fall in love with her all over again!!
Which kit depends on what type of shooting. I like the higher power kits because I found they fight the wind much better.

Thanks, Joe, I will work with Scott to match the kit to my needs.

In regard to the "wrong" spring installed .... perhaps a small stamp, of some kind, on the inside of one of the spring coils, would stop the confusion.  A small "H", or "S" or "HO" etc.  Would only take a second, and not take away from the integrity of the spring.

Allan

[gard72977]

Hey Allan!!
Go with either the HO or SHO kit. They are ridiculously smooth, quiet, powerful and they last forever
The HO kit in my 97 has over 45,000 rounds down the chute.....she passes the turret test with ease!
Still slinging FTTs at 870 with no buzz, twang or bounce whatsoever!
If Scott is installing for you.....you'll fall in love with her all over again!!
Which kit depends on what type of shooting. I like the higher power kits because I found they fight the wind much better.

Thanks, Joe, I will work with Scott to match the kit to my needs.

In regard to the "wrong" spring installed .... perhaps a small stamp, of some kind, on the inside of one of the spring coils, would stop the confusion.  A small "H", or "S" or "HO" etc.  Would only take a second, and not take away from the integrity of the spring.

Allan

Just a thought but in 1955 they put a white strip of paint on the front coil springs of a straight shift car so the production line would easily see what they needed. just a strip of color put on with a brush would make a great marker.

[EMrider]

Was this an isolated example of someone packing the wrong spring with Joe's kit or are there more out there?
Seems like it would be a good idea for Tom to post the correct spring specs either here or on his site so guys could check their spring if they're wondering about a drop in velocity.
Either way, there's no denying that the Michigan boys have top-notch customer service and product support...it's obvious Tom really cares about his customers and his reputation. 
Dang it...I guess I'll have to figure out another way to slow down Joe's guns...

Does not appear to be a one-off issue given the number of people with new vortek kits shooting well below spec power levels.  My PS 12fpe kit shoots at 9.5fpe, but that is plenty of power for my needs and the shot cycle is very nice.

A year ago I bought two new R7 vortek kits and the springs in both kits were two coils too long. Gun would not cock.  They were easily replaced, but it does suggest a QC problem somewhere in the system.

R

[KeepItClassy]

really enjoy reading these post, even if they are a month old.

Love the suggestions

Hey Allan!!
Go with either the HO or SHO kit. They are ridiculously smooth, quiet, powerful and they last forever
The HO kit in my 97 has over 45,000 rounds down the chute.....she passes the turret test with ease!
Still slinging FTTs at 870 with no buzz, twang or bounce whatsoever!
If Scott is installing for you.....you'll fall in love with her all over again!!
Which kit depends on what type of shooting. I like the higher power kits because I found they fight the wind much better.

Thanks, Joe, I will work with Scott to match the kit to my needs.

In regard to the "wrong" spring installed .... perhaps a small stamp, of some kind, on the inside of one of the spring coils, would stop the confusion.  A small "H", or "S" or "HO" etc.  Would only take a second, and not take away from the integrity of the spring.

Allan

Just a thought but in 1955 they put a white strip of paint on the front coil springs of a straight shift car so the production line would easily see what they needed. just a strip of color put on with a brush would make a great marker.

I  will bring up the suggestion of marking springs with Tom, and see what he thinks.