TM Hicapa - Recoil Spring too strong?

[MultipleParadox]

Here's a quick video I just took (sorry, don't know how to embed):

http://www.youtube.com/v/is7pTLW3R2g

Try to play at the slowest speed;

You will see the slide will travel only half-way or so so it will sometimes not feed properly and won't lock on empty mag

This is the Airsoft-Masterpiece Slide/Recoil Rod and Spring that came with it

What would be the best course of action to fix this?
Cut a few coils? Or is there a better alternative?

Thanks

[siggypoo]

Springs are manufactured to rather specific tolarances, so cutting a coil would only shorten the spring, not alter it's compressibility. Same with cutting it shorter and stretching it to length. Also wrecks the compressibility. Your best option, that I'd be aware of, is purchasing a proper spring with lower rating.

[MultipleParadox]

Even if the spring is about twice the length of the spring guide? :/

[siggypoo]

That's pretty long! Im just giving you best guess based on my long-gone gunsmithing days. If it's so long, then maybe cut a coil at a time and see how the performance changes. Again, the spring compression strength of the metal itself won't be reduced much. I at least suggest obtaining a replacement spring first, lest you risk rendering your gun inoperable.

[apilar]

It kind of looks like your nozzle is having issues... did you forget to put the 'guts' in your nozzle? forget the spring inside the nozzle or the nozzle return?

And maybe even forget or dislodge the spring that does the knocker actuator?

[e-luder]

Also....

if your spring is too long, when it's fully recoiled, it might still be too long. If the spring when fully recoiled is too long in relation to the distance the slide needs to travel to engage the slide catch, the slide will never reach the catch.

In essence, what your gun is doing is short stroking itself either because the spring is incompatible with your set up or there isn't enough gas for the slide stroke.

So you either let your magazine vent MOAARRR gas for the stroke or replace your spring to a weaker one (or an alternate one with the same strength). The GUarder recoil spring is pretty good. It's still one of my go to Hi-capa springs. Maybe look into that?

But most likely, your spring is too powerful.

As a great Saiyan Warrior once said as he crushed his Scouter device in the palm of his hands:

"It's over NINE THOUSSSSAAAAAANNDDD!!!!"

[MultipleParadox]

Originally Posted by apilar

It kind of looks like your nozzle is having issues... did you forget to put the 'guts' in your nozzle? forget the spring inside the nozzle or the nozzle return?

And maybe even forget or dislodge the spring that does the knocker actuator?

Aaaaand we have a Winner! And a very ashamed person that is myself :lol:

I started cutting the spring, coil by coil, and thinking: Yeah this is pretty definitive, what if it's not the cause of the issue? Think, think! And then it struck me on the 6th coil cut... damn, I'm such a tool!

Swapped the nozzle with my old one (with it's gut), and BAM! Worked perfectly... shit :P at least, I didn't cut the spring tooooo much (might eventually get a new, complete one in the future still though)

One thing I wonder:
How was the slide even capable of going back without the rocket valve? Isn't it the one responsible of redirecting the pressure backward when it closes?

Thanks for your inputs guys, always helpful, as usual

[apilar]

Lol glad I could help!

And it still kind of worked because the gas is still going into the nozzle and escaping in BOTH directions so the bb shoots and the slide goes back (a little).

The whole point of the rocket valve is to send the gas forward until it closes and then direct the gas backwards. It's a 2 step process and u were essentially doing it all in one shot!

[MultipleParadox]

Yeah kinda make sense :P
I wish the gas would have been more lazy and escaped by the easiest route only (down the barrel); this way I would have thought of this right away hehe