Max Flo HPA / Scuba Fill Station Question

[RangerX]

Hi,

I hope someone can help.

I have a Max Flo tank and reg, and I bought a scuba fill station. However, the female quick disconnect on the scuba tank adapter does not fit securly on the male fill nipple on my hpa tank. (it wobbles slightly).

I don't want to take any chances at 3000psi and have it burst, leak, fire off like a bullet and wipe out a small village 10 miles away. I've done a bit of research online and I have found a quick disconnect kit
( http://www.kappproducts.com/products-air-accessories-fittings-quick-disconnect.html )

In theory, this should work if I detatch the female quick disconnect from scuba adapter, and detach male fill nipple from the tank and replace with this set.... right?

Help!!!

-Nick

[Emmit]

your connections will likely be a little lose but when you open the valve on the tank the pressure will tighten everything right up. I'd say before you spend anymore money you can give it a try and see, just slowly open up the valve on the SCUBA tank.

[RangerX]

Thanks for the reply Emmit. I tried that, I started to fill it and it was still loose. I didn't wanna push it... 3000 psi and a break in the quick connect would be no good.

I just ordered a quick connect kit anyway. Money isn't an issue, I just want to be able to do this safe, and the right way.

So you think replacing the quick disconnect with a kit will work? ( I'm assuming in a kit, the male and female part should fit snug. I just hope its the right thread size)

Nick

[tylerars24]

uhhh evertime i fill my tank the fitting always wobbles on the tanks fill nipple and it tightens up as soon as it gets air in it. im pretty sure as long as they are both 1/8npt fittings then the sleeve slides back down it should work.

[Emmit]

I've been using a SCUBA fill station for years, it should work just fine:wink:

[RangerX]

I was putting air to it and starting to fill it, it did *not* tighten up. tylerars24, if you have a Max Flo reg, and a 3A fill station you would see what I mean.

peace

-nick

[KFCarp]

mine wobbles....i just crank tha sone of a b!tch...not like a flash fill but i just fill tha sh!t werks just fine on all tanks...PMI to Max flo

[RangerX]

Ah well... I ordered two new nipples as well... two sizes... i know its going to wobble somewhat... but it wobbles a bit to much with my current set up...

[nonamifrontman]

i have 2 guns with maxflos, a cash money impulse and an 03 Shocker, the nipple does wobble some, but once you open the valveand it pressurizes the tank fill nipple tightens up and doesnt move.

[morant]

fill nipples do not fit sunggly in the stations quick disconnect...fact of life

if the nipple goes in and the sleeve on the quick connector slides back into position.
if it connects to you gun it's fine

we use scuba at the field....hundreds of different tanks.....i myself used a max-flo for a long long time.

all fill nipples are the same....the insides can be different but the outside where it clips to it's opposing female piece is standardized...has been long before paintball adopted it.

you will find that when you get your new part/s they will fit the same, you were being paranoid(albiet safe), and you wasted a few extra bucks for nothing.

[RangerX]

I tried that, I started to fill it and it was still loose

Morant,

Consult to this quote on my second post. I understand what you are saying. A friend of mine fills with scuba as well... his does not fit perfectly snug, yes it does wobble a bit, and then once pressurized its fine.

However,

My connection with nipple and my scuba adapter is much more loose (wobbles alot more from side to side). When I started to fill the tank, it did *not* stiffen up.

This concerns me... I'm going to try the new parts I got and hopefully get a better connection on the quick disconnect.

If I wasted money, oh well... it costed about 5 bucks. If not then I'm stoked.

RangerX

[RangerX]

Update...

I filled my tank... the adapter never became tight as I pressurized it... however it did fill sucessfully... I've secured the tank to my deck just incase...

thanks for the input from everyone... definately made me consider and also made me stop being such a wuss.

thanks

-RangerX

[tylerars24]

hey, better safe then sorry right? are u like a diver or did u buy the tank. would u be willing to say how much the whole setup costed?

[RangerX]

nah i'm not a diver....

the deal i got was... $130 for a new dive tank with 11 free fills. The scuba adapter fill station was 40$. I signed a waiver releasing the company of liability because I don't have a dive license (so I can get it filled)

I spent a total of $170 w/ 11 fills

[justa' bum]

What pressure do you get the tank filled to?

How many HPA tank fills do you get of your scuba tank (what size tank do you use)? Does the pressure of each fill drop off a lot with each fill?

I have a SCUBA license so I can get it filled no problem.

[thog94]

If you are a diver then you should know that your tanks get filled to 3000 psi, at times they get pressed to 3200. Therefor your 1st fill will be whatever you have in your tank and decrease from there.

When you fill a tank your PSI fills will decrease with each fill beacuse you are taking from one tank and putting into another. I can't remember the formula of fills per tank off hand, so exactly how many fills you will get is questionable. When my scuba tanks get down to 2000 PSI I usually fill the tanks again, but I have the luxury of a cascade system at work.

I think I get about 5 or so fills until I hit the 2000 PSI mark on my 68/45 Angel AIR.

Just be careful to SLOWLY fill your HPA tank, you don't want to flash fill it and have the chance to screw up your reg. Treat it just like turning on your air before you dive to check and see how much you have, you always want to do it nice and slow.

[pballn4x4freak]

are you sure you can use the same air that a dive shop puts in tanks for paintball makers?

[Jouster]

If you are a diver then you should know that your tanks get filled to 3000 psi, at times they get pressed to 3200. Therefor your 1st fill will be whatever you have in your tank and decrease from there.

When you fill a tank your PSI fills will decrease with each fill beacuse you are taking from one tank and putting into another. I can't remember the formula of fills per tank off hand, so exactly how many fills you will get is questionable. When my scuba tanks get down to 2000 PSI I usually fill the tanks again, but I have the luxury of a cascade system at work.

Hmm, I'm a diver, too. Paintball and SCUBA... is there a group of people attracted to anything involving pressurized air or something?

Anyway....

I dunno where to look, but can't you get a booster reg that would accomplish what you need to do (i.e., take <3000 psi input and bump it up) for relatively cheap?

Jouster

[Jouster]

are you sure you can use the same air that a dive shop puts in tanks for paintball makers?
Yes. For those shops not using nitro, if you look, you'll notice that they have the same compressors that SCUBA shops use. In fact, SCUBA air is even a little better than paintshop air if you get it from a five-star PADI shop, since they have to meet regulations on how pure their air is (i.e., they must attach a hose to the exhaust of their compressor and vent it downwind, or use an electric compressor).

Jouster

[thog94]

Hmm, I'm a diver, too. Paintball and SCUBA... is there a group of people attracted to anything involving pressurized air or something?

Anyway....

I dunno where to look, but can't you get a booster reg that would accomplish what you need to do (i.e., take <3000 psi input and bump it up) for relatively cheap?

Jouster

I don't know about a booster, but I'm sure that they are out there. Another link in the chain just makes it weaker, and I have respect HP tanks. Ever see a scuba tank go through a wall, roof and land almost 1/4 mile away?

I'm happy with my 3k to fool around with for a while, then hit up the cascade system.

[Emmit]

are you sure you can use the same air that a dive shop puts in tanks for paintball makers?
yep....and in the days before Nitrogen was readily available at fields that was how field owners supplied their players with compressed air was to bring out a dozen bottles etc, my first air tank I had to bring my own SCUBA tanks because the field still only dealt in CO2. Russ at Extreme had the sweetest setup ever, they were right next door to a dive shop, so they always had air. Of course back then, no one had dreamed of a 4500 psi system, so the 3k from a SCUBA tank was GREAT!!! SCUBA air is supposed to have moisture filters installed so there's no water in your tanks (that's a good thing), and compressed air from a gas vendor is the same compressed air you'd get from a local dive shop.

[pballn4x4freak]

can a scuba shop hydro a tank used for piantball

[newqlear]

Some do some don't you have to call individual dive shops to find out. Many shops outsource they're hydro tests however some like brass anchor scuba in frederick MD do hydro fiber wrapped tanks. The most important thing to ask is fiber wrapped! Many places hydro aluminum and steel canisters however fiber wrapped tanks are somewhat of of difficult item to have hydro'd I spent 4 hours going through the DOT list to find one that could and remarkably the DOT list did not have them listed.

can a scuba shop hydro a tank used for piantball

[Emmit]

the best bet is to check with your local Paintball shop and see if they offer the service. They likely have an account set up with a local shop that does their hydro's for them on a weekly, or bi-weekly basis etc. If they don't have one locally chaces are that they have one that they either deal with or that they can recommend to you.

[Assault]

He he, We still use Scuba tanks to fill off down here in little old New Zealand, except for at tournaments we have compressors. Every time we go to a field to practice we have to take scuba tanks to fill off.

[Emmit]

He he, We still use Scuba tanks to fill off down here in little old New Zealand, except for at tournaments we have compressors. Every time we go to a field to practice we have to take scuba tanks to fill off.
trust me...it wasn't so long ago that it was that way here in the States. read the first post at the top of page 2

[russ]

The quick disconnect set will be a little loose and over time as the oring shrinks will become more evident.
There is an oring in the female side of the QD. Check to see if that is the correct oring in there, and if it is old (that is how the QD seals).
If you are purchasing new QD's make sure it is for high pressure systems.
Many paintball company's sell nickle plated brass QD's. Very much so not recommended for compressed air.
Check what working pressure it is rated for. If you are only looking at going to 3000 psi, then give it a magnet test. If a magnet will stick to your QD you are probably allright. If not, then I would reconsider...
The magnet test is not finite, and I wouldn't trust it, but it is a start.