HPA reg swap ?'s

[Vantage_TeS]

I have two PE tanks at my disposal both brand new and in mint condition. I just bought a AIR reg and I need to know how difficult it will be to remove the preset reg on one of the bottles and install the AIR reg.

I realize that it is a good idea to do this properly and if there was a dealer remotly close I would have them doing this, but I AM the dealer here so....

I figure the preset is gonna be loctited with heat remove, so I will use a blow dryer to warm it up before I try taking it out, and heatremove loctite will got back onto the AIR threads.

Any tricks? Like how to screw out/in a reg without damaging it with a wrench.

The other ? I got is concerning the IR3 barrels. I am recieving a stock IR3 barrel as a free addin to the package I am getting the AIR in, and I want to make sure it will fit on on my LCD, I remember (I think it was Dark) someone buying a new boomstick for an IR3 and having it get stuck threaded in cause the threads where slightly different.

Thanks emmit since it prolly gonna be you answering this. :lol: .. LOL...thanks to anyone else who takes a stab at it. :mex:

[Emmit]

DO NOT USE LOC-TITE ON THE ANGEL AIR THREADS!!!!!

In case you don't quite get that....don't use loc-tite on the AIR.

to remove the preset reg, you'll likely need a vice, and in the most extreme cases a pipe wrench. Once you've removed the reg, simply clean up the threads real good, and then screw in the AIR reg. DO NOT USE LOC-TITE!!!

The IR3 barrel will fit just fine, it's still Angel threads, the only problem people had was with DYE barrels.

[MoogLe]

the only problem people had was with DYE barrels

yes as i heard it was something with an overthick anno on the threads

[Vantage_TeS]

DO NOT USE LOC-TITE ON THE ANGEL AIR THREADS!!!!!

In case you don't quite get that....don't use loc-tite on the AIR.

to remove the preset reg, you'll likely need a vice, and in the most extreme cases a pipe wrench. Once you've removed the reg, simply clean up the threads real good, and then screw in the AIR reg. DO NOT USE LOC-TITE!!!

The IR3 barrel will fit just fine, it's still Angel threads, the only problem people had was with DYE barrels.

So what kinda loctite should I use again emmit?? :lol:

Gotcha. Yea that makes sense cause you dont want any flakies in the tank.

Thanks for the info emmit. And Moogle.

:ph34r:

[Emmit]

it's not that you don't want any flakes in the tank, it's that you want to be able to remove the tank by hand so you can rebuild the reg as necessary.

[Vantage_TeS]

Yea that makes sense too.

Another quickie: Are the threads on the reg (reg to tank) left handed? I know all oxygen threads are, just wondering what the scoop is on HPA threads...

I have 2 PE tanks and I need to get the presets off so I can install my AIRs.

So far I got this figured:
-No loctite so it should just unscrew EDIT: Might be heat loctite on preset, just dont use any with the AIR right?
-Should be able to just turn the reg counter-clockwise to remove it
-Will need to put tank in vise (any tricks here to not marking up tank? I was gonna use some pieces of tire as a buffer)
-Was gonna just grab fill nipple with wrench and twist
-Thread new reg in *hand* tight

Miss/need to modify anything?

[Emmit]

all paintball cylinders are the same threads, they are not left handed or anything special


as for removing the reg on the preset, I've seen some on so tight that they had use a pipe wrench to remove it.

a piece of rubber wrapped around the tank should protect it in the vice while still providing enough clamping.

you don't want to grab the fill nipple as it might break before you removed the reg from the bottle

correct in the putting of the AIR reg on the new bottle, you can use a little Angel AIR Love Juice Grease (available from all of our sponsors) on the o-ring that is at the top of the reg threads but that's about it. I would either replace the batteries on the reg now so that you don't have to worry about it in a few months (just as a precaution) or at the very least remove them and make sure the reg is calibrated before you put the tank on....just me being cautious I guess.

[Vantage_TeS]

Just wondering what to grab onto if not the fill nipple (I figured this was the cheapest part to replace on the preset, and I have 2 xtra presets anyways...)

Maybe unscrew the fill nipple and thread in a long bolt or something?

[Emmit]

grab around the base of the reg where the reg meets the bottle...that's where the most meet is, and it's also where if there's any reg damage it's not likely to cause any damage to the reg that could cause it to malfunction.

[Vantage_TeS]

I am gonna take pics of reg removal/air install for the FAQ

Any preferred picture size? I was thinking 640x480 so it loads somewhat fast...

EDIT: Got the ruddy thing off!

All I used was a crecent wrench.
http://www.smack.741.com/link/1.jpg

OK what I did was I took all the extra parts off the reg (both burst disks and the gauge) so that they were out of the way. This was not necissary for the way I got the reg off, but for those who choose to use a pipe wrench right on the reg itself (if its really stuck READ: ACI).
http://www.smack.741.com/link/2.jpg

After I got all the xtra stuff off the tank, I used a crecent on the fill nipple (take a look at the pic). I basically used the fill nipple as a means of attaching the wrench without damaging the reg. I figure $3 for a fill nipple is better than wrench marks on my reg.
http://www.smack.741.com/link/3.jpg

I was having some trouble getting a good grip on both the tank and the wrench (I tried with 2 people) but I couldnt get a strong enough grip/enough leverage to turn that sucker.

I ended up tucking the wrench under my knee and grabbing the tank with both hands. This allowed my to use the strongest part of my body (leg power baby!) to both hold the wrench and help turn the tank.
http://www.smack.741.com/link/4.jpg

If you still cannot turn the tank (mine had a very tiny bit of green READ: easy remove loctite) try holding the tank as tight as possible, applying a reasonable amount of force on the wrench, and tapping the wrech with a hammer in the same direction you are trying to turn the wrench (the little extra jolt helps crack the loctite/break the friction).
http://www.smack.741.com/link/4.jpg

If that still doesnt help you are gonna have to put the tank in a vise (use rubber as a buffer so you dont mark/damage the tank) and get a pipe wrench on the reg (most likely causing damage).

After you get the reg off, its a good idea to clean all the dried up loctite off the treads of the reg and the tank. I used a toothbrush. My little sisters toothbrush to be exact :lol:
http://www.smack.741.com/link/6.jpg

EDIT: Might be issues with the pics, they are listed at bottom too for now, I dont have time to fix right now.