Ball Detent Alignment

[Sparco]

So far... so great! I just went over 20,000 cycles on my A4 (9 cases) and so far so good. I've only broken about a half-dozen balls (Midnight) in the breech with SENSI 2. I contribute most of that to weak batteries towards the end of the day, each time.

However, when I was cleaning my marker last night after a great Sunday practice at Del Hobbies I noticed this...

It appears as though one detent extends further into the breech than the other one. I've tried to take the best "head on" photos possible but the left detent (if looking at it in the photos) doesn't extend into the breech as far as the right detent.

I don't know how long it's been like this, I've noticed no "spin" on the ball and the marker shoots marvelously. Both springs are intact, same length and each detent fits properly into the spring.

Any ideas... suggestions?

[lcplwan]

I dont think that will affect it much if any.
what you might want to try , is take the detents out, and switch sides. if it does the same maybe something is blocking the detent from going in all the way ie extra plastic. look at them closely. but again it shouldnt affect it much. just my 2 cents

[Jouster]

I have the exact same problem.

When my marker goes up to Ken's, I have some ball detents on order, so I'll swap around like crazy and see what's going on.

Jouster

[Sparco]

I dont think that will affect it much if any.
what you might want to try , is take the detents out, and switch sides. if it does the same maybe something is blocking the detent from going in all the way ie extra plastic. look at them closely. but again it shouldnt affect it much. just my 2 cents

It doesn't effect anything. The first three photos are different from the 2nd set of two. I purposely did that so you couldn't tell the difference. But the left detent is the right detent in the last two.

So far I've seen no variance in performance, spin, etc. but nevertheless thought it interesting.

[lcplwan]

"Any ideas... suggestions?"

you asked a question, i responded, then you answered yourself "It doesn't effect anything" and you are looking to use Affect, not effect
so why are you quoting me?

[Sparco]

I'm quoting you because I'm responding to your post. You stated that I should try and switch them around, I was bringing to your attention that I had done so without informing the viewer (as that's obviously the first thing one would try).

No need to get on the defensive.

[Worr Angel]

I'm quoting you because I'm responding to your post. You stated that I should try and switch them around, I was bringing to your attention that I had done so without informing the viewer (as that's obviously the first thing one would try).

No need to get on the defensive.

Some people are soooo sensitive.

[lcplwan]

haha, ya but oviously you didnt post it therefore people will suggest things you didnt say you did.

[Doc Kwak]

Hey Sparco,
I noticed the same thing with my F4. It also has not affected performance. What team do you play for? Are you guys playing in the GPL given that you practice at Del Hobbies (close proximity)?

[evil_steve]

My A4 is the same as well. The left side (looking from the back forward) sticks out more just like yours. I unfortunately haven't been able to test it out yet so I don't know it has any affect on mine.

[lcplwan]

just giving some examples of effect and affect

It wont have any effect on it.
the paint will affect the velocity if the paint is bad.
:hi:
my detents are the same..

[dynastySSS]

well if u havent had ne issues with it i say leave it alone or send it to a mt and have them take a looksy

[Sparco]

One of the reasons I took the photos without informing the viewer of which detent was which is to get an objective point of view. Obviously, common sense tells you to swap them. I even measured each spring and ball down to the millimeter, as well as the depth of the detent housing.

My results... nothing firm.

You're right, if performance isn't compromised then why bother? My reason behind the entire thread was simple. When I was driving Frazer to the IAO site from the airport two-years ago I asked what he thought of double detents. He stated that they hadn't switched to the system for various reasons, one of which was the possibilty of a detent failing and throwing the rest position of the chambered ball off.

Obviously they perfected this situation with the total redesign of the detents. The Speed/A4 detents are vastly superior to the previous generations. Thus the reason for this thread... I was curious to see if other A4 owners had similar alignment issues, if so, did they have problems? Apparently (thus far) the answer is no.