Mini solenoid question

[MrBig]

Should I hear a click when I pull the trigger?
I got three Minis in a package deal. Two of them do not watch to fire. I hear nothing when aired up an turned on. New batteries.

[Jordan]

Turned the eyes off?

[jerryjjackson69]

Those solenoids are notorious for developing stick. You should hear a click when there is no air attached, assuming the eyes are off or are reading something in the breech. Sometimes the click is very soft, sometimes it is quite noticeable. If fresh batteries don't get it to work, then you'll have to take apart and clean the solenoid. It isn't too tough, the trick is having the right mini phillips head screwdriver or tiny hex key if you're lucky and got one of the newer solenoids. Take the 3 screws out, remove the top cap, remove to core, and clean inside with a qtip making sure not to leave any fuzz from the qtip behind. Carefully wipe off the core, and reassemble. I have had official recommendations to leave the inside of the solenoid dry, to lube it lightly with oil, and to lube it lightly with a thin paintball grease. I have had all 3 methods work, I do not know which is the best or most correct.

[ChoSanJuan]

Can attest to the 3 methods I've also found online. I have only done 1 noid rebuild from a terrible sticking at last year's Michigan Monster Game. I did the dry method this time. Has been good since. I'll try a different method next time it starts to fail on me.

[Axel]

One more trick, with the eyes off and fresh batteries, if you rapidly pull the trigger a few dozen times like you're laying down a string you can sometimes get it unstuck. That worked for me awhile until eventually it didn't anymore.

If you open it up be forewarned the little phillips head screws are made of butter-grade steel

Worst case, they're not too expensive to replace as far as solenoids go

[MrBig]

So, I am do not use electros. This is all a learning experience for me. I did not even think to look into how to turn off the eyes.

One more trick, with the eyes off and fresh batteries, if you rapidly pull the trigger a few dozen times like you're laying down a string you can sometimes get it unstuck. That worked for me awhile until eventually it didn't anymore.

If you open it up be forewarned the little phillips head screws are made of butter-grade steel

Worst case, they're not too expensive to replace as far as solenoids go

So I have three of them that I am trying to tech.

Black Empire Invert
This worked! It sounded a little stuck at first but then clicks. New problem: When shooting paint, the paintball only travels a few feet out of the barrel.

Green Invert
No clicking, nothing seems to work. Took the solenoid apart and cleaned it. Still nothing. Bad solenoid?

Red/Black Invert
Clicks, but has massive air leak down barrel when aired up.

I am going to work my way through the sticky at PBN, but any other suggestions are welcome.

[Axel]

Black Empire Invert
This worked! It sounded a little stuck at first but then clicks. New problem: When shooting paint, the paintball only travels a few feet out of the barrel.

This happened to me last October. I replaced an o-ring with one size too big and as soon as the grease wore off it the velocity plummeted cartoonishly. I'd pull the valve, inspect the orings, clean, and regrease.

Green Invert
No clicking, nothing seems to work. Took the solenoid apart and cleaned it. Still nothing. Bad solenoid?

Sounds like it.

Red/Black Invert
Clicks, but has massive air leak down barrel when aired up.

Orings or poppet seal.

I am going to work my way through the sticky at PBN, but any other suggestions are welcome.

The Mini is the only electro in my stable for those times when you just need to rip. I had it out for tank duty at OXCC. Prekel just happened to be shooting it when the velocity dropped off a cliff... Oops

[MrBig]

Black Empire Invert
This worked! It sounded a little stuck at first but then clicks. New problem: When shooting paint, the paintball only travels a few feet out of the barrel.

This happened to me last October. I replaced an o-ring with one size too big and as soon as the grease wore off it the velocity plummeted cartoonishly. I'd pull the valve, inspect the orings, clean, and regrease.

Tore the valve and bolt apart. Relubed everything, and now it seems to work. Thanks!

Green Invert
No clicking, nothing seems to work. Took the solenoid apart and cleaned it. Still nothing. Bad solenoid?

Sounds like it.

I swapped out with a spare that came with the parts kit. Same result, but that one may also be bad. I am a little leery of swapping one out from the now working guns. I may just pick one up if I can find a good price.


Red/Black Invert
Clicks, but has massive air leak down barrel when aired up.

Orings or poppet seal.

Tore the valve and bolt apart. Poppet oring crumbled. All my spare poppet orings crumbled. I put a different poppet in and now this one works. Slight leak in handle area. I suspect it is the oring on the mail transfer. (Anyone have a good source for poppet orings?)

I am going to work my way through the sticky at PBN, but any other suggestions are welcome.

Thanks for the help!

[Jordan]

Is the light blinking on the one that won't fire? Something may be wrong with the trigger magnet or sensor.

[jerryjjackson69]

Indeed, the green mini sounds like a bad trigger adjustment or a missing magnet. The Black Mini sounds like the poppet was stuck, regardless of the issue, you fixed it!

Simon stated that the poppet o-ring has to be the correct o-ring material and durometer otherwise the platform won't work, but I have had great success dropping regular Buna o-rings in there. Just a regular 013 worked great. The air transfer o-rings are known for rolling during assembly and getting pinched, they have a VERY thin profile. Sometimes a little grease and re-seating can sort them out, otherwise it will need replaced. I think they are a custom size, but they might be an unusual off the shelf size.

[MrBig]

Is the light blinking on the one that won't fire? Something may be wrong with the trigger magnet or sensor.

Yep light blinks like it should.

The slight leak in the black/red one is coming from the bottom of the solenoid. repairable?

[Jordan]

There are serviceable seals on the solenoid - if one of those is leaking, then yes, it's repairable.

[Axel]

I'm glad I could help, I'm no expert, just a fellow user. They're a great platform

[Jordan]

I'm glad I could help, I'm no expert, just a fellow user. They're a great platform

Very under-rated IMO.